Conference unifix::sailing

    Blew and out of Salem Willows.  Quite a crowd there during the storm
    and the early evening hours.
    
    Could be 12 boats went on their own way.  One cruiser on the rocks the
    week before he and spouse were to begin their retirement cruise to
    Florida.  One up on the rocks across Salem harbor and on to
    Kettlebottom.  A couple adrift into Collins Cove.
    
    A 35' + ketch from Jubillee up on the gravel near the Salem day camp on
    Willows neck.  Jubillee launch was busy in the late afternoon, tending
    to some boats.  A couple of roller furling arrangements went loose and
    tore the headsails to shreds.  Good sized sloop scooting back and forth
    across the bar - whatever was on the bottom must have broken 
    loose and then caught on the muck.  Sure to be aground last night.
    
    Salem Willows park is a mess.  Many, many willows down.
    
    I don't want to be out in those winds.  
    
    Ron

    
    	From the deck at Wessagusset YC, the most action you ever get to
    see in an enclosed bay. The low tide and wind direction saved many of
    us. I had doubled up my mooring lines, double tied the tiller, took
    everything below that I could think of. Nerves still frazzed while she
    showed the leading edge of the keel now & then. But all is ok. One
    Catalina 22 had the hand of God on the helm- she broke free, wove thru
    the fleet, and came to rest on the best looking dock. A few spectators
    tied her up. Several runabouts on the beaches, one cabin cruiser on a
    jetty. Some Search & Rescue noise on the VHF, but not much action
    locally, at least in the late am.
    	The wind went west after the eye passed, and anything that had
    weakened, broke. Gas dock swung about 60�, some small open boats
    swamped. Lotsa tree/branch action a few blocks back, so we went to
    candlepower.
    	Wind hung tough thru dinnertime- no other reports tho.
    
    	- another (big deal!) survivor.
    

I went down to Warwick Monday morning to secure my boat in its slip. I took the
boom off and stowed it below, and took everything (except the r.f. jib) off
as well. I removed the jib sheets and secured the jib as best I could.

The dockmaster recommended I put my boat on a mooring, and pointed one out to
me, assuring me that it had been checked this year etc. etc. I went out to it,
but I couldn't pick it up because there was no pennant, and it was impossible
to get a shackle onto it working alone from high freeboard. The fellow then
pointed me to another mooring, which looked more attractive physically (i.e.
it had a late model plastic mooring ball, rather than an old tire.) I
was able to tie up to that mooring, although there were no mooring lines on
it. I tied up to it with two of my dock lines, one 5/8", the other 1/2", leaving
about 20' of scope from the mooring ball. Due to time pressure, I was not able
to put any chafe gear on the lines. To make matters worse, the mooring was
uncomfortably close to another mooring, occupied by a decrepit wooden powerboat.

I went home, praying that my insurance claims department would be staffed with
friendly and helpful personnel.

Yesterday afternoon, after the bulk of the storm had passed, I went back down
to survey the damage. The boat was still on its mooring! There was no
apparent damage, at least that I could see from shore. The mooring had
been dragged about 200 feet, fortunately in the best possible direction.
The entire marina was still intact too, despite the fact that the storm surge
had come over the top of the seawall.

I guess my boat was saved by a wide variety of good luck: the storm passed
slightly to the east, so there were no southerly winds coming up the channel;
the mooring didn't hold to the bottom, so it didn't present enough resistance
to break my weak lines; my cleats are mounted on the rail, so the only
friction points are the rubrail, and the hull itself; the storm came in well
before high tide, so the storm surge was only 4 or 6 feet above high tide;
etc. etc.

--RS

    The thing that amazed me was how many people left their roller furling
    headsails on!  Sailmakers have a name for that.  Annuity.
    
    Dave

    I heard a channel 6 news report, from the harbor master in Jamestown
    who mentioned that Duracel, Mike Plant's boat of BOC fame, had broken
    free of its mooring, with crew aboard.  They attempted to sail/motor
    out of the harbor, but were blown into the jetty.  He said that the
    boat was lost, but he didn't mention if anyone on board was injured.
    
    Charlie

    
    The harbor on the south side of the bridge in Padanarum is 
    devastated. A police officer at a roadblock had a list of 
    96 boats that they were trying to contact owners of. These
    boats were washed up on the beach, washed up on top of the
    road that bisects the harbor, and a couple even went com-
    pletely over the road and were lying on their side just on
    the north side of the road. It must have been a whale of a 
    surge as that road is a good 8-10 feet above the water at
    high tide. I talked to one owner who couldn't even find his
    40' sailboat in all the mess. One woman told me there were
    big pieces of fiberglass washed up on the beaches.
    
    The north side of the bridge fared much better. I could only
    count four boats that had broken loose on that side. Through
    binoculars it looks like no damage to my boat, but can't be
    sure until I can get to it. That will be when they open the
    road again and I can get to my dinghy and get out there.
    
    There didn't seem to be a whole lot of warning. I just happened
    to be down Sunday, turned on the radio and heard the storm was
    coming. I took the boom and mainsail off and put the anchor down.
    I was the only one Sunday afternoon making any preparations on
    the north side of the bridge. 
                                  
                                                   Steve
                               

    Just got back from Jubilee YC ... WAGS made it through unscathed. 
    Can't say the same for some of her neighbors.  One ended up against the
    seawall over by the condos on the Salem Willows side, severely damaging
    one sailboat and sinking a motorboat on her way.  Judging from where
    she ended up and where she started from, I'd say WAGS was just lucky
    not to have been hit.  Another of our neighbors was moderately damaged
    by a boat that had broken free of it's own mooring, and snagged it's
    rudder into our neighbor's mooring line.  During the eye of the storm
    several people went out in the launch and secured the two boats
    together to minimize the damage.
    
    Many roller-furled jibs, and a couple of mainsails were flogged to
    death.  As Dave J. said, it was a good day for the sailmakers.
    
    In all, Jubilee had eight boats break free of their moorings, several 
    others drag, and perhaps a half-dozen others damaged by being in the
    right place at the wrong time.  Perhaps a dozen boats had broken free
    from Salem Willows as well.
    
    We had removed the boom and mainsail on WAGS, and basically just made
    sure everything was tied down good.  Everything survuved just fine, 
    except that the chafing gear had worked it's way free of the chocks and
    there's visible wear on both mooring pennants ... they're getting 
    replaced this Thursday.
    
    Things were very busy around the harbor this morning.  Most of the
    boats that drifted or broke free were recovered and either hauled or
    are sitting on other moorings.  One boat sank, and another is still
    sitting on the rocks over by the gas tank ... bad, but it could have
    been worse.
    
    ... Bob
    

    I'm glad to see I'm not the only one who never knew this was coming.  I
    left the boat on Saturday and left town.  Heard the 11:00 news on
    Sunday, said Bob was coming to town.  Gulp.  Poor elysium on its
    mooring in Salem with main still on, but secured.  Sheets, and about 20
    other lines still run.
    
    Went up last night to see if I'd be on the boat today looking for
    damage, or on the phone today looking for salvage and insurance
    companies.  Riding real well on her mooring, pretty sailcover and all,
    still intact.
    
    Went up today to check it out.  No damage to anything.  The two 5/8
    braid pennant with six feet of chafe gear look to be totally intact all
    the way from the shackles on the mooring to the cleats on the deck.
    
    About 20 boats wound up on the beach or rocks in Salem Harbor according
    to one of the ass't harbormasters.  Most are repairable, only a couple
    seem to be trashed.  Many other boats dragged moorings hundreds of feet
    into the harbor.  A couple of folks who watched the whole show
    yesterday said the waves were cresting almost all the way into
    Pickering Wharf, that our bows spent most of the day under water.  With
    only a few boats further out towards the power station channel than
    mine, not many boats had a chance to come down on me.
    
    Dumb luck.
    
    One live aboard spent the day on his boat on his mooring.  And watched
    as about five boats whacked him on the way past.
    
    More dumb luck.  He lived through it.
    
    As Bob B. and Dave J. mentioned, lots of work for lots of sailmakers
    replacing roller unfurled jibs.
    
    djc

    My son and I went up to Salem in the morning and hauled WINDSONG and
    she is parked next to the house covered with shredded maple leaves.
    Since it was pouring while we stripped the sails, took off the dodger,
    and unstepped the mast, I have a bit of cleanup work  to do inside, but
    no big deal.
    
    In the afternoon the wife and I also went up to Jubilee YC and before
    we left the club, we made a count and identified 24 boats that we could
    either see from Jubilee or on our way over to Salem Willows that were
    either ashore or stranded in some fashion. That does not include the
    ones that that were 'lucky' enough to get hung up on another boat. It
    also does not count the Jubilee boat the broke lose and neatly sailed
    over towards Port Marine. We later saw her tied up at the dock by the
    harbor masters office. 
    
    This is one case where TV just does not show the REAL picture. I cannot
    describe the helpless feeling watching one boat after another go by.
    
    We did uncover one bright note. A fellow from Salem Willows saw his
    boat break lose. He drove around to the tank side of the harbor and was
    able to get to his boat just as it hit the rocks a glancing blow. He
    and 2 others got on board and bail her out and paddel down into into
    Collins cove, when they got to the beach, a fourth person joined in and
    they walked the boat to where they could get a FWD truck near enough to
    get a line on her and pull her up on the beach. When we came by they
    were just taking the boom and mast off and were getting a trailer to
    hawl her back home for repairs. Many others were not so lucky.
    
    My group manager's Mariner 36 is most likely one of those mentioned in
    .6 in Padanarum. Poor guy is on holiday in Hawaii. He must be a wreck 
    having seen the news reports.
    
    Fred Who-hopes-to-be-back-on-the-water-by-Friday
    

    Just to add to the destruction, for those of us who sail beach cats,
    Gooseberry Neck is no more....
    
    Two separate reports say that the causeway to Gooseberry is GONE.  No
    one except property owners are allowed in the area, so even my contacts
    who live down there  haven't been able to get to it.  Chandy's is gone
    as well, as well as all but two of the cottages between Rte. 88 and 
    Gooseberry.  Some of the trailers along the beach were removed, but
    some were not so lucky.
    
    Maybe some good will come of this.  Maybe Goose will be rebuilt and
    converted into a recreational boating center.  Hard to say with the
    budget crunches....
    
    

    	Mattapoisett is pretty trashed, most boats larger boats ended up 
     about 100 feet from shore. 
    	I was down Monday morning with my trailer at 7:00 hoping to get
    hauled but they stopped hauling at 4:30, next time I know better. I 
    went out to my boat at 7:00 and stripped it of whatever windage I
    could. At 8:15 I saw two boats that had hoped to get lifted out go 
    back out, one to a mooring one to Hadley's Harbor. Then I prepaired 
    my boat to stay all day. My mooring is in the second row of moorings 
    before the open Buzzars Bay and just to seaward of me is a 35'ish boat
    with roller jib, mainsail and cover, dodger up,; the whole deal
    untouched, I'm not happy. I rowed my dinghy in at 9:00ish and it
    was starting to roll. 
    
    	So I went home with an empty trailer and all sorts of ideas about
    how my boat was going to be damaged. I was certainly going to be more 
    surprised to find my boat unscathed. 
    
    	I went straight to Ned Point Light this AM and looked out to see
    that end of the anchorage stripped of anything that had a boat
    attached. I scanned with binoculars looking for my boat and found it 
    floating about a tenth mile further in. You can't imagine how happy I 
    was that it was floating. 
    	I got out to it to find my bow pulpit ripped up, some dents in the 
    fiberglass on the port bow and about 2' of water inside. I'm not
    thrilled that she's damaged, but she's in a lot better shape than the
    boat that rolled over her. The boat that damaged me was a mile down the
    bay and then another 80-100 feet inland. She carried her mooring the whole
    way and onto the beach with her. 
    	Most of my damage is superficial, but I'm going to fix it before 
    I sail. Lots of boat are trashed in Mattapoisett. There was a half hull
    in the 48 foot rage on shore, boat built last winter. A 40 foot Oday, 
    first sailed this spring, was smashed up against a stone boat house.
    About 4 or 5 boats were on the town peir and I heard they all came up
    on one wave. One sail type lander on a dual inboard power type and all
    that was left of the power boat was the dual inboards. Pieces of
    shattered littered the shore and I can cout at least four I saw sunk 
    (as long as the five pieces that seem to fit as a boat count as a
    sunken boat. 
    
    	I'm bummed about my damage, but I certainly fared a lot better than
    many others. 
    
    Geoff
    

    By removing all sails setting an extra mooring pennant, and setting the
    anchor, DEFIANT rode the hurricane out in style. Though, by the time it
    reached Marblehead, the storm had abated quite a bit.
    
    I was surprised at how few people unbent sails and how few boats had
    double pennants.....lot's of jibs blown to rags, as others reported.
    
    Walter Cronkite was forced to put in to Marblehead, on his way to
    Maine, and he hung around town for a while. Lots of small sailing
    dingys and motorboats sunk at their moorings.
    
    Gregg

    A good article by Tony Chamberlain in today's Globe's sports section on
    the goings-on down in Buzzard's Bay.
    
    As far as further north, the events in the Merrimac were relatively
    calm (thanks to a low tide).  At the American Yacht Club (which is
    totally exposed to the northeast), approximately 8 boats in the 30-40'
    range broke loose.  6 of the 8 were retrieved by the Coast Guard 
    (Merrimac River Station is next to the AYC) before too much damage 
    was done.  There were a lot of secondary collisions as the boats sailed
    through the mooring area.  I was lucky in that I was able to find a
    crew member late (11:00) and take the boat up river to the Amesbury/
    West Newbury area.  Lucky thing that I did as that 4 of the 8 boats 
    went right over my mooring tackle back at the AYC.  We were the last 
    boat through the Chain Bridge.  Not bad conditions as the river was low 
    and trees provided excellent wind blockage.  We did see some wind in
    the 50 Kt range as the wind direction changed to come up the river as
    the storm passed.
    
    As a side note, the Spirit of Massachussetts damaged her rear spar
    (knocked 3' and the port spreader off) as she went through the Rt 1
    bridge (Gillis Bridge) Sunday evening enroute to an up river hurricane
    hole.  Word around town was that she either didn't wait long enough
    for the span to open or was pushed by the current into the bridge.
    
    Good luck to those who suffered damage or loss.  I went through it with
    Gloria, I know how it feels.

Several boats in Edgartown broke loose or draged their moorings.  An
acquintance lost an extremely nice large power boat that was built in the 
30's (Miss Asia).  My Mother said that it was pounded into splinters.  Sad.

Boats inside the breakwater at Vinyard have are fine, but we've heard that 
there was a lot over activity outside the breakwater.  I Don't know any 
specifics but I hope to hear more soon.

My Parents Ketch did fine in the Conn. River near Essex Conn.

My Sunfish rode the storm out very well in my basement!

If anybody is over on the Vinyard please take a look around for a boat named 
"Kate"  She was in Vinyard Haven when the storm hit and we have not heard how
our friends faired?

The Kate is a 46' Sloop with a Blue Hull.

Thanks,
Jesse

    Well,another survivor of Bobby.I just found out that my boat is intact
    on her mooring without any trace of demage shown.
    It took me two days to get in contact (phone) with the harbormaster.
    By the way my boat is moored at the hard hit Connanicut Marina in
    Jamestown RI.
    

Has anyone heard anything about Newport Harbor, specifically the J24 fleet
sitting at Sail Newport?  We were racing in the NOOD over the weekend and
left Sunday night, not realizing what was really going to hit (NWS didn't 
help much saying that a possible small craft warning may be needed for 
Monday afternoon).

We haven't been able to get ahold of the skippers of the two boats we're on
to find out how they did.  Admittedly they were in their trailers, but I'm
not sure just how safe they'd be in 105 MPH winds...

Thanks for any info...

-- Ed

    
    A very interesting weekend indeed. After a pleasant sail
    Saturday to Newport followed by a sail back on Sunday in
    excellent sailing winds for my boat(20-25knts) to Nortons,
    my marina in East Greenwich, I notice my engine is running
    hot and no water is coming out. Figure time for a new
    water pump impeller. No problem I'll just use an emply slip
    rather then my mooring for the night and come down Monday
    and replace it.

    As I finish trying up around 4pm Sunday. Notice two guy talking
    and putting lots of extra dock lines on their boats. Talking
    something about Bob? Huh? Hurricane??? You guys are kidding right?

    Well now what to do, everyone says you're better off on your mooring,
    but mind is pretty far out and Nortons is open to the northeast.
    Beside alot of very large boats are trusting the docks.  Not sure
    why I decide to stick to the docks but I do. Doubled all lines and took
    off all the loose stuff.  Head home.

    Sunday night hear the storm is going to hit at high tide and expecting
    5-10' storm surge. Nortons dock posts have only 4-5 feet exposed
    at high tide. Become convinced my boat is done for.

    Go down monday morning planning to put boat on mooring. Too late.
    Waves are kicking up. Marina launch and everything else is already
    closed down. Mooring field is full looks like someone might even be
    on mine. By 12:30 docks are bucking so badly unsafe to be around.
    Completely convinced my boat and lots of others will be fiberglass
    heaps. Decide I just can't watch my boat be destroyed. Head home.

    At home, hear Wickford and Jamestown boats are taking a beating.
    Mike Plant's Duracell has broken it's mooring. Start thinking about
    what my next boat will be, maybe something by Pacific Seacraft but
    with extra reinforcement.

    As soon as the storm is out of RI, I head back. Weather is starting to
    clear several nice rainbows appear. Pull into Nortons, lots of sightseers.
    First thing I see is lots and lots of masts of boats up on the rocks.
    Look over the docks I see Fizbin's mast bobbing right where it should be.
    Nearly run over several people to get out to it. On the way, not good,
    two soda machines and two large ice chests are just gone. Docks all over
    are snapped in half. But there's the Fiz floating nicely. Dock next to it
    is smashed.  Check it over, very good shape, only one small gouge in the
    bow down to the matting. All the boats on the docks look pretty good, but
    in alot of cases there are no docks around them at all! Storm surge was
    2-3 feet above the parking lot.

    Over in the mooring field much sadder, at least 20 boats maybe more are
    piled up on shore some are lucky and are on sand others are cracked in half
    on rocks. Three boats form a triangle two on the bottom the third sitting
    on top. One large boat power at the dock didn't move, but now there's
    a 28' sailboat on top of its bow.

    Head over to check the status of my mooring. It and all of its neighbors
    are gone! Just this patch of open water where there should be 5-6 moorings.

    Never felt so lucky in my life, made a choice against conventional wisdom
    for no real good reason. And lucked out big time, maybe I learned
    something, but I doubt it.

    /mike

    
    
    	My boat in Westport Point MA was ok, not a scratch on it. 
    	But numerious other boats were missing there booms and
    	had their genys in pieces. A new O'DAY 40 layed at the
    	bottom of the harbor. Fish were swimming in the water
    	left in the parking lot. The marina said 3 dozen boats
     	broke lose and either were sunk or lying in someones
    	back yard along the harbor.
    
    	Other boats had the gel coats scratched, rub rails hanging
    	and pulpits and line lines bent. A sailboat at one of the
    	docks had its mast laying across its deck and into the water.

      Report for Barlows Landing, Pocasset MA upper end of Buzzards Bay.
    
      I stripped the sails and put an extra pennant out, My mooring is a
    heavy concrete block with heavy chain.    The storm surge was something
    to see.  ( at 3:00-3:30 it was ~ 8-9 feet over high water, pieces
    of boats, houses, furniture, going by as wind when SW)
    
      My boat the Northwind (28 foot Triton Sloop) was riding OK in what
    can only be described as hellish conditions when an O'day 25 with
    an undersize mooring dragged on to my pennant and down my port side.
    
      Thought I was going to lose it, but "just" gouges on the hull, bent
    stantion, banged up rub and toerail forward.
    
      Many boats blown ashore, wind was SE first then SW, wind was bad
    (don't believe it went over 85-95 in gusts, steady 65 mph ?) but the
    surge height allowed waves to get in.
    
      Parkers Boat Yard and Kingmans in Red Brook harbor, both got flooded
    out, offices at both places had about a foot of water in ground floors.
    (both these buildings are raised)
    
      Monument Beach is a mess !   The Tobeys Island bridge just floated
    away and boats are all over the shore.     Mashnee Island causeway
    got eroded badly.
    
      I hear Marion was a mess, Burr's boat yard hit real bad,  storm
    surge was high, as they face the SE.    Any Marion Reports.
    
      As people said , many blown out rollers furlers, some folks could
    not get down, but others don't seem to care.
    
      Glad to still have a boat and no one was killed.
    
      Anyone else have an Marion report ?   How about Hadleys and Cuttyhunk
    ?
    
    Frank

    A friend is now with his 26' S&S in Westport - behind Horse Neck beach.  He
    went adrift with the surge and is now high and dry.
    
    Biggest problem, now that he has confirmed the damage is minimal, is
    avoiding the poison ivy patch she settled into.
    
    Not a bad problem to have, considering the alternative
    
    r

    I spoke to one of the crew members from Affinity a Kalik 40' in Marion. 
    Fortunately the boat was in Maine for a summer cruise during Bob.  They
    had spoken to some boat owners in Marion that reaffirmed their good
    luck.  There were boats scattered throughout the town center, in the
    middle of the streets etc.  Barton's had been pulling boats and putting 
    them on stands on the town common and most of those blew over.  Marion is 
    a mess, maybe even the worst spot hit.  I understand Edgartown lost a
    high percentage of boats also, like in the neighborhood of 30%.  Glad
    Kilda is on blocks this year. 
    
    Brian

    Jamestown was hit hard, but Encore survived without a scratch somehow.
    Sawed through the first mooring pennant despite chafing gear, but the
    second pennant held.  
    
    I'm sure everyone's seen Duracell on the news by now, but it was pretty
    sad.  Mile Plante was aboard Duracell Monday.  I saw him as I rode the
    launch in just before the marina pulled it out of the water. 
    Apparently, Duracell broke loose and he steered it around other boats
    and to the sandy beach in Jamestown harbor.  Another twenty to thirty
    boats weren't as lucky.  Large sections of broken fibreglass floating
    everywhere.  One 40 footer looked completely upright and unharmed until
    you noticed the rocks through the bottom.  
    
    The larger boats seemed to be hit hardest.  Probably more windage.  

MY EXPERIENCE WITH HURRICANE BOB:
    	 I tend to be a weather-watcher all season long.  I paid attention to 
         weather reports Friday and Saturday, noting the low pressure trough 
         that would eventually guide some of Bob's effects to the N.E. area. 
         (Although I anticipated it hitting the Carolina coast first and thus 
         reduce it's eventual impact up here, oh well). After hearing the 
         Sunday AM reports I did my preparations then as I didn't want to have 
         to run up on Monday at the last minute.  I planned for hurricane 
         Gloria-like conditions, expecting 75 mph winds.  I expected the worst 
         and figured on 50-50 odds of survival if either the winds were higher 
         or seas were from the east at high tide.

LOCATION:
    o Beverly Harbor, across from Jubilee Yacht Club
    o My mooring is officially located in Salem water in front of Collins 
         Cove, 15ft @MLW, the farthest point from the channel.
    o Mooring configuration: (BTW - latest quote is $700 new)
    	 2600 lb Block
    	 22' 1/2" chain
    	 22' 3/8" chain
    	 Styrofoam float
    	 10' 3/4" (nylon) pennant
    	 swivel's @top and bottom
	(this configuration is typical for my mooring area)

PREPARATIONS:
    o Removed sails/dodger/pedestal cover
    o Lashed down furling drum and pedestal wheel
    o Secured all halyards
    o Removed loran antenna (whip)
    o Added 2nd mooring line
    o secured chafing "tubes" to mooring lines
    o lashed mooring lines to chocks/roller (to prevent them from jumping off)
    o inspected all mooring shackles and seizing wires
    o closed all hatches/ports
    o closed all seacocks
    o ran engine to charge batteries
    o emptied bilge, left switch on "AUTO" (as usual)
    o removed a few items: loran, rdf, radio, ship's papers (notebook)
    o (forgot to close gate - lifelines!)

JYC ACTIVITY:
    o All floats and launches were hauled at JYC by 11am
    o I called the club @1:30 and was told winds were gusting to 70MPH (it 
         sounded like I was missing a great hurricane party too!)
    o Received a call @8:30 pm from a friend saying that my boat survived and 
         confirmed that I DID miss a great party!  Well over 100 people in the 
         clubhouse, overlooking the harbor.  To my surprise they didn't board 
         up the 4 X 8 windows overlooking the harbor - apparently they are 
         "guaranteed" for up to 125 MPH winds.  (I don't think I'd be standing 
         to close either way).  I'm sure a great view of the hurricane was had 
         by all.
    o Approximately 12 boats broke away, including some from Salem Willows
    o Others dragged moorings and/or were subjected to a hull banging party of 
         their own. 


RESULTS:
    	 In general things turned a lot better than I thought at 2pm Monday 
         when I was bailing my driveway (preventing my garage and basement 
         from flooding).  Due to the mid-tide timing of the height of the 
         storm and limited easterly winds, we lucked out.  Highest wind gusts 
         never exceed 80 MPH at the clubhouse.  (Perhaps the 1:30pm report was 
         a bit exaggerated).

    A CREWED INTEREST:
    o I went up Tuesday evening after work and noticed NO DAMAGE whatsoever. 
    o There was no evidence of exterior damage from other boats (hull scrapes, 
         pulpit/stanchion bends, etc.).  
    o The primary mooring line was well chafed.  Apparently there was enough 
         stretch to allow the chafing tube to extend beyond the roller/chock.  
         This was a 3/4" (nylon) line and was more than half way worn through.  
         Additional chafing took place at the cleat where the line was working 
         back and forward against itself.  The secondary mooring line (longer 
         and with 2Ft of 3/8" chain at the bottom) showed little use.  It 
         would have held had the 1st one let go, which is exactly why it was 
         there.
    o The bilge was 1/2 full of water and the pump had been doing its job, 
         many cycles I'm sure as the water was nice and clear.
    o A few items forward and aft in the interior had moved towards the center 
         (Must have been some good "hobby horsing", glad I lashed down the 
         mooring line).
    o The gate/lifelines were where I left them, no scratches or missing 
         parts. 
    o The wheel had turned to where the line was preventing it from going 
         further - so the brake wouldn't have held the rudder in position 
         alone.
    o The roller furling headstay and line remained secure.
    o The interior and cushions remained dry.


    JYC:
    o The clubhouse and facilities received no notable damage.
    o By Tuesday noon all the floats were all back in the water and the 
         launch(es) running
    o All but one boat that broke away was back in the water, accomplished by 
         the launch and members helping eachother.
    o Some boats had dragged their moorings only to get caught in a deadly 
         embrace with a nearby boat.  A friend of mine had another boat on his 
         bow for 4 hours!
    o During the eye of the storm a club launch was lowered and a few boats 
         were tended to - preventing further damage (mooring lines were 
         added/adjusted and a couple boats disconnected from eachother).
    o Many members arrived by 7am and stayed all day to help in securing the 
         facility and member boats.  It was mentioned that there were actually 
         too many helpers!
    o Once again JYC proved itself to be better run than many (all?) 
         marinas - and with 100% volunteer help (although we each have a 
         vested interest)!
    o I don't talk about JYC often in this conference (perhaps because like a 
         favorite fishing spot - why advertise a good thing?) but I must say 
         I'm proud to be part of such a well run organization and fine group 
         of folks.

FOR NEXT TIME!
    o Develop a hurricane preparation check-list. (Is there a note called 
         "HURRICANE PREPARATIONS"?).  This will assure that everything gets 
         done.  Fortunately I had plenty of time on Sunday to prepare the 
         boat.  A check-list would have saved valuable time had I waited until 
         Monday morning.  Last launch ride back was 10:30AM!  The check-list 
         will be kept in my onboard notebook (already containing ships papers, 
         waypoint list, course sheets, emergency information, DEC Sailors, 
         etc.). 
    o Use rags to extend length of chafing protection, at least 1 foot on 
         either end of the chafing tubes.  Also wrap rags around any part of 
         the mooring line that is subject to movement at the cleat.
    o Install another electric bilge pump (and float switch).  This is cheap 
         insurance and eliminates the single point of failure should one pump 
         get clogged or otherwise die. 
    o Leave the battery switch to "BOTH". My bilge pump is wired directly to 
         battery 2 - that way I can turn the main switch to "OFF".  (Yes, I 
         installed a separate fuse for the bilge pump and have spares).  Using 
         "BOTH" will connect both batteries in parallel and extend the number 
         of pumping cycles available.
    o Lash down the anchor locker locker cover ("V" shaped on the bow).
    o Secure gate-lifelines!
    o Secure cockpit table, I forgot to secure this too!

    RE .24
    
    Dick Wagner got the whole scene from JYC on videotape.  He was talking
    about having a showing at the yacht club for those interested in seeing
    what they "missed" by not being there.  Also, he said there was
    standing room only in the yacht club during the storm ... like you
    said, we missed quite the party.
    
    I got up there around noon on Tuesday, and most of the boats that had
    broken free and ended up on rocks, beach, or seawall, had already been
    reclaimed (most by members who were not the boat's owners).  It's nice
    to be a part of an organization where people are so willing to help
    each other out.  Here at work people find it hard to believe when I
    tell them about a YC where the sailboaters and powerboaters actually
    LIKE each other ... ;^)
    
    Glad ya made it through OK ...
    
    					... Bob
    

    I was at the Cottage Park YC last night for an absolutely beautiful
    sail under a near full moon.  The only signs of anything wrong were one
    large power boat on the beach near the Winthrop YC and the mast and
    shredded remains of a sail in the water from a trimaran.  The tri was
    at it's mooring and we almost hit the mast in the dinghy on the way in. 
    Surprised it has not been tended to by the club if not the owner. 
    Definitely a hazard to navigation.  My manager who belongs said it was
    a very sad affair at the club Monday night.  Quite a few boats dragged,
    several broke free and at least one was blown over to Long Island in
    the harbor.  
    
    Brian

    Brian,
    
    I guess you missed the C+C 34R (?), Pequod I think, on Snake Island.
    Whether it came from Cottage park or Winthrop, or someplace else, I'm
    not sure.  
    Last night a friend of mine pointed it out as we left the Winthrop
    Yacht Club.  Not a pretty sight.
    
    djc
      

    Hurricane Bob was none too kind to me. My C&C 26 was hauled out on
    stands at East Passage Yachting Center (Bend Boat Basin) in Portsmouth,
    RI. This yard was directly in the path of the storm and the boat got
    knocked down, falling into a wooden shed. Obvious damage includes a 20
    degree bend in the trailing edge of the lead keel, the mast is bent
    (strapped to bow and stern pulpits) where the mast met the shed, the
    bow pulpit is crushed, the port teak grab-rail is crushed under the
    mast.

    Looks like I'd have been better off in the water, though if the storm
    had passed by about an hour later, the marina might have been trashed.
    According to the yard manager, the docks were within 15" of the piling
    tops.

    After I meet with the insurance people next week, I'll post the results
    here.

    Carl

    re .25
    
    Any chance of getting that video for say a noontime showing for your
    friends on the notesfile?

    RE .28
    
    I can't understand how a sailboat would have been better off on
    jackstands than in the water.  Ours was on stands until last Thursday,
    and any number of people have commented to me that we'd have been
    better off if it were out of the water.  Not my feeling at all ... the
    boat's much more stable in the water than out, particularly with a
    mast sticking up there for windage.
    
    I feel bad for all those folks who hauled their boats only to have them
    fall over.  Seems to me that'd create more damage than having your
    mooring drag, or having another boat smack into you.  I think it was
    down in Marion where they showed all those boats blown over like so
    many dominos ... and most of those were hauled specifically because of
    the hurricane.
    
    I guess you take your chances either way, though.  Real sorry to hear
    about all the damage ... hope the insurance company takes good care of
    you.
    
    RE .29
    
    There's always a chance.  I haven't seen the video myself yet, so don't
    know what it looks like.  Once I take a peek, if it looks like it'd be
    worth it I'll see about offering a showing ...
    
    ... Bob
    

	Well I guess Ive sobbed enuff by now that I can put my story in here.
My boat is at Hawthorn Cove Marina in Salem (MA) and I too got to watch the 
storm from our "clubhouse" (actually, its where are restrooms and washing
machines are....). Was exciting to watch. I can admit to that. Rather sickening
though. Watching many $$$$ go rolling by and head for the rocks. We were VERY
lucky with the tides. The boats that did break lose managed to get stuck in the
mud flats before finding themselves on the breakwater outside Pickering Wharf.
Saw on boat approx 40' go hobbling through MANY boats apparently not hitting
them too hard and then guide itself right up the channel towards Pickering.
There are many boats out there that have a hard time with that route with a
captain on board in flat sea's!!! He eventually got pulled out before the tides
came back in and left him high on the rocks. The only real casualty I/we saw
was at the very start of the storm when a 18(ish)' power boat broke lose and
hit the breakwater and within minutes was seen no more.
	I was hit by some boat(s) at some point. Damaged the bow pulpit (had my
danforth up there FIRMLY secured and it got bent like a pretzel.....) all the
starboard stanchions, stern rail, starboard side teak toerail, a dozen or so 
scratches and gouges, plus we must have banged masts because I have no VHF
antenna and only 1/2 of my windex is still there. Until I can find out what
else if anything got hit up on the stick and get the lifelines repaired it
looks like I'm beached for a while. Course everyone and thier brother wants a
surveyor and repairs done ASAP so I figure to be out of it for a while. Only 
bright side is I may get a new paint job out of it all. 
	Well, I'll let y'all know what happens and will probably have some
questions along the way. 

	Anybody need crew??????

Paul (Double Trouble......)

    
    We pulled our 22' sailboat out of Winter Island on Monday morning
    before the storm. The previous Saturday, we had lost our oars to the
    dingy while it was in tow so I was in a bit of a pickle as to what to
    expect and do to get our boat out at 7am. I expected to only secure it
    if I could get out to it (assuming there would be enourmous sea
    activity). The other vision I had in mind was a line of people waiting
    their turn on the ramp. Well as it turned out, we got there before the
    lines of trailers and I happened to meet up with a family that had a
    dingy, but had to get an unpowered and demasted sailboat out that was
    moored by the power plant jetty. It worked out well and made new
    friends. They took me to my boat two moorings out and I retreived their
    daugthers wooden sailboat. It was good team work in a not so good
    situation.
    
    	On Saturday after the storm, we were putting our boat back in and
    saw two boats being hauled/dragged out. One was a small sailboat (~16')
    with a mast that looked like a cheese curl. The other appeared to be a
    20'+ power boat. I can only say it 'appeared' because the top portion of
    the boat was missing and the stern was very low in the water and
    getting lower. The damaged power boat sank about 200' from the ramp.
    The guys doing the towing returned later and dragged it to the ramp.
    They had NO insurance.
    
    Dan
    

    I was in Onset Ma., yesterday, and saw a heavy-lift
    helicopter moving "marooned" boats back to the water.
    The 'copter was yellow, seemed to have a 6-bladed main
    rotor, was dragging a huge cargo sling, and had
    "CARSON" lettered on the side. The 'copter seemed
    continuously busy.
    
    I was told that the typical fee for moving a large
    (maybe 30') sailboat back to water had been $2600 in 1985.
    
    Some smaller boats being returned to water from a marsh,
    via rollers (timbers) on top of plywood, and muscle-power.
    

    A couple of good news/bad news items related to the storm.
    
    One of the Etchells owners with a mooring near the mouth of Marblehead
    harbor hauled his boat out Sunday night.  The good news is that his
    boat passed the storm in the safety of the yacht club parking lot.  The
    bad news is that enroute to the parking lot, the owner didn't see the
    tree limb overhanging the driveway and proceeded to tow his boat right
    under it, shearing off his mast at the partners.
    
    A friend left Marion on the friday before the storm on a vacation to
    Maine.  The good news is that his boat safely weathered the storm in
    Southwest Harbor.  The bad news is that his car which was left in
    a parking lot near Marion Harbor was washed away by the storm surge.
    
    - gene

    Sounds sort of like the mysterious forces of nature were at work.  It
    only shows that the forces of good and evil are still thankfully evenly
    matched.  :-)
    
    

    
    	How big of an anchor do you need for an econobox? And which style
    holds best in asphalt? }8^) 

    Try screw type pitons (montain climbing style) :-)
    
    Paul

From the log of Hidden Valley:

Aug 17 [Saturday] Hi tide 05:11, 17:30; Lo 11:09, 23:56.  

09:30 Weather clear, wind S 1-3K.
   Forecast:  "incr clouds, incr chance of shower; Sunday showers; Mon and 
   Tues chance of showers; Fair wind."
...
14:57 Arrive @ The Basin; anchored.
...[nine position sightings; we weren't dragging]
20:20 Tightened lines, closed portlights; wind has died down.

Aug 18, Sunday

08:41 Weather hazy, wind S 5-10K
   Forecast:  "Hurricane Bob!!! Gale warnings for Monday!!! ..."

---------------

And so started my first hurricane ever aboard a boat.  As it turns out,
The Basin, considerably inland off of New Meadows River in mid-northern 
Maine is a pretty good hurricane hole.  The entrance is narrow and makes 
a sharp 90 degree turn before opening up into what looks like a small 
inland lake whose maximum diameter is less than a mile.  It is
surrounded on all sides by small hills and medium height pine trees. 
The only bad news is that the shores are somewhat rocky in many places,
but there are also a lot of mud flats.  The bottom is excellent - a
tough very sticky mud.  The depth was perfect 15 ft at low tide, 25 ft 
at high tide; neither too deep for plenty of scope nor too shallow to
bounce a lot.  Since our biggest anchor was already well dug
in; I just decided to stay put and wait for further news of Bob.  Most
of the boats in The Basin for Saturday night weighed anchor and left. 
Only three others stayed aside from a couple small boats on moorings. 

Joani and I decided to relax for the rest of the day, do some reading, 
etc.  We even took a pleasant dinghy ride into several little coves and 
up one river which fed into The Basin.  I went through my on board
library.  Chapman's told me what a hurricane was, but there was no what
to do check list.  No one else talked much about hurricanes, although
our Maine guidebook classified harbors as to their protection.  So I
made a check list - just in case Bob decided to visit us. 

o  more scope
o  make angels ride exactly half way down the rode by measurement
o  extra chafe protection - tape it on
o  stay put to maximize anchor penetration
o  2nd anchor, or make a Y at the end of [40 ft of heavy] chain? 
[Decided to use 2nd anchor at 90 degrees to first.]
o  consider using the small mooring nearby as a third anchor point; it 
looks like it is for a very small boat like a dinghy.  [Decided not]
o  rig an angel for the Danforth
o  should rodes be tied mid ships?  Worth loss of scope?  [I tied bitter 
ends to the mast.]
o  remove windage:  sails, dodger, lines
o  Halyards:  wrap around mast, remove or rig as extra stays.  [I rigged 
them as stays; didn't have appropriate messenger line material.]
o  add extra support for boom [to stop swinging.  I considered removing 
the boom briefly but rejected it.]
o  tighten back stay
o  check fuel, water, propane, food, batteries.  [All were ample.]
o  dump diesel Jerry can contents into main tank.
o  put out fenders horizontally
o  close down propane system at tank.  [Forgot to do this.]
o  lash down as much as possible [inside boat]
o  check floor boards, bilges
o  lower contents of cabinets.
o  secure ice box cover [Forgot to do this.]
o  double protect bottles in "wine cellar" [behind stbd settee]
o  pump and clean bilges
o  put away dishes, pots & pans, etc.
o  make extra food, hot water, etc.

I even made two other lists: things to take ashore if needed and 
things to do to keep us busy.  We listened regularly to the weather 
reports as Bob kept coming towards us.  We went to bed early [a wise 
decision] with the 6pm location of Bob 90 mi. S of Cape Hatteris picking
up speed and force. 

The Monday 06:00 forecast made it clear Bob was definitely coming with 
Hurricane Warnings all the way to Eastport Maine.  The forecast was still 
for East Winds when Bob arrived.  We started striping the boat, set the 
second anchor due north, added extra chafe protection (heavy hose) and 
duct taped it so it wouldn't slide.  It was already raining and all this 
seemed to take far more time than I imagined.  A small outboard driven 
skiff driven by one of the local residents comes by and invites us to 
her house should we decide to leave our boat.  I make a mental note to 
seriously consider her offer.

By 13:14 I was exhausted and chilled to the bone, since I foolishly only
had shorts and a tee shirt under my foul weather gear.  Here was the set 
up when the winds were blowing from the east:

                              N <------

           17 lb Danforth                     35 lb Danforth Plow 
           Deepset High Tensile               35' heavy chain
           8' light chain

                            \                /
                             \              /
                              \            /
                               \          /
                                \        /
                                  40' Sloop
                                17,000 lbs displ

Both rodes were 250' of 5/8" braided nylon.  Remember the plow was set
when the wind was heavy from the south which is why I didn't use it as
my "northern" anchor. 

A 14:27 log entry records winds 28-30K @ 34 degrees.  Much of the
afternoon energy goes to arguing with captains of boats coming into The
Basin that they are either anchoring too close or anchoring on top of my
anchor lines.  One of the boats I chase away goes too close to another
boat, gets chased away again, and snags yet another boat's anchor rode
in the process of moving!   An almost empty basin is starting to look
very very crowded.  Several boats are already dragging all over the
place.  I'm amazed at their stupidity! They are throwing a light anchor
over their bow with no effort to set it; they are using obviously short
scope.  We're now most worried about other boats hitting us! 

Around 17:00 when Bob is predicted to begin to hit, a large number of
fishing boats enter The Basin.  What was surprising is that they raft up
three to an anchor!!!  Now the place is REALLY CROWDED!  [None of the 
fishing boats dragged.]

High tide today is 17:43.  At 17:47 the depth is 30', wind 40-44K @16 
degrees.  I'm almost totally sitting on my second anchor. I shorten the 
scope on the first anchor; it doesn't take much pull, but does seem to 
stop the boat from swinging so much.  For the next hour, winds range 
from 40K to well over 60K, and come pretty much from the north.  At 
20:32 the depth has risen to 40 feet, 15 feet above the "high tide
figure". The rain seems like it is totally horizontal, but there is
essentially no sea in The Basin.  Hidden Valley swings and yaws, but
hardly either rolls or pitches. I think I like the idea of hurricane
holes!  The eye goes over us and the wind dies down briefly.  A couple
boats pull anchor and leave (??!!!), and then the wind pipes up again to
60+K and now sometimes from the NW - so much for my strategy of where to
set the second anchor.  Good thing I did a good job hand setting it! 
Don't know what happened to the boats which left when we were in the
eye... 

During this period of heavy winds a couple boats broke loose and 
the most amazing thing happened.  The fishermen who came in and rafted 
up, left their boats for their 15' aluminum skiffs which they had in tow 
and took off after these runaway boats.  They caught the runaways and
reset their anchors for them!  One was a 30-32' sailboat with a young
couple and a small child aboard; the other was a 45' motorsailer with an
elderly couple aboard.  Pretty amazing.  My admiration for these men is
astronomical! [The next day I overheard the elderly couple trying to pay
them for their efforts.  In a deep Maine drawl, "Ah naw, mister; maybe
someday you can help us..."] 

After the wind had died down to 20-30K it seemed calm.  By 24:00 the sky 
had cleared, the stars were beautiful, I checked my anchors and rodes 
one last time and went to bed.  Bob was gone.  Hidden Valley had 
suffered no damage.  I had a few more gray hairs.


Some additional thoughts:

It was a mistake to wait until Monday to start our Hurricane 
preparations.  We had to do them in the cold rain, bringing wet sails 
and a wet dodger into the cabin and making the cabin miserably humid, we 
never really had time to contemplate taking the dinghy ashore.  The 
winds also came up sooner than expected making the short dinghy ride a 
little questionable.  We also forgot to do a couple things on our check 
list.  It took the two of us MUCH longer than I estimated to run through
this list.

On the other hand, it did seem like the most important thing I did was 
to keep other boats from anchoring too close to us, and this continued 
until surprisingly late in the day.

I was very surprised to not hear anything about Bob until Sunday morning 
as it is my routine every morning to record the weather forecast in my 
log.  Guess I should also check the forecast at night as part of my 
routine as well!  We didn't have any other contact with the outside 
world (newspaper, radio, tv, etc.) for several days prior to that first 
NOAA broadcast Sunday morning.

I was, of course, sorry not to have a serious storm anchor aboard as a
third anchor.  I saw a couple big Luke's, and one guy (the one who 
snagged someone else's rode) used an 85lb Fortress for his 42' sloop. 
Guess I'll be thinking about buying such this winter. 

My strategy for anchoring in deep water was, before Bob, to tie our two
250' rodes together to get a 500' rode.  While 250' provided 6-7:1 scope
this time when the depth got to 40', it is easy to see that another
situation would have called for at least two much longer rodes.  The 
crowding in The Basin made a real long scope, say 10:1 or 400', somewhat 
questionable or maybe impossible for anyone arriving late.  Had I had 
that much out I would have had several boats anchoring on top of my 
rodes.  Sigh... .  The angels (=sentinels =home made Rode Rollers) 
seemed to help; although we could have used heavier ones.  One was a 
20 lb mushroom attached to a snatch block, and the other was an on the 
spot creation of a snatch block and every spare shackle and piece of 
chain on the boat.  The latter only weighed 8 lbs or so.  I also wished 
I had twisted rather than braided nylon.  The anchor and rode we sat on 
looked awfully taut most of the time - even with 8 lb angel on it.  I 
had considered switching the angels and putting the heavier one on the 
rode with the light anchor which was under the heavy load, but I 
reasoned (perhaps incorrectly) that should the little Danforth drag and 
I had to depend on the big plow I would want every possible advantage on 
that last anchor/rode.  I'm buying a second 20 lb mushroom for a second 
angel or perhaps maybe an official Rode Roller or two.  

I am also contemplating making my main rode all heavy chain, but all 
that weight in the bow of my medium to light displacement boat has 
always been a deterrent.  Another item to rethink.

Since we had a devil of a time getting our anchors up (we put the rodes
onto the primaries and winched them up slowly), I can't imagine getting
a big storm anchor up without a serious windless.  Had we been forced to
anchor in a hurry and dragged, say even once, resetting a big storm
anchor without a windless would have been hell.  Hmmm, how much is a
good windless ... ?  I was also envious of those with a salt water wash
down to get all that mud off.  Both our anchors came up with huge mud 
balls which enveloped their shanks.  Me and that bucket were ready for a
divorce! 

Our little 8' inflatable and 1.5 hp outboard are just fine for putting 
around a calm harbor, but I don't consider it safe to take them out in 30K 
winds.  This pretty much closed off our options to get to shore as we 
were late in finishing our hurricane preparations.  It just seemed 
safer to stay aboard.  Next dinghy and outboard will both be bigger 
however.

    -gayn
    

Re: Note 1776.38, Bob hits Hidden Valley in Maine.

Sounds like you used splendid seamanship to ride out the storm.  I've often
read about using angels to add to your anchor's holding power.  They give
you a greater holding angle in limited scope, and add a "shock absorber"
effect to your line.

OH those inflatable dinghies: so easy to store, so light to lift aboard--but
don't get caught out in one during a big wind.  Many times I've seen frantic-
looking people in inflatables pull themselves along from mooring to mooring
during a stiff breeze in Oak Bluff's harbor.  It takes a lot of horsepower
to push an inflatable against a blow.

Tell me more about the fishermen who rafted together to stand the storm on
one anchor.  I've seen it done before and I don't understand it.  It's 
against everything I've every heard about storm anchoring.  Their anchor
must be enchanted with some secret fisherman's prayer.

>Tell me more about the fishermen who rafted together to stand the storm on
>one anchor.  I've seen it done before and I don't understand it.  It's 
>against everything I've every heard about storm anchoring.  Their anchor
>must be enchanted with some secret fisherman's prayer.


I've seen this done in Italy, but each fishing boat had it's own set of
anchor(s).  The idea as it was explained to me, was that if one boat's
tackle was not sufficient, the other boats would "support" it.

F.
(who rafted up next to them because there was no space at the dock).

    In the cove I used as a hurricane hole (also in Maine), I was also
    joined by lots of local lobstermen who did essentially the same thing -
    they took a bunch of small boats, not to mention some floating piers 
    they use, and rafted them all up.  Unfortunately I was so occupied with
    securing my own boat I couldn't see the details of what they were doing
    for ground tackle, but they were fiddling with it for quite a while. 
    
    

    re:.38   Good job Gayn.   A couple of observations on extreme
    conditions.
    
    * Weather forecast, fast moving storms.  I have taken trips in the
    past where I did not listen to radio, buy papers, etc.   But I usually
    put NOAA on to get forecasts.    This has limited use as storms like
    Hurricane Bob(started in the Bahama's) move so fast that storm
    prep is a "come as you are" evolution.      The message is that NOAA
    will not give you much warning in many case and you must depend on your
    own skill and resources aboard.
    
    * Storm "kit",  We all tend to do mostly coastal trips and our boats
    are equipped for that use.   I think all boats should think out a "what
    if" exercise.  (away in Maine, strange harbor, 24hours to a Hurricane).
    
    The questions Gayn considered just before the storm were ones he must
    have thought of before, witness the fact he had most of the gear aboard
    to rig for the storm.
    
    The "kit" will include; chafe gear(leather and vinal tubing), extra
    long rodes, sentinels, duct tape (great stuff), a storm preparation 
    check list, etc.
    
     I keep a quote over my navigation table to remind myself of the need;
    
    "Nothing is more dangerous than for a seaman to be grudging in taking
     precautions lest they turn out to have been unnecessary.   Safety
     at sea for a thousand years has depended on exactly the opposite
     Philosophy"
    
      This was stated in 1945 by Admiral Chester Nimitz as the result of
    the December 1944 typhoon off the Phillipines which did more damage to
    the US Fleet than Japanese could have hoped to do.    Destroyers
    sinking with all hands, bows ripped off cruisers, etc.     The main
    cause of the great destruction was the cockiness of the Navy in not
    taking precautions, thus the Admirals comment after the investigation.
    
    *Inflateables:  Especially without rigid keels, tend to be useless in a
    wind.   Friends of mine who cruised the Carribeann for 4 years, carried
    2 tenders; an inflateable avon and a rigid Eli 8ft THAT ROWED WELL.
    
    If you get into rocks or coral (I have been in the situation)
    inflateables are not viable but even worse, outboards are of no use.
    (you spend more time trying to keep the prop from being smashed, 
     setting yourself up for capsize)
    
    Consider a rigid tender with adequate freeboard and good rowing
    characteristics. it could be a lifesaver.
    
   * Sentinels (angels);  I always us them in any anchorage(mine is 8#
    mushroom on 28ft sloop).      I believe they are key to keeping an
    anchor from snapping out and help the reset when direction changes.
    
    
   * What I take away from Gayn's note, especially in a society which seems
     to demand risk-free activities and will blame others when it "goes
     wrong", is that an informed and prudent mariner who has thought out
     the implications of being at sea is the best chance for survival out
     there.      
    
     All of us, old time and new to boating need to keep the lessons in 
     mind and act on them if we wish to enjoy boating into our old age.
    
    regards
    Frank

    I decided to take the last 2 weeks in August off for my summer cruise
    because the "weather will be really nice."
    
    Our plan was to sail from Newburyport down to the Cape, and spend most
    of our time in Vinyard Sound, Elizabeth's, etc.  Some friends joined us
    from New Mexico for the sail down.   They are enthusiastic sailors, and
    I looked forward to their company.
    
    We started down on Saturday to the usual SW wind.  Beat 70 miles on the
    log to cover the 30-35 nm to Situate.   10 PM Saturday, call easy
    rider, and hook up.
    
    Sunday morning, turn on NOAA and listen.  Sounds like a real
    Hurricane, my first with the boat.  I spent some time considering the 
    alternatives.  Our next planned overnight is Onset.  I knew that 
    Buzzards Bay can be really bad given a direct hit.  My guests have 
    traveled far, I don't want to deprive them of a day of sailing due 
    to over conservatism.
    
    Opt for conservatism.  Talk w/easy rider about a really good mooring in
    the inner harbor until the "weather passes."  He gives me a strange
    look (this is Sunday AM), but complies with what appears to be a really
    good one.   A good hint was a 6' pickup, and 2 lines, right in the
    middle of the inner harbor.  We spend the day entertaining ourselves
    watching the traffic in Situate, and visiting in town.
    
    By Sunday night it becomes clear that this was not an overly
    conservative move.   I strip the boat, sails, dodger.  Visit the marine
    store in town which is by now a very busy place to get additional
    anti-chafing for the mooring painter.  By now, a number of boats are
    being prepared.  I consider using one or more of the 3 anchor's I carry
    in addition.  The projected track sounds like we are right in the
    middle, figuring the wind will swing, boats will swing in a crowded
    place, I elect not to.  To deal with some of the "unknown mooring
    uncertainty" I spend some time in the dingy inspecting the chain and
    shackles, at least as far as I can reach.  Big heavy stuff, bigger than
    my own.  Wonder what I cannot see?  The penant is 10' long from the ball. 
    Hopefully 10' of storm tide is enough?   Rig the halyards as
    additional stays.  Close all seacocks (except scuppers).  Shut off
    batteries.   Sadly, expecting the worst, packup and leave boat for
    harborside hotel.  Include documentation in the stuff I pack.  
    
    We move into a hotel overlooking the outer harbor but not the boat.    
    Spent Monday watching the action.  We saw a handful of boats break
    loose, hit whatever was in their path.  Lots of sails, especially front
    roller furling sails unravel and shread.  SE wind comes in the harbor
    entrance cleanly...little interference.  A good study in what increases
    windage.  One ~30' sloop with an inflatable attached to the bow did
    some very interesting healing and sailing on its mooring.  Taking
    everything off your boat is really a good idea.
    
    The eye came over and we went to check.  Looks OK from the Harbor
    Masters office.  "Fair Wind" riding nicely.  The wind clocks around, but
    with a fraction of the strength.  The Harbor Master indicates 75
    sustained, gusts to 105 just before the eye.  When all was past we went
    out and inspected.  All OK....windex missing.  I remembered the day
    that I went up to straighten/tighten.....didn't like it up there very
    much.  Not too good a job I guess.  
    
    We continued our trip later that week to Vinyard Sound.  Damage
    observed included a big power boat on the island we usually anchor near
    in Onset, lots of boats aground a Kingman,....used a phone booth in
    Kingman with a clear indication of the high water mark at chest
    level...about 1/2 the boats in Green Pond, Falmouth had damange. 
    Another remarkable thing about Falmouth was the trees.  Looks like
    fall, the leaves are brown and falling.
    
    Consider myself lucky.  Situate turned out to be a reasonable place 
    to be.  A good mooring, given the unknown nature of what your hooked to
    was even luckier.   
    
    Maybe I'll take my vacations in June.   
    

    re .43
    
    Why did you shut off your batteries.  I put mine on "all" to keep
    the bilge pumps going as long as possible.
    
    Just wondering?
    
    

    Have no float switch.  
    
    

    Saw the following advertised in a Cape Cod tourist directory last week:
    
    "The Destructive Diary of Hurricane Bob"
    
    A picture book, 56 pages, 175 photos, 20 pages in full color, plus
    dozens of aerial photos, interviews, locally produced, very limited
    quantities. Covering the Cape & Islands & Southeastern Mass.
    
    Price: $7.54   ($5.99 + $1.25 postage + $.30 tax)
    
    Order from:    Hurricane Bob
                   C/O Business Digest/Senior Forum
                   72 Winter St
                   Hyannis, MA 02601
    
    
    I purchased a copy and found it to be reasonably interesting. Heavy
    focus on Cape, very little of SE Mass (few Padanarum scenes), pretty
    evenly split between marine and dry land destruction.
    
    JR

    According to the long range projections, Bertha is headed toward New
    England on a path that looks just like Bob. estimates are 100+ winds
    by Friday night Saturday morning.
    
    Time to check your moorings and insurance, tell the boss you may be out
    on friday to strip the boat etc.

Should the 96 season get its own note?

The following is a nice chart of Hurricane Bertha.  I have
not searched for a better one.


	http://www.wsvn.com/weather/hurricane/chart/

Looks like Jacksonville is the current bulls eye.

Doug

This looks like almost a drirect feed from the National Hurricane
Center.  It is sponsered by the Miami Herald.

Bottom line: Hurricane Bertha is NOT projected to be within 75 miles
of us during the next three days.  

Good set of charts, including projected path and probabilities.

	http://www.herald.com/hurricane/nhcsw.htm

Saturday still looks good for sailing.

Doug

re .49:

If Bertha comes within a few hundred miles of NE, let alone 75 miles
(or do you mean 750 miles?), the swells/waves are likely to be VERY
unpleasant. This may or may not be a good sailing weekend. 

    Surf conditions are expected to be excellent this weekend as the first
    pulses from Bertha reach northern shores.  It could be rough close in
    with larger rollers farther out.  Don't know what the winds will be
    like though.

    re .48   I was looking at the U of Hawaii who were showing probably
    tracking after first landfall. Looks like it is going hit and then
    go straight north instead of blowing out to sea.
    
    

Alan 

you are certainly correct about the swells.  Ol' glass
stomach here found out about Felix's swells when he stalled
off of North Carolina last year.

The storm information is 75 miles.  Basically they seem to
be more concerned about wind.

The forcast is for Bertha to be 29.4 N and 78.0 W at 11am
July 11.  Extrapolating this puts a land fall near
Charlstown sometime tomorrow night.

I hope Andy Stangel and the rest of his crew are headed for
a hurricane hole right now.  He is part of a boat delivery
crew heading out of Charlston SC for Boston.

If John is correct about it going inshore, the whole thing
will be over quickly.

Doug

I found a FEMA page:

			http://www.fema.gov/fema/trop.html

Good link to store for the season, but they don't seem to update during 
the day. Today they are predicting a landfall at South Carolina and then
tracking the coast and heading back to sea near the Virginia border. 
This coul slowd it down a bit, but I'm not going to hedge any bets 
on it. 
	I've been on the edge of my seat pondering plans to pull out our
boat. I remember all to clearly my delayed reaction and the results when
Hurricane Bob came through. I have an easy boat to pull out and with a 2
week old baby, this wouldn't be a good weekend for sailing. Retreival of our
boat could be a realatively cheap insurance. 
	Doug, Buzzards Bay is a serious place to be for a hurricane. When
Bob came through it made landfall in Naragansett bay 2 hours before high
tide. The strongest winds of the storm pushed massive amounts of water up
into the bay where it all had nowhere to go but onto shore. Nearly every
boat with enough bouyancy to pull its mooring was left somewhere on shore. I
particularly remember one, which was left with a roller furling jib  in
place and the dodger up, that was battered and washed up on shore a mile
away. I remeber seeking it out, because the first thing it did was run over
my boat. 
	NOAA is calling for the storm to at least effect coastal waters on
Saturday. If nothing else in the form of swells. I have serious doubts about
how nice a day Saturday will be for sailing as well as if it's worth waiting
till then to make preparations. But I can retreive our boat and move it 70
miles inland for about 20 bucks and a few hours of my time. 

	This storm does have me concerned. 

	Geoff

My cousins live in Falmouth.  So pulling the boat is
relatively easy even in absentia.  In addition, my wife is
visitng them as we speak.

I saw the results of Hurricane Bob.  I was in a hospital at
the time, as Jessica was being born.  

My cousin beleives in big BIG VERY BIG equipment.  though I 
do not want to test it, he has a massive mooring.  He put it
in to protect his #35,000 Colin Archer.  Having just shear
the chain off of the mooring ball, I can describe parts of
it.  Eric put in a #5000 block.  Attached to this is ship
mooring chain (each link is about 6" long).  About 4o' in
lenght.  Attached to this is lighter chain ( I can actaully 
lift it), aoubt 3" links.  This is the chain he brought up on
deck of the Artic Tern.  Attached to this is a new pendant
(the weak link, that I added Sunday).  During Hurrican Bob,
Eric's day sailer got flipped over.  There was actaully
enough strain to move some of the chain.  The mooring itself
has never taken a pull, and it is buried deep.

Going down to Falmouth was interesting though.  Boats were
piled up like cordwood at Penzance Point.  You are absolutly
correct about pulling.  Better safe than sorry.

If Bertha slams into north Carolina, we may not even have too
much in the way of swells.  We should know by early evening
today.

    re .55
    
       So doug, what makes you think you are the only one who would want to
    pull your boat out of falmouth as a hurricane approaches?

It is clear that Holiday II is THE MOST IMPORTANT boat in
Woods Hole, so no problem.

I haven't looked carefully at Dan's house recently, but he
used to have dredging barge at his house, complete with
crane.  Might cheat and use that.

To be honest, I don't think it is going to hit us. 
Remember you heard my ability to out forcast the NHC here
first.  Hope I don't need to eat those words.  I wonder
how much of this "forcast" is wishful thinking combined
with laziness.

I may yet panic tomorrow or so.  At its current rate of
movement, Bertha is a couple days out even if it draws a
bead on us.

Hauling isn't necessarily the best strategy. Much depends on how well
braced the boat is and how protected it is from the winds. Boats ashore
have been blown off jackstands (or whatever) and badly damaged. Moorings
aren't great, but they're vastly better than being tied to a dock. My
first choice would be anchoring in a hurricane hole in Maine. 

:-)

Some people will do anything for the excuse to go to Maine.

On the other hand, it is hard to imagine a better hurricane
hole than the basin.

    
       Stripped the boat last night after racing. Took 45 minutes as a 
    nasty anchor swivel cotter pin refused to come out peacefully in the 
    dark, making the chore twice as bad. 
    
       Slept well last night knowing I did all I could...
    
       Hope to get out Sunday for a bon voyage party for Bertha

I went out to Marblehead this morning to check on our boat. Looks like 
nobody has done any storm preparations at all -- dodgers up, inflatable 
dinghies on deck, sails on, etc. Given this morning's forecast, I doubt 
anyone will do anything.

Looks like I am going to win on being lazy.  STill there are
several good side effects for me on Bertha.

1.  The diver has given high priority to making certain that the
mooring repair is done correctly, and today.

2.  I have given thought to how I would lay Holiday II to Erics 
mooring in Eel Pond.  Forinstance, I would pull the dingy, or at
the very least swamp it and tie it off to a piling away from my
boat.  Run multiple lines to the mooring, chain etc.  This would
help protect from failure of one line.  I decided against an
anchor addition.  This would spread rode around to be caught by
others as they drift.  Might also mess up my swing compared to
other boats.  Pull sailes, radar reflector, and BOOMS.  Removing
the booms is easy, and makes for that much less stuff to go bad.

Doug

Might have to strip the boat yet.  Bloody storm picked up energy
after leaving the Gulf Stream.

If it hasn't really calmed down by tonight, I will have to button
her up tomorrow.  

As Winnie the Pooh would say "Bother!"

Doug

I was having serious questions last night about if I really wanted to
pull the boat out. It sounded like it won't hit, but the wind
direction is perhaps the worst for our relatively exposed mooring.
The person I had with me to help suggested that I pull it and gain
peace of mind and that was all the argument it took. 
	There was nobody at the ramp and after working through a few
minor problem it went relatively smoothly with no one breathing down
my neck to get finished. We wouldn't be going out this weekend
anyway, so I've lost nothing more than some gasoline and a few hours
time. I've gained piece of mind and a little more experience using
this boat off the trailer. 


	I've also noted about this storm that all the predictions
have been off by just a little bit. The turn to the north was
expected two days before it happened. The last prediction I saw put
it brushing the south side of the cape & island on Sunday morning.
The little difference from predictions would be enough to see it run
right over the cape. 

	Maybe I went overboard on the preparations, but it's better
than not doing enough. 

	I hope nobody looses a boat on this one.
	Geoff

    Geoff
    
    
       This is suppose to be a watershed year for Hurricances. Chances are
    we are going to get a couple more, so look at your efforts as practice
    for a big 1 eh?  I know I could strip my boat in 30 minutes or less now.
    
    Here is a question for preparing. Is one better to pump out the fresh and
    waste water, unload all the stuff you can and make the boat lighter, or
    is it better to keep the weight on board to slow the pitching?
    

IMO, a lighter boat is better, but it probably doesn't make
much difference, since the percentage of total weight is small.
The shock loading on your mooring gear is higher if the boat is
heavier.

Looking at the track the storm took and knowing how my harbor is situated, I
don't regret having pulled the boat out. I do hope that the rest of the
storms that come up avoid us, but that makes no difference what I have for a
boat. I am getting better with this on and off the trailer thing, but I'm
still nowhere near the advertised 15 minutes.  do believe I can have the boat
in and ready to sail in about an hour from the time we get to the ramp, so
that's an easy, worthwhile hour spent in the face of heavy storms. 

	As for pumping the tanks and all I'm not sure which is better. One
thing I did do when I secured my S2 on the mooring was to remove the outboard
and stow it near the keel. That and the basic, keep the weight low and
centered< seemed like good measures. If it's any consolation John, My uncle
had a pearson 26 in Salem Harbor for 20 years and never nid more than secure
his mooring and remove the main (no roller) and never had any hurricane
damage. Salem seems like a very nice, protected harbor.

Geoff

Holiday II made it through the blow just fine.  The annoying things was
the boat DOWNwind of me.  This mooring has encroached on my cousin's. 

I went down in the middle of the gale to shorten scope on my mooring. 
This was not an easy task in the 30 knots winds.  Eeel pond was wipped
into pretty much of a froth.  In addition, the tide was about two feet
above mean high water.  Lots of rope, lots of winch work.  I shortened
about 5 feet.  At that point the mooring chain was at my bow roller. 
Even then, when the other boat surged forward, there was only a couple
of feet to spare.  The effort took about three hours.  Watching another 
half hour, rowing the 100 yards back to the submerged dingy dock another
15 minutes.

Total tambage to Holiday II, a frayed mizzen sheet.  I moved it end for 
end.  It was on the replacement list this fall anyway.  Probably less
than $10.00.

When I went to check on Holiday II yesterday, the biggest need is for
more varnish. geeez.

The new pendanat I made worked like a champ.  In addition, I had a
second bight on the morring chain.  A diver checked things over on
Friday.  Mooring is over kill and in excellent condition.

Hope you did as well.

    I put the boat back together yesterday with a crewmember. Took half an
    hour. Boat got a good washing and nothing more.  Several others at the
    club were doing the same. I was surprised no one had their boats in the
    yard, except for a couple there were already out for maintenance.
    
    My sister called to report that when they went to check their stinkpot
    on the Cape, there was a 20' powerboat across the road still attached
    to it's mooring.
    
    Let's hope this was the last storm for this year...