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May - Day 4



Saturday afternoon the wind increased to a F6 NE with waves to match but all was still well. We had ports of refuge in mind if things got worse but we were too far west to make for them and it would have meant beating to windward on a fine reach. On we went with the wind increading to a F7 to 8 and waves breaking over the stern of the boat.



It was hard helming so we did half an hour each while the other two looked out for rogue waves that could be a problem. The wind speed was up to 40 knots with no sign of abating. Then a large wave came and knocked John off his feet at the helm, followed by another that knocked the boat over on its side, but she's a strong old girl, so she came right back up. I was down below at the time and holding on, so I wasn't thrown to the other side with force, but it was strange to be looking down at the chart table sideways on.



We were sailing with three reefs in the mainsail so after the knockdown we decided to drop all the sail and use the engine to maintaine steerage, however we were still making 6 knots and going further out. We couldn't turn to get closer to Finisterre due to the risk of a further knockdown.



It was then that Sean decided to stream the series drogue, batten down the hatches and sit it out. This heavy bit of kit had to be lifted out of the bottom of the cockpit locker and Sean did a brilliant job doing this in the conditions we were under with John helping him and me at the helm. Once attached to the cleats, it was deployed and did the job of slowing us down so we could take some refuge in the boat away from the crashing waves. It was such a relief to close the hatch and hide from the horrible noise and peril of the wind and waves.



We sent regular securite messages on channel 16 to say that we were on a sea anchor and drifting slowly in a SW direction at a rate of 1.5 to 2 knots. We were still being bashed by the waves, some of which came over the stern of the boat with such force that water came in under the hatch. After pumping the bilges and mopping up before the next wave hit, all we could do was sit, wait and wonder how long it would last for..................................................



To be continued

Sean



biscay2

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