Just as we were nearing Cat Island, a few menacing clouds were creeping up from behind. I thought about reducing sail, but a quick call to a friend for a radar report indicated the storm cell was 10 miles back, and we'd be OK. Still they crept closer and about the time I decided they were overhead, boom, we got hit with a gust that put the rail in the water. Coleen popped her head out of the cabin yelling, "Fix it", the dog was cowering in the corner, tail between his legs, and I quickly let out the mainsail. For some reason, which I can't fathom now, I decided to take down the main rather than put in a reef. I ended up with a flailing sail that was hard to get in control. Finally after a bit of superhuman wrestling, I prevailed and got it tied up somewhat, though not prettily
The little storm had also shifted the wind to behind us, the seas were kicked up and a little mad and we were rolling like crazy (that's when the boat moves all the way from one side to the other). At least we didn't have far to go and soon we were in the lee of land and in the most beautiful water we've seen so far. The color was out of this world! About an hour later we dropped the hook near a beautiful beach, got a radio invitation for dinner aboard Firecracker. Talk about spoiled! It was a great evening, but by 8:30 I'd collapsed in my bunk as I was oh so tired.