The most memorable moment of the South East Pacific Tour was during the 3 day storm with winds of 35-40 knots, gusting up to 55 knots.The grandious display of nature was mesmerizing. Despite feeling cold and exhausted by the physical strain, my mind was clear and alert, though. Watching the wind screaming over the huge vastness and through the rig. The sea; white, overriders breaking over the crests of the huge pacific rollers. Endless wave trains. Mountains of water, estimated at 8 to 10 meters, rolling behemothly, in regular and powerfull motion across the globe. These were prime times.
Strangely I felt no fear. The biggest danger was loosing the rig, and getting pooped. Being pooped was a great worry. Columbia being the heavy ship that she was, pooping might have sunk her in a matter of seconds. We had several overriders crashing into the cockpit. And no need to say that loosing the rig in these isolated waters is catastrophic too. Which is why we had reason to worry. In one of the last stronger gusts one of our lower shrouds broke...
Yet, strangely, I felt no fear.
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