Heat Relief Turns Knarley

The clouds and attendant thunderstorm shown in our last blog did not produce a funnel cloud but it did produce frequent lightening and it targeted this harbor.  We received very high microbursts and rain the likes of which occur in hurricanes.  The portlights I repaired all held and did not leak except for the one over our berth.  It was a real test of the gaskets.  Looking out our companionway doors, we saw a fifty+ feet Formosa Ketch in the slip astern of us heeling about fifteen degrees.  That is one heavy boat.  Rain was moving horizontally.  It was a pfrogue strangler.  About five minutes after the rain started we were bracketed by God's own artillery.  For the most part it was impacting at some distance.  I turned the computer and all electronics off but not the a/c.  Just as all the electronics went to sleep, a doozie hit so close there was no time lapse between the flash and the thunder.  It was definitely reminiscent of real artillery incoming.

We were late to dinner aboard Keeling Time but we were sure they would adjust the event because of the maelstrom outside.  Shortly, Rick knocked on the deck and said they had some damage.  Mind you, this is the second time they have been hit.  The first fried all electronics and electrical stuff aboard Keeling Time including even their refrigerator.  It cost them two months for repairs.  Anyway, both crews felt the strike was easily within a hundred yards or so of our boats. 

Keeling Time's damage this time seems to be isolated to a failed gas solenoid circuit breaker and their radio which comes on and shows proper operation but no sound.  Our damage so far appears to be the a/c thermostat stuck permanently on 72 degrees cooling.  More parts to acquire at some port up the coast.  The a/c does work.  Perhaps that fuzzy looking gadget on the mast head that is supposed to dissipate near lightening, might have worked.  Thanks Robert for putting it up there in the first place.  Thanks Seabrook for installing one on our new mast.  Now, both KT and WK crews will be looking for and expecting anomalies which may show up weeks from now. 

At first light, crews in the marina emerged and started fiddling with stuff not normally fiddeled with (bad grammar).  That means that the local West Marine will be busy today.   For those not aboard, surprises await. 

We plan to visit my former CO from Vietnam when we get to Jacksonville.  His mate suffers from severe back pain and they gave us the name of the clinic they use.  We are hoping to see the back specialist so we can get Bear's problem resolved.  For now, she is better but still having some pain. 

We can do without yesterdays "event of the day".  We are looking forward to the mail pouch Poozak sent out yesterday and to setting sail at first light tomorrow, barring some discovery of lightening demons.  We are glad we were not underway at sea when that wooley booger storm came by.