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We (my mate, me and the children) were at the isthmus with mom and dad on the Phantasy. A blue blazer settled in and drove 5 ft waves into the anchorage. We had to get out.
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It turned out to be some of the most violent weather I have encountered in my years sailing the Catalina channel.
The wind was so strong in the anchorage, it carried away the tarp over the cockpit (where mom and dad were sleeping) they got soaked by the driving rain.
When the tarp left, it’s lashing pulled the lead off the antenna. We didn’t know that until we tried to call the coast guard after we saw the waterspout approaching mid channel on the way home. Got no answer...
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Mother’s Day hurricane?
It might have been. I don’t remember the exact date but if dad was keeping a log, I’m sure it would be in there. On the trip home, under reefed main only, it took both dad and me on the tiller. I don’t know why the tiller or rudder post didn’t break. We had a following sea with, I thought, 30 ft waves that were breaking.
The crest cascaded toward us and certain doom only to lift the stern and accelerate us down the face fighting a broach. In the trough, little wind and the main would luff. Then back up, a knock down..we’d spill some of the power and off we’d go again.
Dad always seemed confident and in control. Me, not so much. When we finally arrived at the dock, I really did feel like kissing the ground (but I didn’t).
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As a side note, we did make record time.
After that experience we felt we could handle almost anything. Our years cruising the islands started the next year.
