Surviving a Storm at Sea

24 Questions

What was the first indication of impending disaster according to the narrator?

an ominous silence

What did the narrator see that made him realize the enormity of the situation?

an enormous wave, perfectly vertical and almost twice the height of the other waves

How did the narrator feel as he was sinking below the waves?

peaceful

What saved the narrator's life after he was thrown overboard?

his lifeline

What injuries did the narrator suffer during the ordeal?

cracked left ribs, broken teeth, and a mouth filled with blood

What was the narrator's priority despite the chaos and destruction around him?

staying at the wheel and steering the ship

Who appeared at the front hatch and alerted the narrator to the ship's sinking?

Mary

What does the narrator's experience demonstrate about his character?

bravery in the face of danger

What was the dream of the author and his wife, Mary?

To sail in the wake of Captain James Cook and duplicate his round-the-world voyage.

What did the author and his wife do to prepare for their voyage?

They spent 16 years honing their seafaring skills in British waters and fitted out their boat, Wavewalker, for the rough weather.

What was the author's initial reaction to the strong gales they encountered?

He was not worried, but the size of the waves was alarming.

What was Jon's question to his father in the midst of the storm?

Are we going to die?

What was the height of the waves on December 25?

Up to 15 metres, as high as their main mast.

What did the author decide to do to protect the weakened starboard side of the ship?

Heave-to with an improvised sea anchor of heavy nylon rope and two 22-litre plastic barrels of paraffin.

What was the author's attitude towards the worsening weather on New Year's Day?

He reasoned that it had to change soon.

What was Mary and the author's mood like as the storm raged on?

They felt the end was very near.

What was the author's effort to calculate their position after the storm?

He worked on wind speeds, changes of course, drift, and current in an effort to calculate their position.

What was the situation like on January 2?

The waves were gigantic, and they were sailing with only a small storm jib.

What was Sue's physical condition like when she joined her father in the chartroom?

The left side of her head was very swollen and her blackened eyes narrowed to slits.

How many crewmen did the author take on in Cape Town?

Two: American Larry Vigil and Swiss Herb Seigler.

What was the message in the card Sue gave to her father?

Oh, how I love you both. So this card is to say thank you and let's hope for the best.

What was the total distance of their planned three-year journey?

105,000 kilometres.

What was the author's challenge in calculating their position?

They had lost their main compass and had to use a spare which had not been corrected for magnetic variation.

What was the author's mindset in the face of adversity?

Somehow we had to make it.

Study Notes

The Storm

The ship, Wavewalker, was sailing in the southern Indian Ocean when it encountered a massive storm.
The storm was so intense that the crew had to drop the storm jib and lash a heavy mooring rope in a loop across the stern to slow the boat down.
The wind was screaming, and the spray was painful to the ears.
The crew went through their life-raft drill, attached lifelines, and donned oilskins and life jackets in preparation for the worst.

The Giant Wave

At around 6 pm, the wind dropped, and an ominous silence fell.
A massive wave, unlike any other, appeared on the horizon.
The wave was perfectly vertical and almost twice the height of the other waves, with a frightful breaking crest.
The wave crashed over the ship, causing a tremendous explosion and breaking the ship's deck.
The narrator was thrown overboard and sank below the waves, but managed to resurface and grab onto the ship's guard rails.

After the Wave

The ship was taking on water, but the narrator didn't dare abandon the wheel to investigate.
The front hatch was thrown open, and Mary appeared, screaming "We're sinking!"
The narrator found the wheel and lined up the stern for the next wave, hanging on for dear life.

The Voyage

In July 1976, the narrator, his wife Mary, and their children, Jonathan and Suzanne, set sail from Plymouth, England to duplicate Captain James Cook's round-the-world voyage.
The family had spent 16 years honing their seafaring skills in British waters.
They sailed down the west coast of Africa to Cape Town, where they took on two crewmen, Larry Vigil and Herb Seigler, to help them tackle the southern Indian Ocean.
On their second day out of Cape Town, they began to encounter strong gales, which continued for weeks.

Christmas and New Year's

Despite the atrocious weather, the family had a wonderful Christmas and New Year's celebration on board.
On New Year's Day, they reasoned that the weather had to change soon, but it only got worse.

The Children's Worries

On January 2, the waves were gigantic, and Jonathan asked his father if they were going to die.
The narrator tried to reassure him, but Jonathan said, "But, Daddy, we aren't afraid of dying if we can all be together – you and Mummy, Sue and I."
This response left the narrator determined to fight the sea with everything he had.

The Aftermath

The ship rode out the storm, and by the morning of January 6, the wind was easing.
The narrator tried to get a reading on the sextant to calculate their position.
Suzanne gave her father a card she had made, with a message saying "Oh, how I love you both. So this card is to say thank you and let's hope for the best."

This quiz is based on a personal account of surviving a storm at sea. Test your knowledge of the events and the safety measures taken by the crew.

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