April 19, 2018 UTC 0310 Lat 12°9.8′ N , lon 114° 12.4′ speed 4.3kts , 100%cloud cover.

Dark looming clouds are coming our direction from the East as we point 330°T. Jeff was able to set up a nifty function (MARPA) on our radar to detect movement detected by our radar. It’s all good to have technology but it’s a bit daunting to look at the computer screen to see that you are surrounded by all kinds of movement (weather) that is headed right for you. It’s as if we were an innocent gazelle that happily pranced into a den of hungry lion, lioness and their cubs. All of sudden an innocent naive steel sailboat shows up and the clouds can’t wait to wreak havoc on it for some long overdue entertainment. It was dramatic in our minds as we sailed into the epicenter of where the storm clouds we’re closing in. We have heard of squalls causing 40-60 knot winds with torrential down pour, and lightening accompanied by clamorous thunder. Soon we were surrounded by squalls and no way out.

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hat did we get in reality? We got a lot of heavy rain which our girls were so happy to be dancing in. Sophia and Anna had several bowls and jars out to catch the rain so they can play with it. We should have been more practical and devised a raincatchment system. The winds were stronger but manageable. The high winds often were too strong for our windvane so that meant handsteering to get us back on course. Perhaps our luck during this passage brought us only mild squalls but nothing broke and spirits were high and feeling refreshed.

Another day I left my shift feeling thankful.