Here comes Isabel!

[aflanigan]

Right now it is 19:50 EST here on the Potomac in Washington DC area. Rainfall has not been torrential as yet, more or less steady but coming in bands. Landfall was about 7 hours ago and she is moving about 25 miles per hour and should pass about 60 miles west of us.

Winds are about 30 MPH with gusts of 50-55 mph. Like the rain, it is coming in bands. Wind strength is expected to peak about 2AM tomorrow, 35-40 MPH, gusts may hit 65 mph according to NWS. This will probably correspond to when the "eye" of the storm passes west of us.

I heard reports of a water spout near Kent Island on the Chesapeake; moving at 75 mph. I hear such reports and get concerned about Jeff H. and others on the Bay. I pray all of our online neighbors in Isabel''s path are doing alright.

My boat is buttoned up fairly well in a protected marina on the Potomac. Mast is up but genoa and mainsl and boom have been removed; dock lines doubled, spring lines have chafe guards on them. The main concern we have here is a storm surge; those in nonfloating slips (tied up to pilings) have done well if they have weighted spring lines to keep their boat from thrashing in the slip with bow and stern lines loosened to accommodate the expected tidal surge. Those of us on floating docks are hoping the water will not go high enough to allow the docks to float away. Hopefully the wind will abate soon enough tomorrow for me to visit the marina as the water level rises to see how things are.

It is nice to have a home on solid ground to ride out the storm. So far our power remains on and our trees still stand.

Mariners everywhere, keep safe.

Allen Flanigan
Alexandria, VA

[OCJoe]

Just wondering how you''ve made out. Hope it was ok.

[msl]

Many of us have been wondering about our internet sailing friends. Photos of marinas and wrecked boats are beginning to show up and news about flooding on St. Michael''s Maritime Museum mentioned. I saw a newsphoto of flooding in Annapolis - and recognized a waterfront bookstore/coffee house that I frequented last Spring. Just heartbreaking, these images.
We hope that in time, we will hear from you soon with news that you are all well.
Regards,
Mark L.

[aflanigan]

Here in the Washington area we were very lucky. Rain amounts were less than expected, and the tidal surge was not as severe as feared. A few low lying neighborhoods had to be evacuated but here the deaths related to Isabel were mostly traffic accidents on the roadways.

I have not heard any reports of deaths on the water in Annapolis or elsewhere on the Chesapeake. It seems they got lots of flooding and property damage, but nothing the hardy souls of the Chesapeake couldn''t weather. Let''s hope we hear from Jeff and others when they get their power back.

Here''s a link to an Annapolis area YC with pics:

http://www.eastportyc.org/gallery/isabelpics.html

Aftermath report from spinsheet magazine:

http://www.spinsheet.com/

Baltimore sun has numerous photos of Isabel''s impact on the bay area:

http://www.sunspot.net/news/weather/hurricane/bal-isabel-photogallery,0,1276748.photogallery?coll=bal-home-headlines