It was a tropical storm when she sailed
She may have been loaded in storms projected path at dock or in St John’s River..,. Not a good place
These class vessels are fast and perhaps thought she could outmaneuver storm if it got worse
Large ships traverse hurricanes and typhoons regularly around the globe
But as a rule try to avoid the zero to 120 degree apex of hurricanes which is highest concentration of storm power
In a storm any vessel is eithe slamming bow or surfing stern
She reported she lost power over propeller issues and hence she would have likely laid to beam in towering canyons of water
Steep seas with big rollers and fairly high frequency wave length on top
Beaufort scale 12 plus which is ominous
I did six crossings of the Pacific by the time I was 13 years old.
I know about storms and big swells.
precisely....if after clearing the sea buoy off Mayport, this guy woulda taken a hard right...head straight down the coast...he and his crew would probably be headed back from San Juan right now...aside from the number one rule of the sea..don't pee to lee...sailing into the northeastern quadrant of any tropical storm is almost maniacal....sailing inside the stream southbound, he would have had company...other ships and tugs were taking that route that day...