原始文本 - 英语 - ...its lurid light throwing the curling waves into silhouette...

I think the problem is the "lurid light" - lurid means overly bright - so much that it becomes grotesque. It gives a very scary and surreal feeling, especially when it "throws the curling waves into silhouette" - I get the image of high, violent waves, suddenly looking black because of the flashing lightning.

You've also got a problem with "waves ... to break over the boat" - when a wave breaks, it's when the wave stops growing and starts to descend (usually it's white at that point). These waves are not attempting to break up the boat, they are just coming over the sides of it.