Question

what is meant by we were sailing only a small storm jib and were still making 8 knots?

Answer 1

The word phrase ''we were sailing only a small storm jib and were still making 8 knots'' means the family and ship are able to keep their traveling speed at eight knots or eight nautical miles per hour or approximately nine and a quarter miles per hour compared to land miles.

The nautical mile remains in use by sea and air navigators worldwide because of its convenience when working with charts.