---

The Living Great Lakes Jerry Dennis 19
After dinner we lowered the mainsail and jib, leaving up only the foresail. I went to bed, determined to get some sleep before my midnight watch. I was awakened in darkness by Harold standing at the open hatch shouting: "All hands on deck!" Fearsome words. I lurched out of my cabin in my long johns. Matt and Tim burst out as well, their eyes round. I was aware of the boat heaving in several directions. High in the rigging was a sound like animals screaming. Uptop: chaos. A squall had swept without warning across the lake and caught us broadside. Wind pounded the sail, making the canvas luff violently. The boat rushed along, heeling hard to starboard, and waves washed over the scuppers. Hajo stood at the helm, fighting to control it, shouting at us to lower the foresail. Now! Now! We lowered the sail, reefed it to the boom, and secured all the lines. Then the squall passed. In a few seconds the wind dropped from twenty-five knots to ten and the chop flattened. Stars appeared through tatters in the clouds. �gWhat the hell was that!�h Hajo shouted. �gI can�ft believe it! That wind came out of nowhere! If we�fd had all our sails up it would have knocked us down! Skeerie-Eerie, man!"

---