PART 3 HIS GUIDING LIGHT

Within ten minutes we were in " THE STORM OF THE SUMMER." The wind was blowing a good 45-50 knots--the seas were like mountains and lightening was exploding around us every two seconds. I yelled to Dan; "LIFE PRESERVERS" and he grabbed two from the cabin. Yelled again;--" DAN--KNOCK DOWN THE OUTRIGGERS AND ALL THE ANTENNAS BEFORE LIGHTENING STRIKES US." I turned on the two large bilge pumps and they were working at full capacity,--turned on both batteries and tried to take a reading off the compass. The sea was washing blue-black water completely over the windshield and the cabin. The bilge was full of sea water and there was 2-3 inches on top of the deck. I told Dan to brace himself inside with me---take the bucket and dip water when possible. He looked over my shoulder and said; " DAD,--THE COMPASS IS GOING AROUND AND AROUND IN CIRCLES--DO YOU KNOW WHERE WE ARE?" I yelled back; " I THINK SO BUT THE WAVES AND WIND ARE BLOWING ME AROUND REAL BAD--THIS LIGHTENING IS TERRIBLE."

picture of ocean lightning

Static electricity from the lightening was running blue all over the boat and you could not touch anything metal without getting shocked. The waves were crashing inside the boat, everything inside was floating from bow to stern. I'm getting real concerned that the v-8 engine is going to drown out and quit running from all the water in the boat. I had been in many storms while deep sea fishing and for an afternoon summer storm this was a category four--I was litterly fighting and praying that we would make it in. I would ride up the face of a wave and be blown side ways going back down trying to out run it before it crashed on us. The lightening was striking so close to us that it would jar our insides and we could feel the heat from it. Conditions were worsening and there was no way out except to keep heading what I thought to be west. My loran and radio were out of commission from the water and lightening and the compass is dancing in circles of 360 degrees. I was navigating by the seat of my pants and experience ---attempting to keep us and the boat afloat. We look at each other with that look of despair---knowing our lives were in danger.

We were being blown and thrown from north to south to east. I look any minute for the engine to be flooded out by water and quit running. Dan is yelling; "GUN IT DAD-GUN IT---THERE'S ONE READY TO CRASH OVER THE STERN--GO-GO-GO!!" I push the throttle hard forward and turn the boat to port trying to get away.

Jerry Delany

Stories  copyright(c)2001