The Spirit of Bermuda confronted waterspouts, electrical storms and even "ghostly calm" in the latest leg of the Tall Ships Atlantic Challenge.
The three-masted schooner fought through freaky weather to achieve second place in the 1,000 nautical mile Charleston-Boston leg.
Spirit crossed the finish outside Boston Harbour on Sunday to finish second in Class B and overall.
Captain Simon Colley described the challenging conditions of the race as "ten hours of evading nature".
"First we encountered five waterspouts in all, and at one stage, three at one time within two miles of the ship," he said in a satellite e-mail.
"We took evasive action whilst endeavouring to outrun the electrical storms behind them until that first icy blast heralding the microburst, or white squall.
"Everyone on deck sprang to action to strike the main and furl the outer jib. All hands below busied themselves stowing loose gear and lashing benches, harnesses on, ready to come on deck if needed.
"Hatches were secured and watertight doors dogged closed. By the time the winds reached 30 knots we were striking the fore and the mizzen. By 45 knots we had all sails furled and were surging along at eight knots under bare poles.
"Then it got windy. Six separate microbursts in all Force ten or 11 sustained, with gusts up to 76 knots, intermingled with severe electrical storms, the ninth and last of which is now 12 miles astern."
He said: "We are happy and safe and are once again thinking about racing after ten hours of evading nature. Everyone handled themselves brilliantly and are rightly proud of their day."
Spirit will be berthed at Boston Navy Yard as of today after a voyage north to Gloucester, Massachusetts, and a day at the Thompson Island Outward Bound Centre.
On Sunday she will depart for Lunenberg, Nova Scotia, and then Halifax before heading home on July 20 for Somers Day on July 28.