The crew of the larger vessel were finding the footing difficult, constantly having to right themselves, but this was minor compared to what the four men who had just boarded the smaller yacht had to contend with. The line between the two boats had no sooner been released than a gap of forty feet appeared between the vessels. The men on board the yacht struggled through the violent throes as it was hurled one way then another, finally wrestling themselves to the boat’s cabin. Once it was confirmed that they had all made it safely off-deck, the signal was given on the trawler to start transmitting. Larsen and the other three men braced themselves in the yacht’s cabin, nobody talking while they waited for what was to come. The forecast had warned that the storm was on its way but they had only one shot at this and had to go. The weather was beneficial in that it helped their gambit appear more authentic, but that was only if they didn’t capsize. Despite all the rehearsals they had carried out, the storm had the potential to ruin everything.
