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Sailing from Florida to Cuba in a Scary Lightning Storm! | Episode 31

2 October 2019 · 19 min · 15K views · Florida

What this video covers

The crew prepares for a passage from Fort Lauderdale to Marina Hemingway, Cuba, by completing boat maintenance, including a two-day repair of a large sail tear using coloured sail tape and sewing.3:28 They also remove the previous boat name, Retiring Wolanthia, and apply new decals before departing.7:13 The 220-mile transit involves frequent sail changes due to 35-to-40-knot squalls.13:44 During the second night, the crew encounters a severe lightning storm that encircles the vessel.18:01 After attempting to manoeuvre away, they decide to motor directly through the storm cell to exit it as quickly as possible.17:02 The passage concludes with their arrival in Cuba, where they plan to spend several weeks exploring Havana.18:41 The experience highlights that a sailboat’s limited speed makes outrunning localised lightning storms difficult, often necessitating a direct transit through the weather system.18:07

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