TROPICAL STORM: Lesson Learned

 Somewhat of a tactical error on my part by not Putting a 4th security strap on the sale cover as tropical storm ISAIAS hit the area. It won't happen again.

TRYING TO REASON WITH THE HURRICANE SEASON: Hurricane Hermine

It was a delightful week on board until Hurricane Hermine threatened to show up. Which meant I need to start thinking about prepping the boat should it arrive. Adding to the tension was the fact that I would be away for the time the storm was supposed to hit. So should something happen to the boat it would be several days before I could get back to check on it. This was a similar situation to several years ago when Hurricane Irene hit the area. But, back then it was because I was working 250 miles away from the boat. This time I am retired but, will be 600 miles away and on another boat. Though the one good thing about my decision to scrub the sailing season is I never put on the sail so I did not have to take it off on prepping for the storm. Still being so far away from the boat and not being able get back to check on her post storm is somewhat disturbing. But, one can only do what one can the rest is up to the nature of the storm.

UH OH!

BIANKA is not yet in the water but Tropical Storm ANA has formed off the southeast United States. I'm a little concerned as the storm makes it's way up the coast. But, there are a few good things in my favor:

1) One thing is the boat is still on land.
2) The mast has been unstepped which means less windage and stress on it.
3) The brutal cold winter has meant that the waters around Long Island are colder than normal and so should knock down the storms strength.

All of the above help ease my fears about the storm doing any major damage but, I'll be keeping a weather eye on it.

OH NOAA!

"This year’s Atlantic hurricane season got off to a busy start, with 6 named storms to date, and may have a busy second half, according to the updated hurricane season outlook issued today by NOAA’s Climate Prediction Center, a division of the National Weather Service. The updated outlook still indicates a 50 percent chance of a near-normal season, but increases the chance of an above-normal season to 35 percent and decreases the chance of a below-normal season to only 15 percent from the initial outlook issued in May." -NOAA

I'm hoping that 2012 will not make it a hurricane "hat trick" for BIANKA. I was on board for Hurricane Earl in Three Mile Harbor East Hampton in 2010. Last year it was and even more ferocious Hurricane Irene that made a direct hit on BIANKA's home waters while I could only watch and worry from two hundred and fifty miles away.  In both cases I prepped the boat as much as I could and hoped for the best. Happily, in both situations there was a good out come. But, I had time to do those preparations because I had been keeping a weather eye on hurricane activity thousands of miles away. It's what any prudent mariner would do as we approach peak hurricane season.  

WELL, THIS KIND OF SUCKS!

This is one of those times when I hope the NOAA people get it wrong. Expecting tropical storm conditions on the Isle of Long for the weekend. I guess the good news is they are not calling for Hurricane conditions. At least not yet.

HURRICANE SEASON 2011

BIANKA is still not in the water though I am hoping to fix that by the weekend. Part of the reason was my girlfriend needed a vacation so Capt. Mike spent seven days swimming and snorkeling in the Florida Keys delaying BIANKA's launch.  Not that it was hardship to do so.  But, what struck me was how warm the water was. In some locations the water temperature was 88 degrees Fahrenheit. That's pretty warm for spring and bad news now that we have started Hurricane season. The National Hurricane center has this prediction for this year:

"Across the entire Atlantic Basin for the six-month season, which begins June 1, NOAA is predicting the following ranges this year:

•12 to 18 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; winds of 111 mph or higher)


Each of these ranges has a 70 percent likelihood, and indicate that activity will exceed the seasonal average of 11 named storms, six hurricanes and two major hurricanes."

Having been on board last year and rode out a brush with Hurricane Earl successfully I am not eager to repeat the experience. I will certainly  be keeping a weather eye to make sure I am not surprised if one should one be making it's way up the coast.

EARL: RED SKY IN MORNING SAILORS TAKE WARNING

Well it's 6 AM dead calm and the  photo above taken this morning says it all. Red sky in morning. Sailors take warning. This scene did not last long. Clouds moved in soon after. I'm taking the a little time to have some coffee before checking in with the NOAA Hurricane Center and finish preparations. Had a good restful sleep last night. May not get much tonight.

Sent from on board BIANKA
http://biankablog.blogspot.com/

EARL: AIN'T THAT PRETTY AT ALL

Well it's offical:

"FOR MARINE INTERESTS...A TROPICAL STORM WATCH IS IN EFFECT FOR
ALL OF LONG ISLAND AND CONNECTICUT COASTAL WATERS AND NEW YORK HARBOR."

and it looks like my location has entered the 50/50 range for Tropical Storm winds. But, at least it's not the Hurricane watch that's been issued for Woods Hole and other areas in New England. But, BIANKA and I are on the edge. Friday does not look like a fun day. Here's the latest Tropical Storm Force Wind Speed  graphic from the NOAA Hurricane Center:

Nice colors eh? But, to quote the late Warren Zevon:

"IT AIN'T THAT PRETTY AT ALL"

TRYING TO REASON WITH THE HURRICANE SEASON PART TWO: EARL

Well, I was very happy to be wrong about Hurricane Danielle. But, Earl is something I'll be watching as I am currently on My Birthday/Best Summer of my Life cruise here on Eastern Long Island.   As you can see in the graphic above BIANKA is in that range of the yellow band. Well, the good news it's not in the 50 50 band. But, as usual it all depends on the track. So I will be preparing for Tropical Storm conditions on Friday and Saturday.  Damn thing is unlike Bob at Boat Bits who just finished a nautical  encounter with Earl.  I'm not even in the tropics! But, at least I don't have a live Raccoon on board either.

TRYING TO REASON IN HURRICANE SEASON

  So after another week spent on the beach as per my girlfriends wishes I headed out to the boat to take care of a few projects and do some organizing. The weather is expected to turn nasty for the next few days so I headed back to shore and made a big pot of Bolognese sauce. Mmmmm. Some of which I'll take with me on a cruise I plan to start sometime this week. But, AFTER checking the NOAA Hurricane Center website I'm getting a bad feeling about tropical Storm Danielle:

The reason for my apprehension is because we here in the Northeast are long overdue for a Hurricane. Plus our local waters are extremely warm this year. This is not good when a Hurricane approaches. I'll certainly be keeping a weather eye on this baby before I decide to head out.