WEsailvideo

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

October 2, 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 colored 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 maneuver 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 localized lightning storms difficult, often necessitating a direct transit through the weather system.18:07

Watch on YouTube

More from WEsail

13 Knots, Big Seas & Dolphins at Sunset | Sailing Back to Fiji's MainlandAug 2026We Don't Know Where We're Going Next | Leaving Fulaga, Fiji & Sailing SomewhereAug 2026We Ran Out of Gas Saying Goodbye | Our Last Days in Fulaga, FijiJul 2026Nobody Mentioned the Cave of Bones | Three Weeks in Fulaga, FijiJul 2026

From WEsail — see the channel’s boat, crew, and every analyzed video.

The Sailing Directory Newsletter

One email with the fleet's best finds — the moments, boats, and stories worth your watch time. Enter your own address to get your own copy.

Report an issue