Hurricane Irene

[Brodie]

Looks like the whole East Coast is under the gun for this one....not happy about this at all!!

With the old, smaller boat hauling out was always the best option as the boat would sink if swamped. With the new boat I'm not sure what is the best option...stay on the mooring with sails off and extra lines, but with wide open fetch to the NE (9 miles!), or haul out in a boatyard that's about 5' above sea level and deal with possible storm surge and high winds on jackstands with the rig still in? My mooring is only in about 15' of water, but I could possibly move to a deeper one... I have no idea what to do - obviously everyone is going to have a different opinion on this but I'd really like some input!!

[Ric in Richmond]

eastern virginia / tidewater looks marginal/improving as of wed am. I still see it pushing east.

Check wxrisk.com or wxrisk on facebook. Dave Toleris, while a very bad speller, is a very good forecaster who lays it all out.

sailflow.com wind forecast is showing me at maxing about 30 near gloucester. I have to think that the north and east is going to keep pushing.

Of course I went down Tuesday since I am slammed the rest of the week and took all the canvas and sails off and arranged for a haul if it gets close....so it will go out to sea!!!

You can thank me later if it misses you...I accept paypal...

[Hirilondë]

but with wide open fetch to the NE (9 miles!)

You are on the East Passage side of Jamestown?

[Quetzalsailor]

Dreading this sort of thing but more for my parent's house in DE, rather than for Quetzal on her mooring. There's a dangerous tree within range of the house that's impossible to get down w/o a crane, and we can't get the crane in there until the 1950s cess pools are filled.

[Jeremy]

But for the fact that my boat didn't make it into the water this year, I'd be in the same position. My mother's boat (a Doughdish (plastic Herreshoff 12 1/2)) is in Mattapoisett and depending on how the track develops, will probably be pulled. It did, however, ride out Bob successfully on its mooring.

A consideration for me on whether to haul Starry Night would be how many boats are moored nearby, that could break loose and come down upon her.

As noted, whether you haul her of leave her on the mooring, strip everything you can to reduce windage. In case it's helpful, here is a blog entry gathering some articles on hurricane prep for boaters, though it appears geared to boats at anchor rather than permanent moorings. http://theboatgalley.com/hurricane-preparation/

[TritonSean]

I agree

reducing windage is critical.
get into a "hurricane hole" where you can put out a decent amount of scope and still have some shelter.

still rather be in the water than up on a landwash that will be flooded by a storm surge though....

[Ric in Richmond]

I thing "in the water/out of the water" depends on what is upwind of you.

I have a whole marina of boats that is east of me and a good portion are canvased, roller furling on, marginally tied up.

I think I am better off on shore IF ground stays solid and isn't inundated. "cane hole not an option.

We are going to lose a LOT of boats in this storm since it will be NC to MAINE when it is done...

[Brodie]

You are on the East Passage side of Jamestown?

Yes, at Clark Boatyard.

Boat is coming out tomorrow. Didn't want to worry about it - too wide open and Im one of the closest moorings in so everyone's outside me just waiting to take me out when they break loose or drag. Going down tomorrow AM to take the sails off and get the dinghy home. Already have my kayak and a friend's kayak in my basement. Just waiting to get the call from work that they need extra hands to move the 120 rental boats to the warehouse (I work at a kayak shop) - that's not going to be fun! I'm supposed to have the next two days off but I'm guessing I'm going to have a few extra days off this weekend anyway...

[Ric in Richmond]

http://www.sailflow.com/windandwhere.iw ... meOffset=1

You can change the location...and then go to forecast and then hit play.....

Not fun...

[ILikeRust]

My boat is still on the hard in Deltaville since I had her hauled in January.

I did, however, just get a brand-new, custom-made bimini and dodger. They look great. Since I can't get up there myself in time for Irene, I called the canvas maker and they were kind enough to run over there and take them down and stow them below for me.

I also called the boatyard today and asked them to make sure the boom is securely lashed so it won't be swinging around out there.

I really would love to get the damn boat in the water before the end of August, but that ain't happening at the rate I'm going, so I'm going to have to hope to git `r dun before the end of September.

But at least I'm already on the hard and don't have to worry about what to do for the hurricane.

[Jason K]

Tie it up as best you can, reduce windage as best you can, and - if the time comes - get yourself and your family out of the way.

There's no boat that can't be replaced, so don't worry too much about it.

[Ric in Richmond]

http://1664596.sites.myregisteredsite.c ... onmap1.jpg

Wind speed for the southern bay....we are on the hard...probably 6ft above sea level ...just inside the 80-100 zone.

Not good!!

[ILikeRust]

Thanks for that link, Ric. My boat is on the hard, inside the 80-100 zone too - in Deltaville.

Lovely.

Oh well, at this point, it's prepared as well as it's going to be. And I just paid my Boat U.S. premium, so I know I'm as covered as I can be. We shall see.

[Ric in Richmond]

http://flood.firetree.net/

Sea level rise app...in meters.

What ever will be will be.

Last week I was thinking...well we haven't gotten to use her much maybe we should sell her....and now I am worried sick we will lose her.

But remember, things are nothing and can be replaced. People stay safe!!!

[Ric in Richmond]

I suppose at some point I might hear something today.

She went through less wind than I thought but higher surge. News was saying up to 8 foot. That might be the killer right there. Even if my old barge didn't float off lots of other smaller boats may have.

Right now I have to take care of our minor stuff and get my office up and running so I can help my clients who had damage.

Either way I know between me and the marina we did what we could and whatever was going to occur has happened. Boat is insured.

As Tom Petty said...the waiting is the hardest part.

[Richincident]

Ric!

What is going on? Any word on Andiamo? Pictures? I hope you and she are both well. Terrible NOT to have a good summer and then follow with such a fearful event.

Richard

[Ric in Richmond]

Marina says hi and dry and no apparent damage!!! Woo hoo!

Now we will hope all of you get good news too!

Ric

[Jeremy]

It's been a lot less severe than it could have been in Mattapoisett, Mass., though it's still blowing hard. A couple boats got loose, including a Stone Horse, but it looks reasonably undamaged. (Video here http://www.necn.com/08/28/11/Despite-wa ... eedID=4206)

This beauty broke free in Fairhaven:

IreneYawl.jpg (12.94 KiB) Viewed 6779 times

[Richincident]

What a shame. That boat is gorgeous. A 35-40 huntabenalina got loose in Marion harbor and went wandered into the Tabor Academy docks, then campus. Tied down when last seen.

WBZ4 was live when the boat got loose. Pretty boat in the modern way, and looked well equipped.

http://boston.cbslocal.com/2011/08/28/h ... tts-coast/

Still a little more wind but the rain has stopped in eastern Mass.

[ILikeRust]

My boatyard reports on its web site that they've found no damage to report, so I guess that means at least no boats fell over in the yard.

I'm sure I'll find some water inside when I finally make it up there. I'll probably head up this weekend.

My house is far enough west that we got a bunch of wind and rain, and that was it. No damage at all, although the power went out for 24 hours.

I know lots of people who still have no electricity, and a bunch of big trees came down in Richmond itself and south and east of Richmond. An 11 year-old boy was killed down in Newport News area when a tree came through the wall of his apartment bedroom.

Lots of people got it way worse than I did, that's for sure.

[John, CD28]

I took this shot at the top of the tide/storm. It's the entrance to Beverly (MA) harbor. Prior to the storm, I moved my boat so far upriver a codfish would have trouble finding her; no damage at all.

cheers,
John

[Case]

Wow! Great shot!

By the way... Is that Marshall Catboat still there? Or did it drag and rendered into fiberglass shards?

- Case

[Brodie]

A sad end to a beautiful old wooden Hinckley that used to be moored near me....now a total loss on the north side of Rose Island. Very sad to see. Notice the mooring on ground in front of the boat.... It is pretty obvious based on how the boat is sitting that the entire starboard side is caved in. Also what looks like a line over the port quarter is actually a large crack in the boat.


And yet another boat that didn't heed the warning to remove roller furling sails...

But here is my boat....back in the water, cleaned up, and I went for a short sail this evening. Even got to ride on the boat down the railway, very cool!

[John, CD28]

Wow! Great shot!

By the way... Is that Marshall Catboat still there? Or did it drag and rendered into fiberglass shards?

- Case

Thanks Case.

Yeah, the little Marshall Cat survived!

John