Close encounters of the dark kind

I was woken up in the middle of the night (Friday night). “We are on a colission course with a Cargo boat”. Emma was on shift and a Cargo boat was coming across our path. Everyone was awake and in the cockpit waiting for the impact. At this point the boat was 10 nautical miles away. Emma looked a little worried when I said “stay on our course till we get closer. We don’t want to loose too much ground.” Ten minutes passed as the girls were glued to the chart and the Cargo boat and impending doom. There was several mentions of “do we turn now”. When we were two nautical miles from impact, I told Emma to swing 10 degrees Port. We watched the Cargo boats lights in the distance pass across our bow. As it did there was a loud sigh from both Emma and Iris. A few minutes later we were back on course.
It wasn’t Iris’s night either. With the rocking and rolling of Imagine the emergency till had slid out of it home and partly across the floor. When she went to the toilet in the dark Iris kicked the tiller and cut her toe. Tony (the medic) jumped into action bandaging her toe.
Sent from Iridium Mail & Web.

2 responses on “Close encounters of the dark kind

  1. B

    Is it not usual to call on VHF radio and ask to alter the course if you are unable to do so? Or at least confirm course and intention ( like “ Hello! Did you see us? We are on your way!!”Hahaha) Especially in bad weather conditions! I am surprise that you wait so long…I would have a loud sigh with Emma and Iris!
    Anyway, hope you are all OK and back to routine.
    Cheers B.

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