[sailingdog]

Originally Posted by Omatako

"Also, picking the location allows you to limit the storm surge"

I'll be the first to acknowledge a limited understanding of storm surge so maybe this stab at logic is way off.

I would have tried to stay away from any small bays when there was a threat of storm surge thinking that the surge would be accentuated in confined space. The mass of water will head in a given direction and will push into a narrow space in similar volumes to a wide open space causing it to "bunch up" for want of a better expression.

I recall seeing some good footage of the Boxing Day tsunami which suggested that the areas in small bays suffered hugely more destruction than those on open coastline.

I'm probably completely wrong and I'm always careful to not question other points of view without an alternative suggestion and I don't have one because all of the other reasons for finding a quiet secluded little space are quite compelling.

Just a thought . . . .

I also again start to wonder about the benefit of tandem anchors on a common rode. I have used this in areas of strong tidal streams (7 - 8 knots) with great results. Should also work to combat storm surge.

Interesting debate. . . .

Shallow areas can be safer, as it can limit the size of the waves that can batter your boat. The shallow areas I am thinking of have a very restricted, and generally fairly long distance to any open water of significant size.

For instance... if you anchor in a shallow oxbox, up a small creek, the amount of water that the hurricane or storm can push up the creek is relatively small, as the banks of the creek and the narrow and convoluted path of the creek tend to limit the amount of water that can come up with any force.

The same can be done with some of the smaller coastal bays that are located up estuaries. Bogs and swamps are also good choice—I know several sailors who head their boats for mangrove swamps and have never had any significant storm damage to their boats from doing so.

The real damage from storms is from either the waves bashing the boat around, or the winds pushing the boat around—either indirectly or directly. In some cases, the damage is done by the docks the boat is tied to, or other boats that weren't secured properly coming loose and acting as a battering ram.

By isolating your boat in a small, shallow area, and picking the terrain properly, you can limit the directions the wind can come at your boat from with any strength as well as reduce the amount of wave action that results from the storm.