The forecast is for a direct going ashore hit at Mobile Alabama.
GREY GOOSE IS STAYING PUT AT THE DOG RIVER MARINA DOCK IN MOBILE BAY ALABAMA - GREY GOOSE IS FACING TO THE SOUTHEAST.
GREY GOOSE IS ALL SECURED:
DOUBLE LINES: 4XFWD, 4XAFT, 2XFWD-MSHIP, AND 2XAFT-MSHIP WITH POLY-HOSE CHAUFFING GEAR.
FENDER BOARD PORT MSHIP WITH BOTH BLUE FENDERS BEHIND TO ABSORB LOADS
FUEL DAY TANK IS FULL
WATER TANKS ARE FULL
GRAY WATER TANK IS EMPTY
POWER AND WATER LINES CONNECTED TO SHORE WITH A LOOP AND SLACK
KAYAKS ON TOP OF PILOTHOUSE ARE RE-SECURED AND COVERED WITH TARPS BUNGEE DOWN FOR ADD-SECURED.
PICTURES TAKEN TO DOCUMENT PREPARATIONS:
IT IS NOW NOON AND IT IS STARTING TO SPRINKLE AND FRESHEN UP...
62' "FRONT PAGE" ACROSS THE DOCK AND I BOTH ARE STANDING BY ON VHF CHANNEL 17 JUST IN CASE WE NEED EACH OTHER'S ASSISTANCE.
STANDING BY - WILL KEEP YOU UPDATED
OUR SPOT BEACON IS ON IN CASE I NEED TO MOVE AWAY FROM THE DOCK - I.E. DEBRIS, DRIFTING SHIP(S) ETC... SO YOU CAN TRACK US...
NOW I THINK I'LL DO A LOAD OF WASH....
ALL READY TO ROCK AND ROLL,
DP
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www.greatloop.org
November 9th, 2009, 12:29 pm
Good Morning Loopers,
Today's weather musing, Tuesday, November 9th, is all about the storm approaching the Panhandle, there won't be any good crossing days until the coming weekend.
Thursday, I introduced this storm with these words, "From out of the mist of a back alley of the Gulf came some freaked out lady called Ida. Yesterday, I called her "...cunning, illusive, and very mysterious....". This morning, I walked to the end of the dock and she spat at me. She has been gulping up warm water from the Caribbean and southern Gulf for the past few days and is holding it in her cheeks to unleash on us. I put my hand into the water and I could feel her pulse. My ears picked up the pounding surf so close yet still beyond my sight. As the first light comes over the horizon, I suspect the clouds will cover the sky. Ida is a witch who is intent on sneaking up on the Panhandle and throwing the first punch. Little does she know that King Neptune has his own surprises. The El Nino winds are laying in wait for her, to blow the tops out of her twisting, turning eye, lessening her fury. Little does she know that Loopers all along the Panhandle have been throwing their ice clubs into the water and have the temperature down to 70 degrees, 10 degrees less than Miss Ida wants. This could have been a GREAT storm a few months earlier, but today, it is just a category 1 hurricane slowing dying down.
Now, don't let your guard down. Ida will most likely hit the Panhandle around Pensacola (yes, my backyard), she will start raining on us around noon, winds gusting into the 50s by dark, and during the night, she will come ashore with sub hurricane winds, but respectable gusts. The storm surge will be about 5-7 feet near the storm and Ida will unleash all that water she has been gathering. Her swath of fury will not be very wide, maybe 25 miles. Boaters to the west of her track will only feel about half her fury. Those to the east and within her range, will get a nice blow out of her. Never, never take your eye off of a hurricane. These "she devils" can change direction and fury in a second. There are no guarantees with a hurricane. They are truly witches (whether called by a male or female name).
By now, all boaters should be where they are going to ride out the storm. If you think there is a better spot, forget it, stay where you are now. There is no more time to be shuffling around to supposedly better spots. If you have a fender or length of line in a locker, it is in the wrong spot. Get it out and use it. Remove or tie down all deck gear, canvas, and anything loose. Tie more lines around your big gear too, dinghies can get loose and have been known to stream out from a boat, or worse. If something can't be removed and could blow loose, use a "stitch" line like sail boaters do around their mainsails and boom. Gather your flashlights and your portable radios. If you are in the storm path, stay off your fly bridge, remain down below with almost indestructible Fiberglas around you. Choose where you want to ride out the storm, either ashore or on your boat and remain there throughout the storm. Remember, if the very worse happens, that your boat gets loose and you sink, you would be only 2-3 feet further down in the water than you are now. You won't be blown out to sea.
Once nightfall hits, DO NOT go outside. The winds could have blown a stop sign loose that will then behead you. DO NOT take the dog out for a walk. DO NOT investigate some noise outside, it will be there in the morning. DO NOT think that a hurricane stops suddenly, it is only the eye passing over, and it will get you on the other side. DO NOT succumb to curiosity, stay inside. DO NOT drink yourself through the storm, you will need a clear head, remain sober. There are always others depending on you.
One final caution, DO NOT panic or become overly anxious. Captains, keep calm and your crew will be calm too. Admirals, keep your captains calm. If you talk about how bad it is, it will feel worse. If you keep saying the same things over and over, you are starting to panic. If you feel panic, be quiet, keep your mouth shut or you will spread your panic, close your eyes and take a nap, play cards, distract yourself from your anxiety.
Tomorrow, Tuesday, will not be a good weather day but look forward to Wednesday. The sky will be blue again, the winds diminished, and it will feel like you have had another adventure on the water. Waves will be rough until the end of the week.
Hunker down, I will try to write in the morning if I have Internet and electricity.
Stay safe,
Tom
The preceding information must be considered only what I would personally decide to do with my own vessel, a 28-foot sailboat. It must not be substituted for you doing your own looking and studying of the situation. Also, irrespective of all available information, including what I offer here, you as captain must make your own decisions based on the capability of your boat, your crew and your own abilities while realizing safety must never be compromised.
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