Storm Chasing 101
Sixty-foot waves, hurricane force winds, boats being tossed about like peas in a giant, boiling cauldron. Stories of mariners battling the force of stormy seas are legendary. I’ve watched The Perfect Storm, read stories by John Kretchmer such as At the Mercy of the Sea, where sailors battle a hurricane and one man loses his life to the sea. Each of these sagas has left indelible marks in my mind, created fear in my very soul, made me believe that at some point in time I will be at the mercy of one of these storms. How does one overcome a fear such as this?
It’s only human to fear the unknown, and even more reasonable to fear the deadly forces of mother nature. It’s reasonable to fear being hundreds of miles from shore, and find oneself facing raging winds and monstrous waves. To fear is acceptable, but to lose the ability to think clearly and rationally when faced with that situation, is unacceptable. I feel that my fear may be bordering on the side of incapacitation, if it’s not addressed. Since my husband and I will be alone on our boat, out at sea, and will surely be encountering savage seas, I have to face this fear and equip myself with the skills I need to aid rather than hinder our passages. It is now January 1st, 2015. In 28 days, I will be setting sail into the Atlantic for 10 days, and learn first hand what it is like to sail in strong winds.
There’s no guarantee that during the training passage we will encounter stormy seas. However, sailing in the Caribbean for 1,000 nautical miles during this time of year, we are sure to find challenging winds and strong seas. Since I have yet to be aboard a sailing vessel in the open ocean out of the sight of land, days of endless ocean stretching before me, I hope to get a taste of what heavy weather feels like. During my evening watches, I will have to spend 4 hours in the dead of night, on deck and facing whatever the sea has to offer. If the winds are strong and the waves are severe, there will be no time for fear or trepidation; my job will be to maintain our course and keep watch as we slink along through the darkness.
Perhaps, during this passage, the winds of fate will erupt and we will collide with a storm. I will have to face my fear of the rough elements and I will finally know what it’s like to be out at sea in a sailboat during a storm. If that happens, I will rely on the experience of my teacher. He has crossed the Atlantic 21 times, survived hurricanes and situations which would cause most men to crumble. In his capable hands, I will put my fate and know that whatever we face, we will probably survive. Having that security will allow me to think rationally, put my fear on the back burner and focus on the skills I need to deal with intense conditions. This is the plan, anyway. Only time will tell what Mother Nature will toss our way and how our crew will handle it. All I know for sure is that I want to face the forces of the sea for the first time with a man who has seen it all, and in a boat that is tested and true.