This was Rebecca’s most feared Sail to date…the stormy weather going around Cape of Good Hope and Cape Aghullas! And she was right…we experienced every kind of weather on this passage including a huge electrical storm where we still wonder why we were not struck by lightning! Luckily Predictwind gave us great forecasts through the Idirium GO, right on the Raymarine Chartplotter so we knew what weather was coming before it came! Patrick is t one to use an IPad, but having the wind and currents right on the Raymarine Axiom Pro chartplotter…well he couldn’t avoid looking at the weather forecasts when I downloaded them!
One thing we forgot to mention on the video, is that a Predictwind Offshore DID warn us of a stormy night ahead with its CAPE forecast. There was about a 4 hour period on the Cape forecast on Predictwind that there was a pretty big chance for squalls. Oops…forgot to tell the captain…I was psychologically prepped for bad weather, but he wasn’t. But the smart captain that he is…obviously he saw the dark clouds ahead, turned on the radar, and could see it coming, and got down sails ahead of Time! A perfect example of the bad communication at sea that we have sometimes. It’s not just on land girls…and it’s not always the captain! The wind and waves were not so bad, but those lightning strikes were pretty darn impressive!
I am glad to have the Cape of Storms behind us, and all beautiful fair weather sailing up ahead…Ha-Ha who am I fooling!
We also forgot to mention we have an “ion dissipator” at the highest point on our mast. Can that be why we did not get struck by lightning? No idea…Probably not.
A Tour of our Valiant 40. The Bluewater Sailboat. What do we like about it? What would we change?
Preventing a Lightning strike on a sailboat : Lightning Protection
Dear Rebecca,
You and Patrick have given us much needed and entertaining cruiser content, and we are praying for your health and happiness during this dark time. We have been in your wake for awhile now, and wish we were there now to help, but I can only donate to your fund. I hope it helps a little. The three boats helping you are first responders of the highest order and I hope to someday thank them in person.
Get well dear Rebecca so you can help Patrick’s recovery when he comes back to you.
Our best wishes,
Lauri and Dois
sv Ashika
What an incredible comment…the most important line being the boats helping us. Yes…it’s is so amazing what they have done for me…I barely know them, and they have been like 3 parents to me (even though most are younger…I have been like an infant!)
Hi Rebecca,
We don’t know each other. You two were very fortunate to have found each other. Sorry for your loss. Stay strong and cry whenever it makes sense to do so.
Richard