On the other side
The storm materialized as forecast. I finally returned home at 6 this morning after spending two nights and one day aboard Ariel.
Jake and I left for the boat Sunday evening after eating supper at home. Things were relatively calm until midnight when the storm hit, bringing with it wind, lightning, rain, and wind (and did I mention wind?). What had been a 15kt SW wind on Sunday became W at a sustained 30kts. By 2 a.m. the channel was roiling and Ariel began to surge around in her slip. It was about that time that I realized this was going to be a wild ride, as the wind gusted to 40-50kts.
I spent most of the (early) morning tending to Ariel's dock lines, taking up slack as they stretched and securing chafe protection. The wind and rain continued for most of the morning. The howling wind was interrupted periodically by the sound of a boat slamming into a dock with a thud and clang. I came into the cockpit at 3 and saw a pontoon boat drifting past Ariel's stern. My initial thought was to let the owner learn the hard way but, not wanting neighboring boats to pay for this person's irresponsibility, I grabbed a couple spare lines and chased the boat down the fairway. I managed to lasso a cleat and haul the thing into a vacant slip and tie it up.
I felt better with the arrival of dawn. Other owners soon arrived to check their boats. A few discovered that the night had not gone well. The owner of a season-old Island Packet had sheared three or four chocks, chafed through dock lines, and bent his bow pulpit. I shot a bit of video that morning.
About three other boats suffered damage from colliding with the dock when lines either stretched or broke.
Video of Ariel in her slip now that the wind has moderated a bit and - most importantly - veered into the NW. The scum line visible on the port side indicates just how far she was rolling from side to side.
Overkill? You betcha!
Chafe protection is critical.
Jake and I left for the boat Sunday evening after eating supper at home. Things were relatively calm until midnight when the storm hit, bringing with it wind, lightning, rain, and wind (and did I mention wind?). What had been a 15kt SW wind on Sunday became W at a sustained 30kts. By 2 a.m. the channel was roiling and Ariel began to surge around in her slip. It was about that time that I realized this was going to be a wild ride, as the wind gusted to 40-50kts.
I spent most of the (early) morning tending to Ariel's dock lines, taking up slack as they stretched and securing chafe protection. The wind and rain continued for most of the morning. The howling wind was interrupted periodically by the sound of a boat slamming into a dock with a thud and clang. I came into the cockpit at 3 and saw a pontoon boat drifting past Ariel's stern. My initial thought was to let the owner learn the hard way but, not wanting neighboring boats to pay for this person's irresponsibility, I grabbed a couple spare lines and chased the boat down the fairway. I managed to lasso a cleat and haul the thing into a vacant slip and tie it up.
I felt better with the arrival of dawn. Other owners soon arrived to check their boats. A few discovered that the night had not gone well. The owner of a season-old Island Packet had sheared three or four chocks, chafed through dock lines, and bent his bow pulpit. I shot a bit of video that morning.
About three other boats suffered damage from colliding with the dock when lines either stretched or broke.
Video of Ariel in her slip now that the wind has moderated a bit and - most importantly - veered into the NW. The scum line visible on the port side indicates just how far she was rolling from side to side.
Overkill? You betcha!
Chafe protection is critical.
posted by Ariel | CD 36 at 9/29/2009 11:46:00 AM
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