Kj, bubbles glad the hear from you and others here on the Chessie. My experiences were similar on board. Ran the engine a little today to get hot water for a shower. Little black cat heater kept the cabin cozy, nice bottle of Pinot from California worked well. I have a flat screen HD which I run through the
inverter only draws 1.5 amps. Watched some of the talking heads of newscasters going stark crazy like they were ADD on crack. The TV reports let me see how the rest were faring though. Finally settled down to a good DVD movie. What a trip watching that heeled 12 degrees in the slip with the
lines creaking the boat riding back and forth side to side and the wind howling. Feeling the boat shuddering with the bow held into the wind by the dock
lines was a new feel.
Today much calmer. Water up over the docks so I stayed put. My wife went to work ( she's a baby nurse) planning to stay there for a few days as hospital is a code yellow. She said the
lights came back on again at 2AM. Haleakula held up well.
My hearts out to the people in NYC. Unbelievable stories from the crane, to the water going into the holes in the ground, to the whole neighborhood burning to the ground. Makes you thankful for what you have. Hopefully all my friends with boats north of there pulled through unscathed.
This was a great experience to be on the boat in elements like this. In my early 20s I had the fortunate experience to cross the Atlantic twice on large Baltics. One was uneventfull. One was in a storm similar with 40 ft waves and 65 plus winds. This before
GPS and weather fax. I was very frightened and though I was a goner. It was a very sobering experience which has affected me through my life concerning safety on my boat for sure. I was very young then and thought I was indestructible. There is no way to understand what it's like sitting behind the computer protected. (Not meant as a dig, just saying) No amount of books describing situations can replace or duplicate the sounds , feelings, or impressions. I have always been a big proponent of experience as the ultimate teacher. To get that there are risks yes, but the rewards help you greatly. Maybe you live in an area you can only sail 6 months a year...go charter somewhere different. Get out in the elements , go sailing....just do it.
Even though I was in a slip, protected, in sight of solid land, being in the elements gives you plenty of time to think about stuff as well.
At one point I sat in my foulies in the cockpit, 65 knott gusts whistling about, spray everywhere, rain stinging my face, cold...this was a cold storm, I was amazed at ABSOLUTE
Power of Mother Nature. When I got back in my cocoon of protection of the cabin, and dried off and got some chili, I thanked god I was not out in this storm, detached from my lifelines.
In spite of sailing for 40 years I feel I m always learning and learning about myself, you are the sum total of your experiences after all. I will look at my boat differently, look at storms with new experience of touching them, and FEELING the power of the weather.
Those of you who
rode this out on your boats understand maybe what I am saying. This is not meant as disrespect or any slight to others how they handled this storm ( someone on SN will inevitably twist my meaning or words) . To those who FELT the power of this long extended strong storm have gained a great experience and understand slightly more the strain and pressures on your boats. Imagine how the original explorers must have felt sibling into the unknown, not knowing where thy were going, not knowing the weather, not knowing f the earth was flat. How brave and courageous were they.
Dave
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