PYC Val Alstine Family Update: Sailing Through a Gale & 150 Miles to Go

Background: Peter, Christine, Hannah and Hayden set sail in August on their "great adventure" on their J42 "Stolen Hours". Below is a recent update.
The last 36 hours have been filled with high seas, big winds, lots of squalls, and plenty of drama. A low formed in the southern Atlantic and Stolen Hour & other Caribbean 1500 boats had the opportunity to experience its force. Plenty of 30-40 knot winds, and the squalls were so intense that it was like sailing through pea soup Maine fog the rain was driving so hard. The upside was that the heavy rain would briefly flatten the seas, so 30-40 knots of breeze was not so choppy during those interludes. During the gale we tried to roll in the jib, and although we tied to roll in both sheets, they flew off so we thought we had torn the clew from the sail. Several hours later we discovered that the clew was intact but we shredded one sheet. How both sheets became unshackled from the clew remains a Bermuda triangle mystery... It is now nearly 2am on 11/9 and we hope to have passed through our last squall before we arrive in Tortola late tomorrow. We will be sailing alongside Puerto Rico shortly. Dad is driving, Leo & Phil are resting, the half moon is shining, and we are charging through the Caribbean Sea at 9 knots. A truly beautiful night.