S4, Ep50 Sailing Couple Survives Their Worst Storm Yet — What Happened
January 4, 2026 · 22 min · 918 views · Bahía de San Quintín
Sailboat deck pounded by storm waves, spray flying
What this video covers
A 38-knot storm hits the sailboat Mystic while anchored in Bahía de San Quintín, Mexico, testing whether the anchor would hold through four to five hours of fierce, direction-shifting winds.▶ 16:32 The crew had accidentally deployed 120 feet of chain in 23 feet of water — a scope ratio that proved fortunate — and the anchor held throughout, though Tim briefly suspected dragging.▶ 13:30 Waves broke over the bow repeatedly, the man-overboard device fell into the water, and seasickness drove the crew topside to ride it out.▶ 16:19 Peak true wind speed reached 38 knots, sustained at 34 knots for at least an hour.▶ 14:29 Two other sailboats, the Argonauts and a solo sailor on Still Searching, were also in the bay; Still Searching had departed earlier for Geronimo Island, roughly 38 miles away, into the building headwinds.▶ 8:46 Before the storm arrived, Tim climbed the mast to reeve a new flag halyard and hang a Mexican courtesy flag — a task that had failed twice previously due to broken or short lines.▶ 6:32 A bridle, described as costing just over $300, is credited with protecting the anchor system.▶ 19:53 The practical lesson: choosing a protected anchorage ahead of a forecast storm, and deploying generous scope, gave the Mystic a safe ride through conditions that exceeded all weather predictions.
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