I'll be busy the next few days getting the blog up to date, but didn't want to keep you in suspense about this hurricane. We are tied up at the docks in Manteo, ready to weather it.
What we've done:
--Doubled up all our dock lines
--Removed the jib
--Secured the staysail and main
--Removed the bimini
--Secured the dinghy on the davits
--Dropped two 5-gallon buckets on each side to arrest rocking motion (a new theory we've never tried before. Stay tuned.)
What we'll do tonight during the storm:
--Stay onboard and adjust to changing wind and water levels
--Monitor Channel 9 with all our dockmates in case anyone needs assistance
--Keep an hourly log that will eventually show up here.
--Play cribbage.
--Not sleep much!
What we didn't do:
--Remove the staysail
--Remove the main
--Haul out
These decisions will be evaluated here after the storm.
All told, it's nice to weather our first hurricane in familiar waters with friends all around.
God speed, Earl.
3 comments:
Papoose:
All sails off.
All booms tied & braced
Did not double lines as no room on cleats given the
huge docklines.
Pull dingy out of water.
Tight spring lines.
Greatest concern at this point is where does she fall when the tide goes out and she's on the bottom????
Anyone have advice?
Wow! I'm sure you've thought this out. Marinas can be really dangerous in a strong hurricane. Storm surge is your enemy here. My boat was on the bottom during Isabel in Colington Harbor and I was really worried about all the water coming back so fast, but as you probably remember, the wind clocked S instead of W and it came back slowly.
Check out these marina photos from Katrina:
http://madmariner.com/news/story/NEW_ORLEANS_KATRINA_MARINA_DAMAGE_011008_AP
Please don't let your love of that boat (and I understand it) contribute to a bad decision. Scope out a stairway in the condos on the waterfront there for a 'worse-case'.
I know you guys have thought of all of this already. We'll be thinking of you. Stay safe.
Our decisions are based on 15 years of watching hurricanes in the OBX. We think the high above us will keep it far enough offshore that it's not going to be devastating. There is little chance of it doing an Isabel or a Floyd on us (going up the inside and flooding from the mainland).
We think the winds will be equivalent to or even less than a strong nor'easter. I weathered a 35+ knot blow in Rock Hall in a smaller slip than we're in here.
Jim, you COULD make one side of the lines shorter than the other so she'll tip one direction? It shouldn't matter, right? No boat next door to twangle rigging?
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