hurricane – Cruising World

Sailing Totem: Adding Tools to the Weather Toolbox

Behan Gifford — Tue, 04 Oct 2022 19:17:13 +0000

GMDSS information overlay. You can see Hurricane Ian off the Florida coast, and the dashed line for a trough. Behan Gifford

It figures that a hurricane’s projected track aimed right at our Stevens 47, Totem, while we were an ocean away from it, having traveled by jet from Mexico to Europe and South Africa. That was Hurricane Kay, in early September. Last week brought Hurricane Ian, which we watched approach Florida, glued to updates, fearing for the boats and livelihoods of friends along Florida’s west coast.

Actively tracking weather is one of the most consistent features of life on a cruising boat. You don’t just feel the elements more directly; your immediate security is weather-driven. Looking at GRIBs through PredictWind remains our mainstay weather tool. And, we love the new GMDSS addition: graphical display of GMDSS text forecast details (lows, highs, tropical depressions, fronts) over a GRIB. Anyone in my husband Jamie’s classes at Cruisers University in Annapolis from October 10-16 will see a bunch of these.

Other specialty tools provide input to keep informed and make decisions about our everyday comfort and safety. Writing recently about chubascos, a weather phenomenon in the Sea of Cortez, we focused on how valuable the GOES band 11 viewer is for anticipating these weather bombs. Here are other tools that may be less commonly tapped, but helpful for those of us living at weather level.

Hurricane Orlene approaches. This is the GOES 11 satellite view. Behan Gifford

Weather Radar

Radar is an excellent tool when it’s available. Radar on a boat is a fine way to get squall size, location and tracking to mitigate the conditions (Squall tracking, more than avoiding hazards at the night or in fog, is the #1 use of Totem’s radar, in fact). Weather service radar, accessed via the internet, offers a dynamic wider-region view. This requires internet bandwidth.

A weather radar source with a time loop helps visualize movement and the squall or front’s increasing or decreasing footprint, to preemptively adjust course and or speed. You may not be able to bypass the weather, but even reducing the duration of your exposure to volatile weather is useful.

We were tucked into a cozy cottage near Cape Town, South Africa, as we watched this beast arrive. Behan Gifford

On our last days in South Africa, we actually had more wind than Puerto Peñascohad, Mexico, from Hurricane Kay’s attempted swipe—this front line brought 50-plus knots. It was wild to watch (from inside a cozy beach house), but for locals, was “just another Sunday.”

Using GOES band 11 and radar for a hurricane discussion in our coaching community. Behan Gifford

Real-Time Lighting

Real-Time lighting strike maps show where the sky is more or less electric. Like radar, this tool provides a visual for a storm’s size, intensity and track. For folks on boats, the devastating power of lightning can be even more daunting than wind and rain.

Blitzortung screenshot. Summer thunderstorms bump up against the mountains. Behan Gifford

We like the display on the website Blitzortung for this, and there are a range of real-time lightning map mobile apps as well.

Satellite Imagery

Another satellite imagery resource is Zoom.earth. It’s instructive, but not targeted. Still, for sharing satellite-informed views of your location without freaking out your kids or in-laws, try giving them this view. The red areas show heat detected by satellites. This tool influenced our driving route to avoid hot-season wildfires.

Zoom Earth’s view of Hurricane Kay on September 9. Behan Gifford

Surge Estimators

Hurricane Kay ended up tracking outside of Baja, California, a much lower risk to Totem than it might have been if it tracked up the Sea of Cortez. But it was late when we considered that, even though the system was relatively distant, there might be a surge effect near our boat’s location. And, as Murphy’s Law would dictate, of course it would coincide with peak tidal swings in an area notorious for extremes (22 feet isn’t unusual). We watched CERA, a collaboration between the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration and Louisiana State University, for modeling surge. It indicated that water might not just rise above the level of the slipway, but also spill further into the yard. Not so good for boats in sand or gravel, and not good news for things on the ground. Like our new-in-the-box engine.

A screenshot from CERA Behan Gifford

Water level exceeding the slipway would have been a first at the boatyard. (We still, by the way, feel this is the best possible option for hurricane season on the Pacific side of Mexico.) From South Africa, we watched and waited for updates.

Most yard managers wouldn’t be sending water-level pics at 2 a.m., but Salvador Cabrales did. Pictured here is the slipway at Cabrales Boatyard in Puerto Peñasco. Salvador Cabrales

And recently, we watched as the surge forecast from Hurricane Ian developed for Florida—especially Southwest Florida, where folks we care about in Punta Gorda have their catamaran. It was tough to see the surge increase and consider the havoc it caused. NOAA’s estimate was 12 to 18 feet. There’s not much good that comes from an 18-foot surge (or even “just” 12 feet) when you’re tied to a fixed dock.

Surge estimate, NOAA Behan Gifford

Wave And Swell

Boaters tend to focus on the wind forecast, the sea state tends to be a much bigger influence for real feel on a boat. And yet, wave and swell forecasts have long been the least accurate reflection of real feel in the weather toolkit. GRIB Wave forecasts only display one wave forecast at a time. Secondary or tertiary waves and swell, such as a swell from a far-off gale, can really increase the motion of the ocean. The information is often available, but clunky to view and interpret. PredictWind has a new tool set that uses all wave and swell data, and then models roll, pitching and slamming based on specific dimensions of a given boat. Its new Automatic Wave Routing feature is a big step toward interpreting a real-feel to make go or no-go decisions.

Factors accounted for in PredictWind’s new automatic wave routing Behan Gifford

If we’re near a surfing region, we also sometimes use surfer websites such as Magic Seaweed to understand the magnitude of local swells. Farther offshore, there might be a weather buoy near a planned route. Looking at real-time data, such as NOAA’s National Data Buoy Center site, can help determine the accuracy of forecast information.

Tsunami Danger

This isn’t something we really thought about a lot before cruising, but we’ve ended up needing to track tsunamis a few times when we were potentially in risk zones. It’s no joke, and we know enough people who have had truly dangerous tsunami events while cruising.

Boat aground in the channel, due to a tsunami. Behan Gifford

While our first tsunami was a nonevent, the second warranted more attention: We watched as the depth changed 6 feet up then 6 feet down in 15-minute intervals. One boat missed a swing and ran aground in a channel.

What are your tools for this? A U.S. Geological Survey website details earthquakes worldwide, and a global scattering of tsunami monitoring stations are on this UNESCO-funded site.

Sample scatterplot of a monitoring station in Puerto Vallarta: each map dot is a station. Behan Gifford

The 2022 hurricane season finally did get spicy, as promised. While Hurricane Ian left a trail of heartbreak in Florida, we received news that our friends’ boat in Punta Gorda came through nearly unscathed. So many others did not. Neighboring boats were found sunk, or on top of the dock, or in the adjacent yard. And now, on the Pacific side, we watch Orlene. The tropical depression is expected to become a hurricane, and is tracking toward Mazatlan and the Sea of Cortez, where we lie at the northern tip.

The post Sailing Totem: Adding Tools to the Weather Toolbox appeared first on Cruising World.

Sailing Totem: Some Days Are Better Than Others

Behan Gifford — Mon, 30 Aug 2021 22:15:01 +0000

Part of the Cabrales Boatyard’s security detail, Bonita, getting some love. Jamie Gifford

After hours of grinding fiberglass, my dust-covered clothes are tossed in the washing machine on Totem. Washing them twice is my end of the day routine. Totem’s water tank was low, so I put hose to deck fill and opened the tap. As municipal water slowly trickled in, I went below and shifted focus to an article I’m writing while waiting for the first cycle of washing to complete. My head became immersed in the language of safety at sea: how can I communicate techniques to help cruisers think about their approach? In a meditative blink, it was time to start the second round of laundry, then pack up and walk back to our apartment… another exhausting day done.

The next morning, Behan and I drove in to the yard to check with the painters on supplies we needed for priming Totem’s hull. Pancho reported hearing a pump running inside the boat. Weird, I thought, climbing the ladder to check. Sliding the companionway open and looking inside to HOLY FLOATING FLOORBOARDS! Water, water everywhere! Three inches above the floorboards. Shit, I forgot the hose…?!

Bilge hose restored, water jets out of Totem Jamie Gifford

My mistake, and one to recover from and then chuckle over: this was a series of three failure points breached.

Normally, an overfilled tank would back up the vent and drain overboard, but I had the tank inspection port loosened.
Normally, the tank overflowing and flooding the boat would activate the bilge pump and send the excess water overboard.
Normally, we’re not painting our hull, with all through hulls removed. The bilge hose WAS poking through the hull, but it got bumped, pushed, shoved, kicked, coaxed, enticed, seduced… well, who knows!? The point is that this hose no longer exited the boat. Our trusty 4,400 gallon per hour pump bilge worked hard all night, sending water into a closed locker and back down into the bilge.

Paint thinner is decanted from a 50-gallon drum Jamie Gifford

I was well on the way to sinking Totem on dry land! Some days… Water drained and dried and without damage, even the submerged freshwater pump worked fine. And the lesson is? Totem is missing water. We all are…

Swimming next to Totem in the Sea of Cortez: yeah, we all miss the water. Jamie Gifford

Swim step fabrication in process! Jamie Gifford

While water cascaded out of Totem, Jamie’s head popped over the rail with an expression somewhere between shock and mirth as he looked down at me and Pancho. Once identified and rectified, what else could we do but laugh at the situation? There’s no damage, or not much; it’s water. The pump for our pressure system was submerged; it dried out and starts, so far. The engine starter may be impacted – right, the engine that we’re removing. Mostly it’s a cleanup job, as our less-than-sparkling bilge contents were distributed around the boat, several inches over the sole. But the wetted wood was dry in hours, thanks to the desert climate.

We all have bad days! And hopefully, you’re not having any like ours lately. There are also good days: the work Jamie’s getting done in the transom is AWESOME. The swim steps are taking shape! He’s been working hard on this, daily. The temperature indexes over 100 daily, and grinding fiberglass isn’t fun in the best of conditions – much less searing sun! Sometimes, the heat and effort might even distract one enough to forget to turn off the water.

Hurricane Nora, Inbound

Meanwhile, another thread of un-invited water looms. Or does it? Hurricane Nora has formed off southern Mexico; it’s getting ready to hip check Banderas Bay on a north/northwest track. Some models show it going right up the Sea of Cortez, straight towards us.

That white dot at the top of the Sea? We’re there. PredictWind.com

We’re not worried: historical tracks show that this far north, the systems have lost their punch – like Hurricane Marty, in 2003. It’s mostly just a lot of rain. But farther south, where many boats linger, it could be different. With a few days to prepare, as we watch (and hope Nora spins out into the Pacific!) and hope for the best.

For more information: check out weather resources for hurricane season, or because GRIBs don’t represent hurricane conditions well, see real-time tools for watching hurricane conditions.

The post Sailing Totem: Some Days Are Better Than Others appeared first on Cruising World.

Hurricane Henri Pays a Visit to Newport

Herb McCormick — Thu, 26 Aug 2021 00:51:10 +0000

Henri made landfall along the coast just west of Newport, Rhode Island, during the morning of Sunday, Aug. 22, creating a maelstrom in the crowded anchorage off Fort Adams. Paul Todd/Outside Images

It’s hard to believe, but it’s been a solid three decades since the south coast of New England and Rhode Island—including my hometown of Newport—has been slammed with a direct hit by a major hurricane, so you could say we were overdue. Despite the innocuous name, 1991′s Hurricane Bob was a formidable event, making landfall in Newport as a Category III beast with upward wind speeds of nearly 140 miles per hour. It took me a solid couple of days to clean up my mom’s backyard of the downed branches and debris, and we were the lucky ones in our neighborhood.

Our 30-year-old hurricane-free streak ended earlier this week with the well-forecast arrival of Hurricane Henri, which came ashore at roughly midday on Sunday, August 22, this time in the seaside town of Westerly (hello summer resident Taylor Swift!), right on the Connecticut border. Happily, it was a Category I storm, and was quickly downgraded to tropical-storm status about the same moment it reached Interstate 95. There was little of the drama that accompanied Bob, but it did wreak its quick share of unwanted havoc.

Henri had plenty of advance warning, and local sailors, perhaps remindful of Bob’s bite, quickly went into action. All of the immediate boatyards were bombarded with anxious mariners eager to haul their boats. My colleague Ted Ruegg had his Grand Soleil 34, Grand Plan, parked on a commercial mooring in Newport Harbor and was told unceremoniously that he had to get lost. Immediately. All the familiar local anchorages, including the Kickemuit River in nearby Bristol, filled up rapidly, mostly by on-the-move cruising sailors who were forced by the Newport harbor master to also vacate the premises: no anchoring allowed. It took Ted no less than 18 phone calls—and 17 rejections—before he finally found an available slip in nearby Wickford, across Narragansett Bay.

Though downgraded to a tropical storm as it made landfall west of Newport, Rhode Island, on Sunday, Aug. 22, Henri still had plenty of punch to get the moored boats a dancing. Numerous boats broke loose across East Passage, along the Jamestown shore. Paul Todd/Outside Images

With a track to the west of Newport, we were largely spared from Henri’s wrath, and the major rainfall—which would cream New York City later in the day—was over and done with locally by mid-morning. That said, the nearby buoy reports from Point Judith and up the bay were recording formidable gusts of near 70 knots. Still, by mid-afternoon, things had moderated to the point that Ted and I ventured out to check on our respective boats; my little Pearson Ensign, visible from Fort Adams on its well-protected mooring in Brenton Cove, came through unscathed.

Matters were much different in the town of Jamestown, across the Newport Bridge, which was immediately clear as we crossed the span en route to Ted’s marina in Wickford and had a glance at the shoreline, which was littered with vessels. After a quick inspection of Grand Plan—which was also just fine, nestled in a very protected slip—we made a detour in Jamestown on our return trip to inspect the carnage.

Exposed to the northeast, with a fetch from Newport across the bay, Jamestown’s mooring field took the brunt of Henri’s might. A half-dozen sailboats were scattered along the coastline, with another casualty a few miles north in another open anchorage adjacent to the bridge. The town’s residents were out in force, also checking out the mess, and several of the grounded vessels were still attached to the mooring-ball warps that had clearly failed and sealed their fate. Not a pretty scene.

All in all, however, on one hand it felt like a bullet dodged. On the other, I reckon, when it comes to big hurricanes, we’re still overdue.

The post Hurricane Henri Pays a Visit to Newport appeared first on Cruising World.

Busy Atlantic Hurricane Season Predicted for 2020

Courtesy of NOAA — Wed, 03 Jun 2020 23:35:54 +0000

Hurricane Humberto spins off the southeastern coast of the US in September 2019. Courtesy of NOAA

An above-normal 2020 Atlantic hurricane season is expected, according to forecasters with NOAA’s Climate Prediction Center, a division of the National Weather Service. The outlook predicts a 60 percent chance of an above-normal season, a 30 percent chance of a near-normal season and only a 10 percent chance of a below-normal season. The Atlantic hurricane season runs from June 1 through November 30.

NOAA’s Climate Prediction Center is forecasting a likely range of 13 to 19 named storms (winds of 39 mph or higher), of which 6 to 10 could become hurricanes (winds of 74 mph or higher), including 3 to 6 major hurricanes (category 3, 4 or 5; with winds of 111 mph or higher). NOAA provides these ranges with a 70 percent confidence. An average hurricane season produces 12 named storms, of which 6 become hurricanes, including 3 major hurricanes.

“As Americans focus their attention on a safe and healthy reopening of our country, it remains critically important that we also remember to make the necessary preparations for the upcoming hurricane season,” said Secretary of Commerce Wilbur Ross. “Just as in years past, NOAA experts will stay ahead of developing hurricanes and tropical storms and provide the forecasts and warnings we depend on to stay safe.”

The combination of several climate factors is driving the strong likelihood for above-normal activity in the Atlantic this year. El Nino Southern Oscillation (ENSO) conditions are expected to either remain neutral or to trend toward La Nina, meaning there will not be an El Nino present to suppress hurricane activity. Also, warmer-than-average sea surface temperatures in the tropical Atlantic Ocean and Caribbean Sea, coupled with reduced vertical wind shear, weaker tropical Atlantic trade winds, and an enhanced west African monsoon all increase the likelihood for an above-normal Atlantic hurricane season. Similar conditions have been producing more active seasons since the current high-activity era began in 1995.

A summary infographic showing hurricane season probability and numbers of named storms predicted from NOAA’s 2020 Atlantic Hurricane Season Outlook. Courtesy of NOAA

“NOAA’s analysis of current and seasonal atmospheric conditions reveals a recipe for an active Atlantic hurricane season this year,” said Neil Jacobs, Ph.D., acting NOAA administrator. “Our skilled forecasters, coupled with upgrades to our computer models and observing technologies, will provide accurate and timely forecasts to protect life and property.”

This year, as during any hurricane season, the men and women of NOAA remain ready to provide the life-saving forecasts and warnings that the public rely on. And as storms show signs of developing, NOAA hurricane hunter aircraft will be prepared to collect valuable data for our forecasters and computer models.

In addition to this high level of science and service, NOAA is also launching new upgrades to products and tools that will further improve critical services during the hurricane season.

NOAA will upgrade the hurricane-specific Hurricane Weather Research and Forecast system (HWRF) and the Hurricanes in a Multi-scale Ocean coupled Non-hydrostatic model (HMON) models this summer. HWRF will incorporate new data from satellites and radar from NOAA’s coastal Doppler data network to help produce better forecasts of hurricane track and intensity during the critical watch and warning time frame. HMON will undergo enhancements to include higher resolution, improved physics, and coupling with ocean models.

As the hurricane season gets underway, NOAA will begin feeding data from the COSMIC-2 satellites into weather models to help track hurricane intensity and boost forecast accuracy. COSMIC-2 provides data about air temperature, pressure and humidity in the tropical regions of Earth — precisely where hurricane and tropical storm systems form.

A summary graphic showing an alphabetical list of the 2020 Atlantic tropical cyclone names as selected by the World Meteorological Organization. The first named storm of the season, Arthur, occurred earlier in May before the NOAA’s outlook was announced. The official start of the Atlantic hurricane season is June 1 and runs through November 30. Courtesy of NOAA

Also during the 2020 hurricane season, NOAA and the U.S. Navy will deploy a fleet of autonomous diving hurricane gliders to observe conditions in the tropical Atlantic Ocean and Caribbean Sea in areas where hurricanes have historically traveled and intensified.

As with every hurricane season, the need to be prepared is critically important this year.

“Social distancing and other CDC guidance to keep you safe from COVID-19 may impact the disaster preparedness plan you had in place, including what is in your go-kit, evacuation routes, shelters and more. With tornado season at its peak, hurricane season around the corner, and flooding, earthquakes and wildfires a risk year-round, it is time to revise and adjust your emergency plan now,” said Carlos Castillo, acting deputy administrator for resilience at FEMA. “Natural disasters won’t wait, so I encourage you to keep COVID-19 in mind when revising or making your plan for you and your loved ones, and don’t forget your pets. An easy way to start is to download the FEMA app today.”

In addition to the Atlantic hurricane season outlook, NOAA also issued seasonal hurricane outlooks for the eastern and central Pacific basins.

NOAA’s outlook is for overall seasonal activity and is not a landfall forecast. The Climate Prediction Center will update the 2020 Atlantic seasonal outlook in August prior to the historical peak of the season.

Hurricane preparedness is critically important for the 2020 hurricane season, just as it is every year. Keep in mind, you may need to adjust any preparedness actions based on the latest health and safety guidelines from the CDC and your local officials. Visit the National Hurricane Center’s website at hurricanes.gov throughout the season to stay current on any watches and warnings.

The post Busy Atlantic Hurricane Season Predicted for 2020 appeared first on Cruising World.

Sailing Totem: Bahamas Cruising post-Dorian

Behan Gifford — Wed, 15 Jan 2020 23:56:52 +0000

Dorian track Behan Gifford

In early September, hurricane Dorian slammed into the Bahamas and became the most devastating natural disaster on record for the islands. Savage winds flipped boats, leveled homes, and traumatized an otherwise peaceful corner of this beautiful country. On the cusp of cruising season, the dramatic headlines put plans in flux for many. Here’s what to know about cruising the Bahamas in 2020.

The Bahamas are open! …mostly

First it’s important to know that overwhelmingly, the islands of the Bahamas are unaffected. Dorian’s impact was focused on the very north: Grand Bahama, and Abaco. Grand Bahama is officially open for tourism again; only Abaco is not. We spent three memorable months cruising through the Bahamas, and none of the miles we sailed were in the path of Dorian.

However, for many seasonal visitors, the Abacos are the Bahamas. While they’re not open for general tourism, the Abacos are an opportunity for the right boat/crew to contribute to recovery. Hopeful cruisers often say they want to give back through voluntourism or otherwise contributing to improving life in the communities they visit: this is your chance! If your seasonal path winds back to the USA, consider routing via Abaco.

Anjulia Sue‘s crew playing in the Green Turtle Cay shallows; January, 2020 Matt/Bonnie Thornington

Who should go to impacted areas?

If you are self-sufficient, AND willing and able to help, by all means – sail to the Abacos! Volunteer workers are encouraged. However, relief organizations and the government tourism board are aligned that this area is not open to tourism. Services are minimal and as residents return, meeting local needs come first.

The first word we heard from post-Doran Abaco came from our friend Justin Smith, who charters his 72’ custom sloop, Kai, based from the USVI. He has deep ties to Abaco and when delivering Kai from the USA down to Bahamas the month after Dorian hit, turned his trip into a relief mission. Justin survived Irma and Maria on St John, USVI; his experience rebuilding informed the cargo he knew would be most needed in the near-term aftermath. Kai was loaded heavily with tarps, nails, roofing tar, paint, and tools.

What Justin experienced in October had sobering notes, but on balance was more encouraging: both for the resilience of island communities, and the opportunity for independent cruisers to safely come and lend a hand. Conditions varied by Cay and port, and recovery related to dock condition (the lifeblood of Bahamas commerce are the mail boats and barges bringing everything from diesel to toilet paper, and you can’t land one if the town dock is gone), yet conditions exceeded his expectations.

Be part of the recovery!

You don’t have to go to Abaco to help. Just being in the Bahamas and putting your funds into communities makes you part of the bigger solution for helping Bahamians. The economy benefits; pictures and messages sent home helps demonstrate that overwhelmingly, the islands are open for business to the wider world…encouraging instead of discouraging visitors. The bottom of this post includes a link to recommended relief organizations.

If you can contribute to recovery by sailing to Abaco and offering services, it’s warmly welcomed. The need for this help is ongoing. Specialized skills such as plumbing, electrical, carpentry, roofing, mechanics or operation of heavy equipment are especially welcomed, but grunt labor is helpful too.

The family aboard Sargo joining a cleanup crew in Man-O-War; December, 2019 Jayme Lee

Contributing to recovery can be tremendously rewarding. The family on SV Anjulia Sue started cruising from Nova Scotia last spring; they arrived in Green Turtle Cay on New Years Eve. Bonnie related a few days ago that “we have been having probably the best time since starting cruising! It is all down to forming the relationships with fellow hard working and very well-meaning cruisers, and a community completely and utterly welcomes you and your help.”

Community mural unveiled this week at Green Turtle Cay Matt/Bonnie Thornington

FAQs for cruisers on Dorian-hit areas

Plan ahead: try to connect with a locally-based person or organization in advance of arrival, so that 1) you can have guidance on what’s needed to bring, and 2) you can be clear on their need of your aid. Even volunteers can be overburdening to communities.

Clearance: Most boats headed to Abaco to help are clearing in at Cooperstown. You’re still on a tourist visa, and this port has grown accustomed to managing duty-free importing of relief goods; Grand Bahama (or Bimini) are options too.

Power: electricity is still widely unavailable in Abaco, with generators on shore; this presents obvious complications on everything that electricity is helpful for from powering pumps for fuel or water to keeping things cold that need it to avoid spoilage.

Fresh water: varies, but largely you must be self-sustaining; no problem for boats with watermakers.

Water hazards: Yes, there’s sunken debris in the water in some places, but remember this is the Bahamas. Gin clear water, if there’s a hazard – you can almost certainly see it.

Security: It’s safe. Justin wondered as he arrived in October with Kai if there might be issues, and was extra watchful. Taking safe entrance into a back side anchorage in the weeks after the storm, he admitted twinges of fear, which heightened when a boat came running straight towards him. As he mentally prepared a plan, the boat passed by with a greeting waved from the helmsman, who proceeded to anchor and dive over and to look for conch. OK then!

Phone/internet: coverage is widely available, with some variation based on US carrier roaming plans.

Attitude: you may see some things that are upsetting; be prepared and don’t overreact. Bring positivity and a forward-looking view. If you arrive saying – “hey, I have some stuff and I can donate some time. What can I do to help?” – you’ll never regret it.

Boat kids from SV Sargo help make coleslaw for a community barbecue at Man-O-War Behan Gifford

Avoid being a burden

Anyone traveling to Dorian-impacted islands should expect to be completely self-sufficient. For most cruisers, that’s a natural inclination, and just means a little extra planning. You might be able to get water, fuel, and other supplies – but just because they are there, doesn’t mean you should avail yourself; locals need these scarce resources too. It’s always incumbent on us to be good guests in the countries we visit; there and now, the importance is heightened.

Not being a burden means sensitivity to feelings of people you meet, too. The trauma of surviving a hurricane like Dorian is unimaginable for most of us. Asking someone about their survival experience – no matter how well intentioned –may only cause them further pain. Don’t assume anyone wishes to engage on this topic! Let them bring it up, or leave it off the table.

Justin survived the two 2017 hurricanes on St John, and speaks from experience when he says “being emotional or apologetic only brings it back; it may even invite animosity.”

Justin and friends arriving in USVI on Kai after bringing aid to the Abacos Justin Smith

A few destination details

Notes below for a couple popular destinations to help baseline, with links to local resources for the latest updates to help planners…accurate as I could glean on January 14, 2020. Updates welcomed in comments! Meanwhile, an excellent site for the latest on what’s open in Abaco is maintained at Little House by the Ferry’s website; her Little House page on Facebook is also a good resource.

Green Turtle Cay

Anjulia Sue’s crew has been here two weeks already and thrown their effort into the mix. “Restaurants and stores are open. The Green Turtle Cay Marina is opening officially March 1.” Meanwhile, moorings are in place; check in with Donny’s/Brendal’s for availability and logistical questions.

Reports are the marina has already begun selling fuel and water, basic provisions aren’t hard to acquire on shore (Sid’s grocery is open!), and trash service is available. The morning VHF net helps organize volunteers, and cruisers potluck weekly.

Man-O-War

One of the families we’ve worked with as coaching clients has roots here; the Lee family arrived in November on their boat, Sargo, and left only recently. “It’s NOT a vacation,” says Jayme Lee. Demolition to clear houses and buildings that aren’t recoverable, roofing to protect those that are; a lot of manual labor. “That doesn’t mean you don’t get to go swimming and enjoy nice weather sometimes and have fun,” she adds. Her kids are helping, too, from clearing debris to cooking meals for the community.

Sargo’s orange mast stands out in Man-O-War harbor; December, 2019. Jayme Lee

There are grocery and hardware stores open. The generous team at Watermission is steadily pumping out fresh RO for anyone who needs it – including cruisers who are there to help. An excellent contact before coming here is Beth Browne: she’s a powerhouse of organization, coordinate volunteers and groups. She reported there are currently moorings available, but they are limited in number and prioritized to volunteers. Those with mechanical skills, carpentry, electrical, or plumbing are given priority. Beth underscored Jayme’s comment that while tasks are varied, “all require physical labor and some stamina.” Full time volunteers even get fed at the Hibiscus cafe! Across the water, Marsh Harbor was hardest hit, but even there provisions are available.

Research before you go!

These local-based outlets are good sources of information.

Green Turtle Bulletin
Hope Town Bulletin
Man-O-War bulletin
Dorian Yacht Chat And Bahamas Relief Group
Association of Bahamas Marinas

Aid groups making a difference

These NGOs need a shoutout for their exemplary response in the Bahamas. If you would like to assist from afar, consider a donation.

Samaritan’s Purse: info or to donate
Christian Aid Ministries
Heart to Heart
All Hands and Hearts

Fundraisers and other disaster relief organizations changing lives for the better:

Missionary Flights “…bringing supplies and volunteers from almost day one.”
Watermission.org‘s tireless RO production of potable water
World Central Kitchen: the power of a hot meal for people who have lost everything
Hope Town Rising
Hope 4 Hope Town: Information and GoFundMe
Man-O-War Relief fund

Team Otter

Our friend captain Judy Hildebrand, has been bringing supplies to Grand Bahama for distribution. She’s bringing a boatload on each run and getting ready for her 6th (7th? I’m losing count!) trip. Personal ties to her beloved Abacos mean she’s been able to source specific things to fill needs. She’s got some stories! “The best, for me anyway, was a freezer for a woman who has a generator to run it while living in her tent with the kitten she refused to abandon during the storm while in water to her neck! The freezer kept cold drinks for the kids in her tent city during hot weeks.“

Judy loading up supplies from a truck, and sailing home later with a Sands Pink from West End friends Judy Hildebrand

Later this month, Judy’s heading back to Abaco on Otter with supplies to teach residents how to build their own solar stills to make fresh water, among other things. “What we do is a drop in the bucket but it feels right and with enough drops the bucket will eventually be full.” If you’d like to help her fill the bucket, contact Judy directly.

Thanks to Justin Smith, Matt & Bonnie Thornington, Jayme Lee, and especially Man-O-War resident Beth Browne for helping provide local insights; see also Beth’s article in Cruising World.

The post Sailing Totem: Bahamas Cruising post-Dorian appeared first on Cruising World.

Hurricane Dorian Abacos Update

Jen Brett — Thu, 05 Sep 2019 01:36:31 +0000

Last week, Hurricane Dorian slammed into the Abacos as a Category 5 storm with reported winds in excess of 185 mph before parking over Grand Bahama island for more than a day, and leaving much of the islands in ruins.

If you are looking for more information on Hurricane Dorian, the storm’s impacts and ways to help, here is a compilation of news updates and resources that we’ve compiled and will be updating:

From Hope Town Volunteer Fire and Rescue 9/8/19: HTVFR US Command reports that the community continues to pull together and are working to continue to evacuate individuals as needed and receive vital medical and logistical support.

HTVFR Command Hope Town does not want any more supplies or boats to come over. They ask us to request that everyone halt trips to Hope Town. They have what they need and are assessing and stabilizing. They need people to stay away to be able to do this. They appreciate everyone’s support but staying away is the greatest support we can provide right now.

Please continue to support Hope Town through http://htvfr.org and https://www.percabaco.org and https://www.gofundme.com/f/hurricane-relief-for-elbow-cay-amp

Abaco News:

On-the-ground updates from Hope Town Sailing Club

Hurricane Updates:

Mike’s Weather Page

National Hurricane Center

Ways to Help:

Looking for someone in the Northern Bahamas?
Dorian People Search

Bahamas Red Cross

Hope Town Volunteer Fire and Rescue

HeadKnowles

Bahamas Tourism

The City of Miami, Florida, is accepting donations at several sites around the city.

National Association of the Bahamas

Salvation Army

World Central Kitchen

Charter Company News:

Dream Yacht
We are relieved to confirm that all of our team in Marsh Harbour are safe and accounted for following the category 5 storm in the Bahamas. Our fleet of 30 boats based at Abaco were removed from the path of Dorian and taken to Nassau, as part of our advance hurricane planning. In terms of operations, the base, docks and islands have sustained heavy damage. For the next two months, all departures will take place from our base in Nassau.

Loic Bonnet, founder and CEO of Dream Yacht Charter says: “Our thoughts are with the people of Abaco during this challenging time and as they start to think about the recovery ahead of them. Our Abaco fleet sustained no damage and this is thanks to the incredible work of the base team, who worked fast under difficult circumstances to protect our fleet. We are thankful everyone is safe.”

Current status of the Islands

The Islands of the Bahamas Tourist Board has said: “Islands that were not impacted by Hurricane Dorian remain open and are receiving visitors. In the Northwest Bahamas, these include the Bahamas capital of Nassau and neighboring Paradise Island, as well as Eleuthera, Harbour Island and Andros. Islands in the Southeastern and Central Bahamas remain unaffected, including The Exumas, Cat Island, San Salvador, Rum Cay, Long Island, Acklins/Crooked Island, Ragged Island, Mayaguana and Inagua. Lynden Pindling International Airport (LPIA) in Nassau remains open.”

The Moorings
As many of you are aware, Hurricane Dorian made landfall in the Abacos, Bahamas as a category 5 storm over the weekend, one of the strongest ever recorded in the Atlantic basin. Damage to the Abacos and Grand Bahama is extensive. At this time our main priority is to establish the safety of our colleagues in Marsh Harbour. Communication with the island is difficult, and we hope to provide further updates as information becomes available. All Moorings guests who were on charter prior to landfall were properly recalled to the marina and evacuated from the Bahamas.

Our fleet and charter operations in Nassau and the Exumas were unaffected by the storm and remain open.

In the meantime, The Moorings & Sunsail have established a collection at our Clearwater, FL office for essential items, which we will ship to the Bahamas at the earliest opportunity. Please see the form attached for more information if you would like to help.

Cruise Abaco
Like all of you, we are simply devastated by the catastrophic damage and destruction left behind by Hurricane Dorian. As we watched it approach, we had all hoped and prayed that the storm would somehow weaken and/or turn just enough that Abaco wouldn’t be in the direct path of such a slow-moving Cat 5 beast of a storm. We knew it would be bad, but nothing could have prepared us for this, not even the many storms we have all withstood in the past.

Clearly, we have only just begun to assess the damage, but that very difficult task begins today, from sunrise to sunset, island by island. We know that there will still be many days of worry and many tears to shed, but with each story of a loved one located, a cherished memory pulled from the rubble, a helping hand on our shoulders, from near and far, we will regain our strength.

We assure you that we are deeply committed to and invested in the greater community of Abaco, where we have spent most of our lives building our home and business in one of the world’s most beautiful island nations. We know that the people of the Bahamas are amazingly hardworking and resilient. With the grace of God and the help of others, we will work together to rebuild our homes, our businesses and most importantly, our lives.

The sails must be raised in our hearts, before they can ever be raised on the masts of our boats. Please know that we will do all we can to help our friends, neighbors and greater Abaco Family.

With our love and prayers always,
Mark and Patti Gonsalves – Proud Owners of Cruise Abaco

Navtours Bahamas Nassau Update
Thankfully, Navtours at its Palm Cay Marina charter base in Nassau was not in the path of Hurricane Dorian.

Our guest and team members, our boats and marina are all safe and secure. Our charter operations in the Bahamas continue uninterrupted.

Please join us in sending positive thoughts to our neighbors in the Abacos, Grand Bahama and other areas where they have experienced catastrophic devastation from Hurricane Dorian.

The post Hurricane Dorian Abacos Update appeared first on Cruising World.

NOAA’s 2019 Atlantic and Pacific Hurricane Season Predictions

Cruising World Staff — Tue, 04 Jun 2019 22:59:06 +0000

2019 NOAA Hurricane Season Outlook Courtesy of NOAA

NOAA’s Climate Prediction Center is predicting that a near-normal Atlantic hurricane season is most likely this year. This outlook forecasts a 40% chance of a near-normal season, a 30% chance of an above-normal season and a 30% chance of a below-normal season. The hurricane season officially extends from June 1 to November 30.

For 2019, NOAA predicts a likely range of 9 to 15 named storms (winds of 39 mph or higher), of which 4 to 8 could become hurricanes (winds of 74 mph or higher), including 2 to 4 major hurricanes (category 3, 4 or 5; with winds of 111 mph or higher). NOAA provides these ranges with a 70% confidence. An average hurricane season produces 12 named storms, of which 6 become hurricanes, including 3 major hurricanes.

“With the 2019 hurricane season upon us, NOAA is leveraging cutting-edge tools to help secure Americans against the threat posed by hurricanes and tropical cyclones across both the Atlantic and Pacific,” said Secretary of Commerce Wilbur Ross. “Throughout hurricane season, dedicated NOAA staff will remain on alert for any danger to American lives and communities.” This outlook reflects competing climate factors. The ongoing El Nino is expected to persist and suppress the intensity of the hurricane season. Countering El Nino is the expected combination of warmer-than-average sea-surface temperatures in the tropical Atlantic Ocean and Caribbean Sea, and an enhanced west African monsoon, both of which favor increased hurricane activity. “New satellite data and other upgrades to products and services from NOAA enable a more Weather-Ready Nation by providing the public and decision makers with the information needed to take action before, during, and after a hurricane,” said Neil Jacobs, Ph.D., acting NOAA administrator.

RELATED: Prep for a Hurricane

The 2019 hurricane season marks the first time NOAA’s fleet of Earth-observing satellites includes three operational next-generation satellites. Unique and valuable data from these satellites feed the hurricane forecast models used by forecasters to help users make critical decisions days in advance.

NOAA’s National Weather Service is making a planned upgrade to its Global Forecast System (GFS) flagship weather model – often called the American model – early in the 2019 hurricane season. This marks the first major upgrade to the dynamical core of the model in almost 40 years and will improve tropical cyclone track and intensity forecasts. “NOAA is driving towards a community-based development program for future weather and climate modeling to deliver the very best forecasts, by leveraging new investments in research and working with the weather enterprise,” added Jacobs.

NOAA’s National Hurricane Center and NWS office in San Juan will expand the coastal storm surge watches and warnings in 2019 to include Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands. In addition, NHC will display excessive rainfall outlooks on its website, providing greater visibility of one of the most dangerous inland threats from hurricanes.

Also, this season, NOAA’s Hurricane Hunter aircraft will collect higher-resolution data from upgraded onboard radar systems. These enhanced observations will be transmitted in near-real time to hurricane specialists at the National Hurricane Center, the Central Pacific Hurricane Center and forecasters at NWS Weather Forecast Offices.

In addition to the Atlantic hurricane season outlook, NOAA also issued seasonal hurricane outlooks for the eastern and central Pacific basins. A 70% chance of an above-normal season is predicted for both the eastern and central Pacific regions. The eastern Pacific outlook calls for a 70% probability of 15 to 22 named storms, of which 8 to 13 are expected to become hurricanes, including 4 to 8 major hurricanes. The central Pacific outlook calls for a 70% probability of 5 to 8 tropical cyclones, which includes tropical depressions, tropical storms, and hurricanes.

NOAA’s outlook is for overall seasonal activity and is not a landfall forecast. Hurricane preparedness is critically important for the 2019 hurricane season, just as it is every year. Visit the National Hurricane Center’s website at hurricanes.gov throughout the season to stay current on any watches and warnings.

“Preparing ahead of a disaster is the responsibility of all levels of government, the private sector, and the public,” said Daniel Kaniewski, Ph.D., FEMA deputy administrator for resilience. “It only takes one event to devastate a community so now is the time to prepare. Do you have cash on hand? Do you have adequate insurance, including flood insurance? Does your family have communication and evacuation plans? Stay tuned to your local news and download the FEMA app to get alerts, and make sure you heed any warnings issued by local officials.”
NOAA’s Climate Prediction Center will update the 2019 Atlantic seasonal outlook in August just prior to the historical peak of the season.

The post NOAA’s 2019 Atlantic and Pacific Hurricane Season Predictions appeared first on Cruising World.

Pacific Boatyards

Heather Francis — Wed, 03 Oct 2018 23:00:00 +0000

Pacific Boatyards Justin Jenkins/Port Vila Boatyard

Long-term passage planning requires more than just familiarizing yourself with the seasonal weather patterns and entry requirements for countries you plan to visit. Every boat needs regular maintenance and seasonal haulouts, not to mention a backup plan in case unexpected repairs are needed.

Many sailors who follow the popular Coconut Milk Run think it’s necessary to sail to Australia or New Zealand to find proper facilities to address both regular and unexpected boat issues, but that is hardly the case. Nor is it necessary to flee the tropics during the cyclone season; safe refuge can be found for your vessel to weather approaching cyclones.

Scattered throughout the South Pacific are several reputable and reliable boatyards that offer cruising sailors everything from fiberglass repair to bottom paint, and short-term haulouts to long-term dry storage. We have found, and used the services at, these hidden haulouts while sailing in Fiji, Vanuatu and the Solomon Islands.

Vuda Point Marina, Fiji

Vuda Point Marina, which recently celebrated its 20th year in operation, is located on the picturesque southwestern shore of Fiji’s main island of Viti Levu. We arrived at Vuda Marina (pronounced vunda) in late 2011 by way of a recommendation from a fellow cruiser. We spent 10 hectic days getting Kate, our Newport 41, ready to leave on the hard for the cyclone season while we filled the cruising kitty. When we returned 12 months later — longer than we’d expected to be away — we decided to spend a second cyclone season in the hole, this time taking advantage of the facilities available and tackling a full list of boat jobs. We hired a local contractor to do a full topside paint job, resurface the deck and completely refinish the bottom. We also removed the engine, gave it a bit of love and had the engine bed rebuilt. We had a new aluminum arch custom-made for the solar array, and had some woodwork, fiberglassing, sail repair and machining done, all by local craftsmen.

Vuda Point Marina

Kate, the author’s Newport 41, on the hard at Vuda Point Marina, Fiji, for a mid-Pacific cruise refit. Heather Francis

Besides the work that we were doing on board, I was impressed with the improvements we saw around the marina. The aesthetics started to change: Staff wore new uniforms, the gardens were tended and the travel hoist got a fresh coat of paint. Practical changes were also made: A more comprehensive firefighting system was installed, a waste-oil tank appeared and security was tightened.

Adam Wade had recently taken over the post of marina manager, and most afternoons we’d see him walking through the yard, stopping to chat with cruisers as he made his daily inspection. Wade admitted that, “Prior to joining the marina, I didn’t know my jibs from my jibes.” But his strong background in hotel hospitality and a love of surfing made the steep learning curve a little easier to overcome, even when faced with Cyclone Evan bearing down on Fiji only two months after he took the position.

Although located in the cyclone belt, Vuda Point Marina is very popular due to its 35 in-ground cyclone pits for seasonal or long-term storage. This unique approach to boat storage ensures minimal damage in a storm if the vessel is stowed properly. Marry that with the fact that many insurance companies will cover vessels during cyclone season if left in-ground, and you can bet these “graveyard berths” fill up quickly.

Vuda Marina has 78 in-water Med-mooring berths with 240-volt, 10-amp single-phase power and shared access to a freshwater tap on each dock. The 63-ton travel hoist is the largest in Fiji and can accommodate vessels with a 19-foot beam. There are 30 hardstand spaces in the boatyard where boat owners are able to do work on vessels themselves or select from a list of contractors that are approved to work on the marina’s premises. Local day laborers or fully qualified and respected marine companies are available for hire to help with projects, depending on your budget.

We spent a total of four cyclone seasons at Vuda Point, and services continued to improve each time we returned. The marina regularly holds staff training for fire, first aid, CPR and customer service, and recently sent the apprentice travel-hoist driver to Australia to complete a “travel-hoist operators course.” Vuda Point Marina is now an official port of entry and offers full customs-and-immigration- clearance services, making our arrival and departure from Western Province an absolute pleasure. In 2016, the marina purchased a catamaran haulout trailer, making it one of the few places in the South Pacific able to service multihulls.

Located 30 minutes from Nadi International Airport, the hub of the Pacific, Vuda Point Marina is an easy-to-reach destination for guests or those who leave a vessel for the season. There is a well-stocked chandlery, store and ATM on site, and there are accommodations available at the marina if you’d like to leave the mess in the boatyard and get a good night’s sleep. And after a long, hot day ticking off items on the to-do list, you can join the crowd at the Boatshed Bar and Restaurant to enjoy a tasty meal, a cold beer and a sunset you’ll never forget.

HIdden Haulouts Map by Shannon Cain Tumino

Port Vila Boatyard, Vanuatu

Port Vila Boatyard is tucked away in the southern corner of Pontoon Bay on the island of Efate in Vanuatu. The small but professional boatyard offers moorings, haulouts, hardstand storage and a host of repairs and maintenance services to visiting cruisers.

We discovered the Port Vila Boatyard in 2015 when we were looking for a mooring for Kate during the sailing season. As always, we wanted somewhere quiet but convenient, and above all, safe. The cyclone moorings in front of the Port Vila Boatyard were the perfect fit.

Justin Jenkins, the owner and operator of Port Vila Boatyard since 2012, is a man who knows the business of boats. At age 15, he set sail from South Africa with his parents. He worked in the Caribbean as captain of a day-charter catamaran, then returned to school to earn his Master of Yachts 3,000GT certificate. He captained 40- to 50-meter superyachts in the Mediterranean, the United States and the Caribbean for more than a decade before moving to Vanuatu — where his parents had settled — bringing along his wife and young children. Jenkins’ love of Vanuatu and his experience in the marine industry are reflected in the care and attention he shows to his boatyard, staff, customers and yachts.

Haulouts at the boatyard are done on a New Zealand-built custom trailer and cradle that is lowered into the water via a rail system. A vessel is floated over the trailer, and a diver secures the boat to the cradle before it is slowly pulled up the beach and into the yard. Each vessel stays secured to its cradle while in the yard.

The yard strives to support the local economy and employs ni-Vanuatu (local) laborers, whose rates vary depending on their skill sets. It offers mechanical, electrical and electronic engineering services; structural repairs on steel, aluminum, composite and timber; and a host of cosmetic work, such as painting and polishing. It is possible to live aboard during your time at the yard, and for a small fee, have use of water, power, showers and Wi-Fi.

There is a small but well-stocked chandlery on the premises, and it is Vanuatu’s dealer and service agent for Spectra and Katadyn reverse-osmosis systems, Hyundai SeasAll marine engines and BLA, an Australian-based marine supplier. If the chandlery doesn’t stock an item you need, Jenkins can help you find it in Port Vila or help you import parts from overseas.

With space for 20 monohulls and three to four multihulls, Port Vila Boatyard is definitely a place to consider not only for maintenance and repairs but for seasonal or long-term storage. During the cyclone season, vessels in the yard are supported with additional props and strapped to their cradles. The cradles are then fastened to strong points buried in the ground for added security. Taking these extra precautions gives Jenkins bragging rights: Not one of the vessels in Port Vila Boatyard was damaged by the furious Cyclone Pam (one of Vanuatu’s most intense recorded storms). The insurance companies like it too.

The yard is located outside of the noise and commotion of Port Vila’s city center, but it’s on a local bus route, so finding transportation isn’t difficult. It is home to the Vanuatu Cruising Club and sponsors Vanuatu’s Junior sailing team. There is a cozy bar and seating area beside the office, as well as private, well-cared-for beach access. At the end of a busy day, you can kick back and unwind with a cold one while watching the kids dart about the bay during sailing practice.

I was alone on board during our eight-week stay on the mooring, and what impressed me most about the Port Vila Boatyard was the sense of community that I felt about the place. I was encouraged to leave our dinghy inside the main gate, and if I came home after dark, I was greeted by one of the 24-hour security staff members, who not only escorted me to the beach with a flashlight but waited to see that I arrived at the boat safely. Jenkins and his family invited me to yoga classes, art exhibitions and to share meals. I was always met with smiles and a helping hand, and considered the Port Vila Boatyard my home away from home while we were in Vanuatu.

Liapari Ltd., Solomon Islands

Liapari Island and its shoreside facilities are hidden gems of the Solomon Islands. Located at the southern tip of the large island Vella Lavella and just 12 nautical miles from the main town of Gizo, Liapari is protected by an extensive reef that shelters it from the weather. At first glance, the approach may seem a little intimidating because the charting in the Solomons is not great. But the entrance is obvious and well-marked.

Last year, we decided to explore the Solomon Islands, an island group with the reputation of spawning revolving tropical storms but not usually being affected by them. Nevertheless, we wanted a backup plan in case Mother Nature changed her mind and sent some nasty weather our way. Like many other places where we’ve sought refuge, Liapari was suggested by fellow cruisers who had firsthand experience there during an unseasonal blow and gave it glowing reports. We expected to find a well-protected bay and good holding away from the dirt and grime of Gizo. What we didn’t expect was to be welcomed into someone’s home.

Vuda Point Marina has 78 Med-moor berths in a well-protected harbor Heather Francis

Noel Hudson has been involved with Liapari Island since 1984, when he joined the then-booming coconut plantation that still occupies most of the property as a mechanic. A small fleet of ships, several vehicles and diesel generators that provided the station and its community of local laborers with power all needed to be maintained. As the copra (dried coconut kernel) industry in the South Pacific declined, Liapari Ltd. shifted its focus to providing haulout and repair services to local shipping vessels. In 2014, Hudson and his wife, Rosie, took ownership of the property, and it has become the go-to spot in the Solomon Islands for visiting yachts.

Operating two simple rail-and-cradle slipways, the yard can haul out vessels up to 5 meters wide, and with a 3-meter draft on the smaller unit. The larger slipway was under repair when we visited but can accommodate vessels up to 7 meters wide. Functioning as more of a labor and machinery hire, there isn’t much in the way of marine supplies at Liapari, nor in most of the Solomons, for that matter. However, as a place for an emergency haulout, it could be the difference between saving your boat and ending your cruising career.

Hudson runs a competent machine shop and offers welding and fabrication services, specializing in aluminum. There is also an on-site carpentry workshop and electricians, mechanics and general laborers for hire. For regular maintenance projects, it’s necessary to either carry all parts and supplies or ship them in from overseas. Liapari is an agent for BLA marine products and has offices in Honiara, the capital of the Solomons, so it can help with logistics and contacting suppliers. With a little forethought, Liapari can be an ideal spot for an annual haulout.

Vuda Point Marina has a ramp for hauling out multihulls has recently been added. Courtesy of Adam Wade/Vuda Point Marina

Hudson also offers an invaluable service to cruisers: a safe haven to leave a boat unattended. A sturdy 100-foot wharf can accommodate eight to 10 Med-moored monohulls. The extremely well-protected harbor and 24-hour security ensure your vessel will stay out of harm’s way while you’re gone. Competitive pricing makes Liapari an attractive alternative to sailing south during the offseason. There are four reasonably priced cabins for rent on the island, so you can sleep in comfort during transition times or while your boat is on the hard.

There is a small store on the island, and local ladies often visited our boat to sell or trade produce. For major provisioning, we caught the weekly supply boat to nearby Gizo. Airport drop-offs and chartered trips are also available. Liapari still depends on generators for power, and rain collection for the majority of its water supply, so come prepared if you plan on an extended stay.

The Hudsons also extend their island home and hospitality to transient yachts. Guests are invited to roam and explore the many trails that crisscross the island. A family-style potluck lunch is often held on the weekends, and most days at 5 o’clock, people gather at the Round House, where bad jokes and good stories flow freely over cold beer. The idyllic surroundings, friendly faces and warm welcome make Liapari a hard place to leave.

Canadian-born sailor Heather Francis has been living aboard full time since 2008 with her Aussie partner, Steve. Follow their adventures at yachtkate.com.

Contacts

Vuda Point Marina
Vuda Point, Viti Levu, Fiji
17°41’04 S, 177°23’02 E
vudamarina.com.fj
Email: info@vudmarina.com.fj
Phone: +679 666 8214
Fax: +679 666 8215

Port Vila Boatyard
Port Vila, Efate, Vanuatu
17°75’57 S, 168°29’52 E
portvilaboatyard.com
Email: portvilaboatyard@vanuatu.com.vu
Phone: +678 23417

Liapari Ltd.
Liapari Island, Western Province, Solomon Islands
07°56.8 S 156°42.8 E
Email: liapari@solomon.com.sb, H4KK@sailmail.com
Phone: +677 30441
Fax: +677 30278

The post Pacific Boatyards appeared first on Cruising World.

In the Wake of Hurricane Florence

Jen Brett — Fri, 21 Sep 2018 03:24:14 +0000

Staff from New Bern Grand Marina, in downtown New Bern, North Carolina, work on restoring water and dock access. The marina’s floating docks handled the massive storm surge from Hurricane Florence; however the ramps leading to the docks didn’t fare so well. Due to the hard work of the crew, less then four days after the storm five of seven docks have access and three have water. David Gillespie

From September 13th to 15th, Hurricane Florence brought a massive storm surge along with record-breaking rainfall when the storm stalled over the Carolinas. New Bern, North Carolina was one of the hardest hit communities. This picturesque town is home to several marinas and is a much-loved cruising stopover off the Intracoastal Waterway. While there is still a long way to go before things are back to normal in the town, we are happy to report that New Bern is already on the road to recovery.

Although a few boats were lost at New Bern Grand Marina, the vast majority survived, many with little to no damage. David Gillespie

Sightseeing and dinner cruise ship Barefoot Princess is in the process of being rescued after blowing aground in downtown New Bern, NC. David Gillespie

New Bern Grand Marina liveaboards return to their floating homes. David Gillespie

The view from Bridgepoint Marina across the river into old town New Bern. David Gillespie

Local hurricane hole Duck Creek, just off the Neuse River, was at full occupancy. Although record-high storm surge did float a few small boats off their stands, the vast majority rode out the storm well. David Gillespie

Duck Creek used every available space to harbor boats looking for refuge. David Gillespie

Northwest Creek residents help to salvage marina tools and equipment while the staff has their hands full caring for boats in Florence’s aftermath. David Gillespie

Northwest Creek staff discuss plans to clear docks. David Gillespie

With over 210 boats on fixed docks and a storm surge that floated most over 7 feet above the docks the vast majority managed to land back in their slips. David Gillespie

Down, but not out, historic downtown New Bern residents rally. David Gillespie

Blackbeard Sailing Club, across the Neuse from New Bern in Fairfield Harbor, requires all boats over 27 feet to evacuate the marina during hurricanes. David Gillespie

In the distance 32 boats rest at anchor after Florence’s vengeance. Only a few were lost. David Gillespie

Resources

If you are planning to head south on the ICW this season, be sure to have the most up-to-date charts and look over the most recent US Coast Guard Notice to Mariners as you go through affected areas. Both the ActiveCaptain website/app and Facebook page are helpful resources for timely information.

The post In the Wake of Hurricane Florence appeared first on Cruising World.

Recovering a Hurricane Damaged Boat

BoatUS — Wed, 19 Sep 2018 04:25:40 +0000

Hurricane Florence tossed this vessel into the front yard of a private home in New Bern, North Carolina. Courtesy of BoatUS

With the remnants of Hurricane Florence now on the way out to sea and high waters still posing a threat in some regions, boat owners are starting recovery efforts. The BoatUS Marine Insurance Catastrophe Team began field operations on Sunday, Sept. 16, in the Carolinas. To help affected boat owners with the recovery effort, BoatUS offers these five tips to assist boaters in recovering their vessels and starting the salvage process.

Get permission first. Never try to enter a storm-affected marina or boat storage facility without permission. Spilled fuel combined with the potential of downed electrical wires and a host of other hazards make them extremely dangerous places. Smoking is a big no-no. For your safety, never climb in or on boats that have piled up together or are dangling precariously from dock pilings or other obstructions.

Remove valuables. If your boat has washed ashore, remove as much equipment as possible and move it to a safe place to protect it from looters and vandals. It’s a good idea to put your name, telephone number, address and email somewhere conspicuously on the boat – along with a “No Trespassing” sign.
Minimize further damage. Protect your boat from further water damage resulting from exposure to the weather. This could include covering it with a tarp or boarding up broken windows or hatches. As soon as possible, start drying out the boat, either by taking advantage of sunny weather or using electric air handlers. All wet materials, such as cushions, must be removed and saved for a potential insurance claim. The storm may be gone, but the clock is ticking on mold growth.

“Pickle” wet machinery. Engines and other machinery that were submerged or have gotten wet should be “pickled” by flushing with freshwater and then filled with diesel fuel or kerosene. To learn how to pickle a boat motor, go to BoatUS.com/Hurricanes/Pickle.
Consult your insurance provider. If your boat is sunk or must be moved by a salvage company, BoatUS recommends that boat owners should not sign any salvage or wreck-removal contract without first getting approval from their insurance company. Proceeding without your insurer’s knowledge may jeopardize your coverage.

All BoatUS and GEICO Marine Insurance customers have assistance available for post-storm recovery and are urged to call the BoatUS Claims department at 800-937-1937 as soon as practical, or they may file a claim using the new BoatUS app or online at www.BoatUS.com/Claims.

The post Recovering a Hurricane Damaged Boat appeared first on Cruising World.