We set sail from Falmouth, England on May 14th in our 26 foot sailing sloop, hoping to reach Lisbon, Portugal by mid June. Our plan was to cross the English Channel and the Bay of Biscay before the early storms and June Gloom (heavy fogs) that are typical during that time of year. Weather is the most important consideration for most sea or ocean passages and Biscay and the Channel are no exceptions. Dee Caffari, who recently became the first woman to sail non-stop solo around the world said, “The English Channel is definitely one of the most dangerous places for smaller boats.” The Lighthouse
Waves crashed over the bow while adrift at sea,
While a voice soft and tender reached out to me
“There is a Captain who will guide you to the shore
He’ll lead to still waters — your ship will safely moor.
Our Lord is a lighthouse for those stranded at sea,
He’ll steady your ship through the power of Calvary.”
When the winds against my sails cause strife
And I am tossed by the swirling sea of life,
I cast the anchor of my soul and pray
And trust that Jesus will show me the way.When a greater force of steel meets a lesser force of wood or fiberglass, physics will dictate who wins.

It was 3:00 am and the winds were in excess of 40 knots and the seas were six to seven feet high. Our sailboat was being tossed around like a tiny cork in the tumultuous seas. To make matters worse, we were in the shipping lane of the English Channel, and huge freighters were everywhere. We got through, but not before we capsized seven times, losing all food and water and what we didn’t lose, we jettisoned to lighten the load in order to keep from sinking. We endured fourteen days of wind and waves as water continued to fill the boat. I thought my life was over. The wind grew stronger, and the swells continued to grow with it. I vividly remember tying on a safety line and inching my way to the mast, trying not to slide off the varnished foredeck while dropping the jib and hoisting a storm sail. I had never been so exhausted and felt almost delirious. How we were rescued by the English Coast Guard and ultimately hospitalized for hyperthermia, sickness and broken bones seems all but a blur. But I do remember crying out to God and hearing a comforting voice say, “Everything will be alright,” and it was! Whether we are sinking in an ocean or a sea of pain and heartache, the Lord always hears us. His love for you is greater than any storm you will ever face!

He will call upon me, and I will answer him; I will be with him in trouble, I will deliver him and honor him (Psa. 91:15).

When surrounded by a sea of trouble, His love is our lifejacket of hope.