Early morning and the rain clouds are coming at us thick and fast. Using the radar I can see the outline of the clouds and heaviest rainfall and use this to find the easy path through then. It's quite a thrill to see the squalls moving across the seas and to steer between the curtains of rain.
Just when we thought we were through the worst we get hit. The radar showed an impenetrable wall. Nothing for it but to make a grab for the wet weather gear and secure all hatches. First day turned to night, the heavens opened and just as suddenly a big grey wave appeared off the starboard bow. Where did that come from?? With a clap of thunder I dived below. David called me coward, running at the first roll of thunder. When I returned to the cockpit I explained I'd been putting the laptop and hand held GPS in the oven. No, not some crazy new recipe from Heston Blumenthall but the Faraday Effect whereby the surround of metal prevents the current from reaching anything inside it. Reported, but not personally tested, if a yacht is struck by lightening the oven is where you secure your precious, and movable, electronics.
The squall passed as quickly as it had come with no damage. Another good learning step on the curve to master mariner. There are probably enough steps on this route to reach the top of the Eiffel Tower and we're only on the first few rungs.
Arrived in Ponce by lunchtime and cleared in with the (hostile) US authorities.
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