The Night of December 5-6, 2023

Another Night with Squalls

The night leading to Wednesday promised to be another challenge. After the storms of the previous night, we knew what to expect this time. The weather forecasts were clear—it would be similar in terms of squalls.

To be on the safe side, we stuck to our conservative sailing approach, starting the night with the mainsail in the second reef. We wanted to avoid the risk of having to reef in the middle of the night.

As expected, the squalls didn’t take long to arrive. During Anna’s night watch between midnight and 3 AM, it was the worst, with one storm front after another. Peter stayed by her side since no one could sleep anyway with the strong winds and pelting rain.

The squalls persisted until 4 AM, after which it gradually became quieter. During my watch, I was lucky to experience a somewhat calmer phase.

Nevertheless, this night was hardly bearable without coffee. We were really put to the test but continued to persevere and braved the forces of nature.

What would the new day bring?

The Storm Continues

A new day dawned, and it was clear that more storms and strong winds awaited us. After the experiences of the past days, we opted for an even more conservative approach and went into the third reef early in the morning. Better safe than sorry, and we didn’t want to take any risks.

The scene was the same as the previous day. The sky was overcast with dark clouds, the wind whipped across the boat, and the waves rose meters high. But we stood strong against the forces of nature.

Surprisingly, the morning was comparatively calm and stable. From 6 AM to around 2 PM, we had a small respite, and the sun even peeked out for a few moments. Yet the heat and humidity were omnipresent.

Then, around 2 PM, another squall sequence approached. By now, we were used to this routine. The wave crests built up behind us, looking as if they would engulf us, but then chose to propel us forward with all their might, making the boat surf down the wave. This is the typical rhythm when following the trade winds: long, drawn-out waves from astern.

The roar of the water under the rain, the constant rocking of the boat—it’s a unique feeling. But it’s only bearable because we know that a catamaran of this size with its two hulls is practically unsinkable. This reassurance always calms me, even though there are moments when the forces of nature seem overwhelming.

Anna was completely exhausted from her night watch and fell asleep on the aft deck after breakfast. She slept so deeply that she missed the storm front, despite the noise, the rain, and the turmoil around her.

Around 4 PM, another large storm front approached. Nearly half of the radar showed red. We knew we wouldn’t be able to avoid it but would have to go through it.

As a reward and to bolster our spirits, Nicolas and Anna decided to prepare something special for dinner: pizza. They made a pizza for each of us with our favorite toppings. What a delightful change and treat.

Choosing Our Catamaran

The excitement of the past two days reminded me of our purchase decision.

Safety at sea was always my top priority. When we decided to buy a catamaran, I had two burning questions in mind for the dealer.

The first question was: “Can I get back on the boat if I go swimming and no one is on board to throw down the swim ladder?” This was incredibly important to me because I remembered a movie I saw in my youth, where a sailing trip turned into a fight for survival because the swimming crew couldn’t climb back onto the high freeboard.

The second question was: “Can the boat sink?” While one has to expect storms on the ocean, it was crucial for me that the starting situation be as safe as possible. No one wants to sink in the middle of a storm.

The dealer reassured me that the boat was practically unsinkable. Additionally, it had a low-lying swim platform that allowed us to get back on board at any time.

This gave me a sense of security and ultimately helped me make the decision to choose a catamaran.

In any case, we are already curious about what the next day will bring.

Culinary Delights Day 17