Travel Reference
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For my part, I went below and disconnected the aerials of the VHF radio and single side
band receiver, knowing that if they were struck by lightning the electronics would be
ruined. When I returned up on deck, I felt the wind pick up in strength and heard the wave-
lets slapping on the side of the hull. The rain started to fall in heavy drops and continued
to gather in intensity. There were tendrils of lightning all around us now, and I guessed that
the storm must be at least ten miles in circumference. The wind picked up much more, and
the rain fell with such intensity that we were all soaked in seconds. The water was like ice,
and it felt delicious after the heat that we had suffered. There was no question about the
decks not being clean enough for the collection of storm water now. I went below, opened
the gate valve to the water supply and returned with the key to open the water fitting on
deck. I made my way carefully forward and dropped to my knees, undoing the water trap,
and watched as the rainwater on the cabin and decks now gurgled into the tanks below. I
yelled to Herman to stand by the tanks and watch the level rising. “Let me know when they
are full,” I yelled through the noise.
I could not believe the amount of rain that fell; it was torrential and deafening; the wind
turned it icy and invigorating, and we all were soaked to the skin: all traces of lethargy had
evaporated; we felt tingly and alive again.
Soon, the lad was banging on the roof signaling to me that the tanks were full. Bending
down, I screwed the cap back securely in place and made my way back to the cockpit, re-
trieved a bar of soap, my facecloth and towel and went above, brandishing the soap. “I'm
going to have a shower,” I sang out to the girl.
Making my way forward cautiously again, avoiding the rigging wires, I undid the lashing
to the mainsail and partly raised the boom topping lift. This created a large funnel, and a
steady stream of ice cold water poured down on the deck. I struggled out of my wet clothes
and, sitting below the stream of water, proceeded to have a shower. The water was ice cold
and quite took my breath away. I soaped myself well and washed quickly before the rain
should stop. As I was rinsing off the suds I noticed Paula with her soap and cloth, grinning
widely and naked as a nymph. I grinned back, making a space for her in the icy stream.
The lad was preparing dinner in the galley. I saw a pot of spaghetti on the boil and a can of
meat balls opened and ready to add to the noodles. It was still raining and, as the girl came
down below, I suggested to Herman that I would continue with the dinner if he would like
to shower as well. He gladly accepted and disappeared above with his towel.
After the meal, which we ate below, we all felt a lot better. The cold, invigorating shower
made us feel clean and awake, and the hot meal boosted our morale and comforted us. I
had learned that at least one hot meal a day was vital for a person's well being, especially if
exposed to the elements. It was my turn to wash the dishes, and Paula helped. She was in a
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