Randy's Comments

Randy, thanks. My sons take most of the photos, so I can't take any credit. The thunderstorm clouds were about 10 miles offshore of South Haven, MI. We were sailing south from Holland to St. Joe, took a long tack offshore, and saw the sky turn black in the west. The thunderstorm moved in very fast with these great "mammary" clouds (that sometimes spawn tornadoes/waterspouts), wind gusts went up to about 50, lightning hit all around us, rain came down in buckets. We got sails down before it hit and headed her into the waves and wind with the diesel turning over just enough to hold her there - let the autopilot steer and kept a lookout from the companionway (there wasn't much visibility). It passed quickly.