yOU mE AND iRENE

[rsmith]

Then there was Jeane in 04 the second storm we got the full brunt of in Vero in 3 weeks that showed these storms can have a mind of their own.

 

[OBXTucker]

Head East My Dear Irene...
Well east....

 

[Capt K]

Starting to get a little "interesting" up here in New England!
Be safe all. Don't be stupid. Even old Hatts can be replaced!

Capt K

 

[Jaxfishgyd]

Looking better for us in Fla, but those of you in S.C. and N.C. are now in the bullseye.. Let's hope she just keeps bending to the East...

 

[Angela]

I wouldnt pull the trigger just yet I kinda think you guys down south will be in the clear.

...and we're finally out of it....I've been up all night stressing over this. Now, I have to figure out how to stay awake the rest of the day. I wonder how many years that just took off my life. I felt this knot in the middle of my chest and back all night long. I need to have a better plan - I just can't take this stress.

 

[Jaxfishgyd]

Ang,
Look at the bright side..... the peak of hurricane season isn't till next month...
Just consider this a "drill".....

 

[Pascal]

Jeanne was an intersting one but it was well forecasted all along. The collapse of the steering current and resulting loop, the rebuilding of the ridge shoving her westward, etc

NHC did a great job on Jeanne, they had the bullseye on the FT pierce/Vero area about 4 days prior to landfall giving enough time to move boats south to safety

 

[labrador]

Well Ang, looks like you're ok but us up here in N.C. are in the bullseye. Think I'm going to haul either wed. afternoon or thurs morning. Doesn't look good with what they're saying. Cat 4 going back down to Cat 3 on landfall. That's enough to get my attention! George, what do you think? I assume you're going to Jarrett Bay tomorrow. Anybody heard from Jack Sardina? Was supposed to be heading up I think this week.
Skip

 

[SeaWhisper]

Labrador,

I think Jacks is sitting at the doc's with us in Spooners Creeek Marina, if I'm not mistaken.

 

[GJH]

I am scheduled to be hauled at Jarrett Bay Friday at noon. Gambling; that will put the boat in a more exposed spot than further up the hill as we will be about the last boat hauled. But if the storm moves away, it can avoid us hauling at all. And, we will be first back in. Last year it took almost two weeks after the Earl false alarm to get back in. Since we are living aboard full time, getting in last and out first is desirable, but who knows what shape the area, the marina or the boat will be in if we get anything close to a direct hit. We had one of our rental units in New Bern vacant last year during Earl, so it wasn't too bad, but now they are all leased up. We are going stay at a friend's house on Lake Gaston about 4 hours away, and that could be wild up there as well.

I just have this sick feeling about this one.

Will spend the next couple of days getting important possessions off the boat and into a storage unit.

 

[rsmith]

We had a lot of boats on the hard that blew over during Francess and Jeanne. (you may be at a great yard but at some point everyone is running around with their hair on fire and things get overlooked) Make sure the yard chains the jackstands together both side to side and fore and aft. Most of the boats that went over on the hard, the jackstands worked their way out or blew over when they were unloaded during gusts. And it wasnt just sailboats but a number of trawlers and SF went over too. This is a case where you need to be your brothers keeper and check the boats around you to make sure they are secure and dont nail your boat.

 

[Angela]

This was a real eye-opening dress rehearsal for me, and I can see where I need to make some improvements in my plan. Irene was a tough call to make because for so long we were on the edge of being out of it, but then it lingered there for a while. Had Miami stayed in the bullseye the whole time, it would have been easier to make a decision because there wouldn’t have been the “just wait a little bit longer and see” component of the process. I took a lot of flack for not making decisions as quickly as some wanted me to make them, but honestly, I just had too many plates spinning in the air to make a sound decision when cornered to do so.

In the end, and it’s not entirely over, but I think I did the right thing by holding out. That said, I’ll be pounding the riverfront now looking for a hurricane plan so that I don’t have to go through this angst again. I’ve still got the Deerfield Beach haven, but it takes a few hours to get there. I’ll feel better if I can have a place up the river, here in Miami, as it’s easier to get quick, last minute local help if I need it than it is to orchestrate help moving the boat some 50 miles away, and perhaps, impossible at the last minute when things change. So, I need a Plan A and Plan B. Sitting on my aft deck looking straight out to the ocean while knowing what’s lurking out there is pretty scarey.

 

[GJH]

Point about the stands is well taken. They did a thorough job last year chaining the stands, but I was one of the first in. I was also tucked in way up the hill. This year I will be the last or close to it; so expect the crew to be a little burned out, and hopefully not short on materials. They put commercial, charter and live aboards in last on request, and most of us are good year around customers. I do have Roger W. looking after me, and he has been to this rodeo many many more times than I ever have. Logistically, the biggest hassle is getting our stuff and refrigerated food off the boat.

My latest worry is I am concerned about the Whaler up on the boat deck. In a real blow I could see it ripping off; they didn't advise taking it down last year, but I will try and beg this year. I don't have a trailer for it. And, I am beginning to come to emotional grips with the implications of a direct hit.

I see in the latest cone, the place we plan to evacuate to on the central VA/NC line is right in the middle as well. Wonderful.

 

[labrador]

George, Don't forget you have friends Trent Woods If you need anything. Don't hesitate to ask! If you need a place to hole up, let us know!!!! We may be in the center of things here but at least we won't be floating at home or at least I hope not.
Skip
PS Giga doesn't get home till thurs night late

 

[MarioG]

Angela if this storm had mia in it's sights along with this particular trajectory. I would have headed south somewhere into florida bay. There's plenty of places to duck behind for shelter. I would head out about 12 to 16 hrs before land fall if daytime. The before if a night time land fall. Of course every storm has its own particular escape strategy. In this situation, the cost, liability and headache associated with heading up river is not worth it considering that a
relatively easy ride south is doable.

 

[rsmith]

Point about the stands is well taken. They did a thorough job last year chaining the stands, but I was one of the first in. I was also tucked in way up the hill. This year I will be the last or close to it; so expect the crew to be a little burned out, and hopefully not short on materials. They put commercial, charter and live aboards in last on request, and most of us are good year around customers. I do have Roger W. looking after me, and he has been to this rodeo many many more times than I ever have. Logistically, the biggest hassle is getting our stuff and refrigerated food off the boat.

My latest worry is I am concerned about the Whaler up on the boat deck. In a real blow I could see it ripping off; they didn't advise taking it down last year, but I will try and beg this year. I don't have a trailer for it. And, I am beginning to come to emotional grips with the implications of a direct hit.

I see in the latest cone, the place we plan to evacuate to on the central VA/NC line is right in the middle as well. Wonderful.

I'd get the whaler off if you can. Even if you drop it on the ground next to the boat and fill it with water. If it stays on the top it will add more windage to the boat and make it rock more on the stands.

 

[MarioG]

Angela if this storm had mia in it's sights along with this particular trajectory. I would have headed south somewhere into florida bay. There's plenty of places to duck behind for shelter. I would head out about 12 to 16 hrs before land fall if daytime. The before if a night time land fall. Of course every storm has its own particular escape strategy. In this situation, the cost, liability and headache associated with heading up river is not worth it considering that a
relatively easy ride south is doable.

The day before if a night land fall. (Can't edit my post for some reason )

 

[GJH]

Skip, will let you know as the hour approaches. Got any spare freezer space?

Hadn't thought of the filling the Whaler with water idea. I'll see if they'll allow that if they can't stash it somewhere. Having it up on the boat deck is one of those "nothing good can happen" issues.

 

[Angela]

Mario, I looked for dockage in Marathon on Active Captain and there are few places down there that accept boats over 50' that I could find...and lots of them had 4' to 5' entrances. I didn’t feel good about merely anchoring given the likelihood of strong, tropical storm force winds that were still being forecasted. Plus, I was by myself on the boat, so none of that looked particularly appealing to me. I’d like to go down there and explore a bit when I’m not under the gun. What appeared the best to me under the particular circumstances was to (1) get somewhere way up the river, which I did not score, or (2) get tucked in between the houses in a canal behind Martha’s house. Either of those sure beat the pants off of having my tail stuck out there smiling at the open ocean.

 

[labrador]

George, We have an extra fridge in the garage. Sure I could free it up for you if you need it.