Overnight the crew experienced their worst weather yet. The rain continued with even greater force. Anyone who had remained dry during the last 24 hours was almost certainly drenched now. The sea also got rougher, putting the ship under great strain. At one point the back of the boat lifted right out of the water, exposing the rudder, before crashing back into the water. Louise’s injury continued to be painful and because she was unable to work she was at greater risk of exposure. Several of the other crew members were also starting to suffer from the cold and soon Susanne, the nurse, detected the early signs of hypothermia. The difficult decision was to know what to do at this point. The best option would be to send those at risk to the support ship, but the waves made the ship to ship transfer risky. But with no chance of getting dry, staying on board the Viking ship would only increase the risk of worsening the situation so the decision was made to attempt the crossing. In total, four of the crew were transferred to the Cable 1 support ship for much needed warmth and care.
For the rest of the crew the ordeal continued and the Sea Stallion didn’t reach harbor until the early hours of the morning. Those that had the energy set up tents on land, while others just stretched a canopy over the boat and laid down there. For many, it was the first real sleep for almost 48 hours.
As if to reward their hard work, today brought calm weather and sunshine. Carsten [the captain] designated it a non-sailing day and it was a chance to dry out sodden clothes and blankets, eat properly and enjoy the warmth of the sun. There was work to do as well, of course. The whole ship had to be checked over for signs of damage, and a few minor repairs and alterations made. With the weather for the next few days uncertain it could be the last chance they have for a while.
