....and we were anchored out in Cape Lookout Bight for it! I got up about 3 AM as things started getting wild. We have a wireless wind gauge that transmit through the temperature module to a readout in the pilot house. Last reading I got was 60MPH then the thing went dead, and it got REALLY windy! So I believe the reports of 80 knots at the port and Harker's Island, don't think we got into the 90's , but I was just a little focused on my anchor holding.
Which it did, big time. I should have taken a picture of the track on the plotter. Crazy. Looked like a kid took a crayon and drew a big 200 degree crescent, then took a red pencil and scribbled in the open space.
My other focus was on the sail boats around me, most of which turned on their engines to hold position. At least one had dragged.
My ground tackle is an 88# Delta, connected to 3/8 BBB chain by a WASI Powerball swivel, with a two line 20 ft snubber bridle. Had around 150 feet or so out in 23 ft of water plus 7 feet to pulpit, or around 5-1 scope. Boat weighs 74,000 and was full of fuel and water. Not sure what would have happened without that bridle, by the way.
On top of it all was a wild electrical storm all around us. that went on for a half hour after the winds subsided to a more gentlemanly 30 knots or so. I didn't feel so hot about being on my boat, but would have been freaked being on one of the 10 sail boats in the harbor. No one got hit.
Our bimini came apart a bit. That Stamoid is tough stuff, it bent the most forward stainless steel bow like a boomerang before letting go its grip there; still entact over all. The hydraulic radar arch was tilted back a couple of inches. The weather sensor left behind its base and cable tie, the anemometer was stiil intact. A few of the sailboats had some sails and dodgers pretty torn up.
I now understand what people say about how horrid it is riding out a hurricane. 15 minutes of Category 1 winds were plenty for me. I kissed that Delta anchor when I weighed it a few hours later.
