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Dan & Kat McClary's avatar

Thank you for sharing this Raffi. Very good information and a sobering experience. We were underway motoring near Denerau at the same time this happened too you and had white-out conditions with driving rain; thankfully no microburst though! Your comment about 'putting the boat away" hit a real chord with me as I am often guilty of not doing this, particularly on short hops, so it is something I will work to improve! - it I have also re-shared it with a meteorologist friend at Gulf Harbour Radio who is also a cruiser as I'm sure he will be interested. Cheers

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Jeanne Socrates's avatar

Good you doused the sails when you did! As sailors, we should always listen to our instinctive, gut feelings - 'better safe than sorry' and a (small) genoa can always be deployed in a hurry in case of engine failure in a crisis. Glad no damage was sustained and the nearby reefs were avoided - imagine you slept well once you'd anchored! (PS I always keep a foulie jacket hanging within easy reach from cockpit when on passage - hypothermia can set in surprisingly quickly if you're wet in strong wind.)

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