They cut a jagged path over the sea, turning erratically as Emil struggled with the power required to work against winds of this force. The men were repeatedly knocked off their feet, jumping up again and trying to undo mistakes; they were sailing upwind now, and Emil was just performing a gybe when the boom swung round with dangerous force and almost caught one of the men. He ducked, only just in time.

It was a near miss, but there was no time to count any blessings as another gust caught the sails violently. It was the kind Mats had been able to harness on the way out, lifting them onto the hydrofoils and out of the water – but they weren’t yet out of the turn, and the sail was instead forced leewards, towards the water. Immediately, the far side of the boat began to lift.

They were going to capsize.

Bell screamed, hooking one arm around the rail and grabbing Linus with her other. They were clipped on – that was keeping them safe. But if the boat went over, they’d be tethered underwater. Not safe.

‘Hike out!’ Mats yelled and the crew raced, as one, across the width of the boat. They were like marines on a commando course, powerful and hunched, hands and feet scrabbling over the nets before they clipped onto the rails in a seamless leaping movement and stretched their bodies at full lengths over the side of the boat, leaning out as counterbalances. Bell saw them strain as the sail’s tip skimmed the very surface of the water on the opposite side. If it dipped below even for a second, the speed and torque would drive the sail deeper downwards and they would go over.

Linus screamed and she grabbed him as tightly as she could, the deck now like a wall below them, anything loose skittering over the surface and down into the churning water, as for several agonizing seconds, the boat glided on its side in a terrifying, perfectly held balance – the sail flat on the water, the men straining as they arched back as far as they possibly could.

And then, suddenly, it gave. The men won out and the boat crashed back down onto both keels, making Bell cry out again. She had known this was going to happen, something bad. She had felt it coming. But there was still no time for recriminations. The crew were instantly moving again, dispersing and grinding in the jib.

‘Emil!’ Mats hollered over the wind, racing over to Emil at the helm and gripping the column as he tried to balance. Standing in the middle of the boat like this, he was unclipped and vulnerable. ‘Let me take over, man. That was too close. This swell is pretty big now.’

But Emil stayed staring at the horizon, making no move that he had heard.

‘Emil? Did you hear me? Let me take over! I can take it from here!’

Emil glanced at him. ‘No!’