The Night of December 4-5, 2023

Pure Adrenaline

Yes, they really do exist—those long, red squall fronts that appear on the radar out of nowhere and seem to grow incessantly as they get closer. So far, we had been spared from them, and honestly, I wish it could have stayed that way.

This night will be remembered by all of us for a long time. The weather forecasts were accurate, and there was no room for doubt—we were definitely in the squall zone now. Wind speeds reached an average of 22 knots, often 25 knots, and at peaks up to 34 knots. It felt like we were sledding down a giant hill, except our sled was our catamaran.

One storm front followed another. Every one of our night shifts was affected, and Peter hardly got any sleep in the salon because there was always something to do. Full concentration was required. Everything was underwater, and the boat’s severe rocking became normal. I’m sure we burned a lot of calories that night just by balancing ourselves.

When I started my watch at 3 AM, three large squalls appeared on the radar, merging into one large red spot within just five minutes. We got caught in it, and it became really uncomfortable. The wind shot up to 35 knots, and water seemed to come from all directions. Only Nicolas slept through the squall.

Throughout the night, our neighboring boat approached within two miles and stayed reliably behind us. Somehow, it was comforting not to be alone in this storm front. We knew we could rely on each other if one of us got into a difficult situation.

In summary, this was the worst night of our crossing so far. It tested us all. But together, we managed. Now we wait to see what the morning brings.

Extreme Wind Speeds: Pushed to the Limits

The events of the past hours truly tested us. If I had known that the last third of our journey would look like this… I must say, I didn’t imagine it to be this extreme.

Last night already brought us broad storm fronts for hours. The day surpassed those experiences. We saw wind speeds of up to 40 knots while we sped over the waves at an impressive 15 knots at the peak. It felt like we were being catapulted forward by the power of the waves.

The radar repeatedly showed squalls behind us, merging into large areas and seeming to follow us. To maintain as much control as possible, we decided to continue sailing in the second reef.

The lightning flashing over the sea was particularly unsettling. The children were afraid of being struck by lightning. Peter took the opportunity to explain how lightning is discharged on our catamaran. The best approach would be to lie down on the bed and not touch any metal.

In the event of a strike, no electronics on the boat would work. The engines would fail, as would Starlink and the AIS system. But our magnetic compass would still function for navigation, allowing us to sail to St. Lucia. Surely the ARC would miss us and search for us.

At least, that’s the hope.

For safety, I also researched how lightning discharge works on catamarans and how to behave:

• On catamarans, the mast serves as a lightning conductor, directing the lightning into the water.
• Lightning discharge is especially important on a catamaran because the mast is in the middle of the boat, and a lightning strike can cause significant damage.
• The mast is made of a conductive material, typically aluminum.
• The discharge occurs through a cable that connects the lightning conductor mast to the water, safely directing the electrical energy into the water.
• During a thunderstorm, the crew should stay away from all metal parts of the boat, as metal can conduct lightning.

The rain just wouldn’t stop. We noticed water dripping through the ceiling in the salon. Really annoying. Nicolas quickly dismantled the ceiling panel so we could locate the leak during the rain. At these wind speeds, it was a real challenge. We didn’t find it that night, but we lined the ceiling space with towels and stopped the water temporarily. The next morning, we went to the mast foot on the roof and identified a leaking silicone seal, which we temporarily fixed.

Anna demonstrated impressive composure in this extreme situation and said, “Let’s play cards now. We’re not going to sink, and if we do, then God intended it.” So, we played cards and made the best of it.

Finally, we went into our planned night watches as usual, hoping for a quieter night. Hope dies last.

Culinary Delights Day 16:

• Lunch: Indian tomato-zucchini vegetable with rice (because it brings good spirits to everyone)
• Dinner: Japanese Gyozas (because it should be quick, convenient, and delicious)