Sam Davies reports

Big squalls on the approach to the Caribbean

Good morning everyone!

Another difficult night wrestling with some BIG rainsqualls ... after an afternoon becalmed in doldrums conditions, the last 24 hours haven't given us much rest!!

Last night's rainsqualls were not really the normal kind we find here in the trade winds. I think that they were escapees from the doldrums that were coming up to pester us!

It is always pretty impressive sight at night when the black black squall cloud comes chasing up behind you, a menacing silouette, in front of the starry sky. The huge 'cumulo-beastie' makes my heart beat faster - wondering what it's got in store for me : 25 knots, 30... 35? I hope not! It is that same feeling of intrepidation as Harry Potter must feel just as he is about to confront Voldemort......

So I wait for the last minute, and then wake Sidney up, just before the squall strikes... Artemis is not really set up for a solo sailor and nothing is reachable from the helm, so we attack each squall with both of us on deck so as not to take risks.... The first gust hits - a cold contrast of temperature, as this air is coming from several thousands of meters up! It is solid puff too,

25 knots (there were only 10 knots before) and sends Artemis surging forward as Sidney eases the sheets and I bear away. Then we start hooning through the black night, the squall has hidden the stars, and the first drops of torrential rain start to fall. Cold rain! It is suddenly impossible to see anything and difficult to keep a sense of direction (but essential to keep Artemis from wiping out!) The wind is all over the place and gusting sharply. I fix my eyes on the instruments - TWA no higher than 150, no lower than 160, it is full-on concentration..... Apart from this guide, I use all my feelings and sensations to keep her under control, it is like driving an out-of-control lorry on a motorway, at night with no headlights, no windscreen wipers and no breaks......!! Andrenalin BUZZ!!!

Then, after about 15 minutes, as quickly as it arrived, the squall passes over us, as if it is bored with us and wants to find someone else to annoy... The wind drops, Sidney jumps back into the bunk to carry on his disrupted sleep, and I start trimming everything back to light wind sailing again....

Until the next one, of course!

Sam xx