[Hm2michaud]

It was a hot, hazy summer August afternoon in 1996, with thunderstorms predicted that the 126 ft S/V Adventure, an Essex built 1926 schooner, left Newburyport. Ma bound for Gloucester. A squall came up off of Rockport and she suffered a knockdown. The fear was that the gaff rig would break free and tumble to the deck, the reality was the port rail was forced to the water as the main sail burster apart, as the crew was unable to free the 2 inch main sheet. A knock down happens in a instant, with unimaginable force and with little time to respond. As you run to safe harbor, sometimes the devil grabs you, but after the storm, tranquility and peace surrounds you. This was my experience in a powerful knock down situation.