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Re: Charter during storm
[Re: danmasi]
#201545
07/31/2019 11:48 PM
07/31/2019 11:48 PM
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Joined: Oct 2000
Posts: 833 Houston, Texas
louismcc
Traveler
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Traveler
Joined: Oct 2000
Posts: 833
Houston, Texas
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Last July when we got on the plane, a couple of days before the scheduled charter departure, the tropics were quiet. By the time we got to the base, after an overnight in Atlanta, a small hurricane had formed and was aiming at the BVI. Our planned itinerary included a couple of nights in a slip at Leverick. They told us at the base that we should be fine but just be sure to keep the "bat phone" (my term for the cell phone they give you) turned on and they'd call if we needed to return to the base or find a different place to hole up.
By the next day the approaching hurricane was dissipating and expected to be nothing more than a strong wave by the time it hit the BVI. We were a day late getting out of the Moorings because of a fuel tank issue, and headed out to Cooper which would get us to Leverick the day before the wave hit. From Cooper we motored up the coast, both to avoid the numerous tacks that would be required to get to North Sound and to stay close to shore in the lee of Virgin Gorda. Made it fine to Leverick, plugged in the A/C and spent the next day below deck until the rains stopped.
Short answer to your question is that the Moorings will take care of you, and this should be a relatively small storm. Figure out a good place to hunker down while it passes, run your plan by the Moorings folks, and plan for a rainy / windy day.
Louis from Houston
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Re: Charter during storm
[Re: danmasi]
#201585
08/01/2019 12:56 PM
08/01/2019 12:56 PM
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Joined: Nov 2000
Posts: 3,359 Cane Garden Bay, Tortola
JasonHelmbrecht
Traveler
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Traveler
Joined: Nov 2000
Posts: 3,359
Cane Garden Bay, Tortola
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Yep, I'm sure we'll get a good briefing tomorrow night when we get to base... just trying to vent some of the worry as I go to bed for the 4-hour sleep before headed to the airport. Thanks!
Question stands, though, for when it's not bad but bad... what are peoples' go-to anchorages when the forecast is for a good size tropical wave, but not serious enough to head in? If it completely turns to crap, get in touch with me and we will open a villa for you. All new roof, hurricane rated windows and doors, and plenty of cistern water!! Cheers, Jason BVI number - 284-547-2929
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Re: Charter during storm
[Re: danmasi]
#201602
08/01/2019 05:55 PM
08/01/2019 05:55 PM
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Joined: Sep 2010
Posts: 5,720 Massachusetts
maytrix
Traveler
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Traveler
Joined: Sep 2010
Posts: 5,720
Massachusetts
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We were on charter in July a number of years ago on a Moorings 5800. We were at Leverick. A disturbance was going to go through. It wasn't forecast to be too bad - I don't think it was even a tropical storm or maybe just barely.. We were told we were fine where we were and we just did extra lines..etc to be sure we were very secured. Dock staff at Leverick was great helping us get secured. Had it been worst it is my understanding they'd call you back to base although I'm not sure what the threshold is for that.
Matt
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Re: Charter during storm
[Re: danmasi]
#201631
08/02/2019 12:23 PM
08/02/2019 12:23 PM
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Joined: Dec 2018
Posts: 216 Dana Point
captdennyj
Traveler
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Traveler
Joined: Dec 2018
Posts: 216
Dana Point
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Excellent tips from the other posters, as to handling strong weather situations.
We always sail the BVI in may, but one time, in St, Barts, we ran into a rather interesting and not forecast situation. .
Sailing into Gustavia Harbor, Erica and I on a 37 ft, Centurian Sloop. Strong , well found vessel.
The weather had been great, No worries. However as we sailed into Gustavia harbor a huge dark wall of clouds was headed our way. No moorings were available and we stayed well clear of the starboard side mooring field. We anchored on the port side of the fair way in about 25 to 35 feet or so of water. Had 150 ft of chain, and 150 feet of line .. .total 300 feet of rode.
Erica went below to take a shower and I stood anchor watch. She wanted us to go ashore for Saturday night party down in St Barts.. I am very concerned about that approaching air mass. Well, she is all set to go ashore, and says she will stand anchor watch while I shower and get ready We had all the chain, and much of the rode out. Holding just fine.
I get out of the shower, dripping wet, and pour myself a Mt. Gay rum, naked and drying off.
I feel the boat move, Erica shouts, " Den ' we are dragging ! " . I toss on my board shorts, no shoes, no gloves, and up I run to the anchor locker.. The wind is howling and the rain is pelting down . The engine is running at 1500 RPM since we were charging up the batteries. This is good. I had Erica remain at the helm and I head up to the anchor locker to pay out more scope and reset the hook.
I am paying out the line section of the rode, and a huge blast of extremely powerful wind hits us, I now, cannot hold on to the anchor rode, it it burning thru my hands. I shout FULL POWER, FULL POWER !!! to Erica
She is at the helm, and she answers back ALL AHEAD FULL. We are running out of rode, This is not going to be good if the bitter end of the anchor line line tears out the screwed in anchor locker U - bolt. The force would rip it out of the anchor locker bulkhead. Then we have the anchor, chain, and line laying on the bottom of the harbor. This is not good.
Even with the engine at full power, we are not moving forward much, but took enough pressure off the line that I could get wraps around the windlass, and secured the line with proper a cleat hitch on the starboard bow cleat and backed it up with another cleat hitch to the port bow cleat.
The winds are now super strong, visibility is a few feet, due to the wind, We cannot see any boats, moorings or land due to the strong horizontal rain, and the spray picked up off the water. We ran the engine in gear to take some of the load off the anchor , turned the VHF to Channel 16. it was now about 3:pm. in the afternoon, The dink was double secured to the stern cleats . Chl 16: People not in the harbor were calling for help off shore. "We are just sunday sailors , we do not know what to do, help us !.
Well folks, there is nothing that anyone can do for you. You have to use your seamanship, knowledge and experience, to handle the situation. There is no USCG, or Sea Tow . Your are on your own. Those were my unspoken thoughts. There was a lot of people on Chl 16, all shouting at once. Not a good situation.
Winds came up to 64 mph plus gusts, and did not abated until about 2:00 am in the morning. 73 mph is hurricane force winds, Cat 1.
1:00 am : The visibility returned to maybe 50 yards and we could see that we were staying put. The winds continued to drop, and visibility increased, we hit the rack about 2:00 am in the morning.
What the heck happened ?
10:00 am: Ashore the next morning St Barts was sunny and calm.
We went to the Port Captains office to find out if this system was done. Yep, it was not forecast as the beast formed over the Islands of the French West Indies in the Caribbean. Goes back to mother nature does what she wants to do, when she wants to do it, and those of us who chose to sail, or motor upon her oceans need to have the skills to work with her. We certainly cannot beat her down. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
In the BVI you are going to have excellent weather reports, and with all of the computer help, you should be advised well ahead of time.
Other great advice by the posters here: : For the BVI, we agree to get a slip, Leverick or Nanny Cay, not in any open roadstead . or if not available a good hurricane hole and extra bow anchor. Bahanian moor. If in a slip, extra lines is excellent, as is getting to cozy shelter ashore until the storm passes . Important : Lots of rum, also a great idea.
Later, upon returning to Sun Charters Oyster Bay ( now gone from biz) base in St. Martin,, we found that they were also caught by surprise, and had dock staff , office staff , charter captains, etc, on the their boats, dock lines wrapping around props and over lapping, boats crashing, etc.
The Airport at St. Martin was closed down, and passengers on landing jet liners were not allowed off the aircraft as the Terminal Roof was ripping off and debris was flying around .
Main thing ' for us ' , is to avoid hurricane season , that is why we generally select may, Also , it is before the kids are out school, less people and better deals on boats and air fare..
Others think quite differently, and that is fine for them .
Stay safe, have a grand sailing vacation in the beautiful BVI..
Last edited by captdennyj; 08/02/2019 12:39 PM.
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Re: Charter during storm
[Re: sail445]
#201647
08/02/2019 05:52 PM
08/02/2019 05:52 PM
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Joined: Dec 2007
Posts: 2,040 Charlotte, NC
NCSailor
Traveler
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Traveler
Joined: Dec 2007
Posts: 2,040
Charlotte, NC
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You weren’t in a squall you were in a tropical storm, squalls generally last from 15 to 45 minutes. If I had 15 to 45 minutes to read his posts I would retire.
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Re: Charter during storm
[Re: NCSailor]
#201656
08/02/2019 11:24 PM
08/02/2019 11:24 PM
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Joined: Feb 2002
Posts: 3,610 Woodstock, GA
RickinAtlanta
Traveler
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Traveler
Joined: Feb 2002
Posts: 3,610
Woodstock, GA
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You weren’t in a squall you were in a tropical storm, squalls generally last from 15 to 45 minutes. If I had 15 to 45 minutes to read his posts I would retire. One sentence paragraphs.
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