Thunder & Lightening @ 40 knots

13th August

1745 Departed Trieste, Italy
Whole day had been overcast and hazy

2040 Arrived in the middle of nowhere
The coastline was very shallow, we made a decision to anchor not far from a run way of beacons, 1 nautical mile from shore. It actually felt like we were in the middle of nowhere, but there was no way we could get in any closer. Our depth was 9 meters

As Marie cooked as up a storm, we had no idea their was one actually brewing behind us
We sat on deck eating our dinner, reflecting over our day
On the horizon(stern-to) was a display of lightening sheets and clapping thunder

Brett had no longer made comment on how the waters had calmed, as we had swells along the way...the calm before the storm!
Then there was a long whistle in the air and from the bow we were hit by gale @40 knots
It was so sudden, every thing went flying. It was grab and stow

The dingy which we had been towing with outboard, was almost lifted up out of the water
Brett managed to retie it closer to the stern, but in these conditions it was to risky to attempt to get it back up on deck
The boat was being hit hard by big waves, lightening overhead and thunder clapping in our ears Somehow we managed to get the bimini down without falling overboard
It was the most terrifying experience. We were ordered to put on our PDF's and harnesses if on deck

The worst of the storm was over within two hours. But we had to deal with the after shocks all night
Don't think Brett got much sleep. I managed to crawl under my blanket and ride it out. I woke the next morning in a fetal position, with my life jacket and my grab bag in hand

When morning arrived it was just another day in paradise. Sea calm with a hazy atmosphere