We have tried so hard to keep out of trouble with hurricanes since we bought our boat in the Cayman Islands in June, the start of the hurricane season . We left there ahead of Ernesto and missed that one by a few weeks. Then Florence rattled Key West, but we were a jump ahead of her too.
When we got to Chesapeake Bay we heaved a sigh of relief. It was highly unlikely we would have to deal with a hurricane up here, although they have had them before.
Now hurricane Sandy is heading towards us and forecasts are predicting it could cross the coast around 100 miles from here. Because of it's massive size, we could be in the eye.
The basis for calling it the worst ever seems to be because the storm is so huge, stretching close to 1000 miles across. The wind gusts are up to 80 mph, or 130 kph.
But this storm is no ordinary hurricane. As it is moving up off the east coast, there is a low pressure cold front moving east across the US land mass, dumping snow as it goes. Hurricanes are high pressure, warm water generated events. As it gets to about our location, a high pressure system from Greenland moving south meets it, and the low pressure system over the land becomes the path of least resistance and pulls the hurricane onshore. Here the two systems meet and this has never happened before. They don't really know what to expect other than it is going to be very wet, horizontal rain, massive coastal sea surges, which are already happening, wide spread flooding, and a high expectation that we will have a hurricane dumping snow all over the place.
They are expecting barometric pressure to drop to 947 mb. None of the areas on the east coast have ever recorded anything under 960.
We've had plenty of warning and have been watching the news as the storm draws ever closer. At first the predictions of where it would make a landfall were all over the place. Now we're looking down the barrel and it would be false bravado if I didn't admit to being concerned. The irony of it being Sandy that eventually hunted us down is a 'truth stranger than fiction'.
A couple of days ago we started making preparations, just in case, but we fully believed we would be spared the worst of it. As it's direction has become more certain we've stepped up the pace.
The days have been beautiful with rich autumn colours and deceptively calm. Preparing Wind Wanderer for the worst was actually quite pleasant. It was yesterday that the message started getting to us that this is no small event.
We decided to stock up with diesel for the generator, propane for the stove, and buy in groceries for a possible long stint if there are major floods and power failures. Walmart was packed and people were stocking up with bottled water and batteries, along with tinned food. Fresh food and anything that needs refrigeration was way down on the list.
At the hardware store, which is a huge national chain like Bunnings, where I got the propane bottles filled, they had sold out of generators and I overheard someone being told they were getting more in as quickly as they could, but he was 186th on the waiting list!
When we got back to our little private marina the owners of the 25ft power boats were hauling them out onto trailers and we soon became the only boat on our own particular floating dock. I was told this is a good thing because those lighter boats can get airborne in hurricanes and cause a lot of damage!
We spent the rest of the day getting everything on deck either securely lashed down, or brought down below. The guest cabins came in very handy.
While Sandy did all the carrying down and stowing, and pumping more air into the fenders, I added extra lines to the pilings and tied stuff down. You'd be amazed how much there is. Jerry cans, boarding ladders, fishing gaffs, spare gas bottles etc etc. Then we laced additional rope around the main and mizzen sails so they couldn't get ripped out by the wind. The big Yankee up front got secured with the port and starboard sheets (ropes) wrapped around 8 times.
It was starting to get dark and we both noticed an ominous stillness as we came below and closed up the companionway. Left over macaroni cheese and corn bread never tasted so good.
We both woke up at times during the night and could hear the strangest sound, but not all the time. It's hard to discribe, but it was the sound of wind. Very distant, quiet, threatening, huge, but very clear. I can't explain it but we both heard it.
This morning we didn't have much left to do. It was cold and we did have some rain during the night. It's grey and overcast and decidedly wintery. In between rain patches I filled both our water tanks, and lashed the stays'l. It's not a big sail and was covered anyway, but I still wouldn't want it flogging wildly in 60 knots of wind if it got away. We now have all 6 fenders between us and the dock too.
We have been keeping an eye on the weather updates through the day, and Roger (from Florida)sent this in an email. He has a daughter in New York.
"Hi Vic,
This thing is starting to get serious.
Our daughter has been ordered to evacuate their home and head for higher ground. They are expecting an eight foot tidal surge into New York harbour on Monday evening, which will flood most of lower Manhattan.
They have already registering a tide three feet higher than normal at Sandy Nook, about two miles south of them, well into the harbour.
They are on the Brooklyn side of East River, and thought they would be pretty clear.
All metro transport is halted after 7 pm tonight, including the subway and buses and they are talking about closing the bridges and road tunnels. This will cut off the island of Manhattan and is unprecedented in the history of New York.
Luckily Jim has a friend with a flat more inland on Long Island, so they are going there with Kati and the two babies.
They are expecting 25 foot seas on the Great Lakes as the storm moves inland..."
And so we wait, and worry, not for our personal safety, we're only 75 yards from shore, but for the unknown. We just don't know what to expect, and neither does anyone else.
The rain is steady now and we are feeling the occassional kick of the boat.
Would you believe there are 2 flies on board here annoying us.
I wonder if Noah had the same problem?
Until next time...