Hurricane Irma. Hurricane Warning for Puerto Rico

Our home base in northeastern Fajardo, Puerto Rico

We are safe in our RV in Colorado.  Our boat is insured.  When we left the boat in storage in June, it was prepped for a hurricane.  We monitor the Caribbean weather daily.  We’ve been watching Irma since it was in the mid-Atlantic.  We've experienced a low-wind Tropical Storm & 70 kts at anchor, but this is our first time in the path of a hurricane.

Dry boat storage at Puerto del Rey

Irma's track has been adjusted south this morning and Puerto Rico has officially activated emergency hurricane plans.  We are officially freakin worried about our home island, that floods when it rains...

“...IRMA BECOMES AN EXTREMELY DANGEROUS 

CAT 5 HURRICANE...

MAXIMUM SUSTAINED WINDS...175 MPH...280 KM/H…

Hurricane-force winds extend outward 

up to 45 miles (75 km) from the center 

and tropical-storm-force winds extend outward 

up to 140 miles

(220 km)…”

NOAA wind forecast

Our hurricane plan:  s/v Odin is in dry storage at Puerto del Rey, Fajardo, Puerto Rico.  She's stripped and strapped down.  We chose Puerto del Rey because it is largely considered one of the safest storage yards in the Caribbean and is approved by our insurance company.

“Puerto Del Rey Marina provides excellent 

protection from hurricanes for 

mono-hull and catamarans. 

Underground hurricane-proof steel and 

cement structures are protected from the sea 

by 100,000 square meters of US NAVY 

controlled mangrove. A block-and-jack-stand 

support system is used within a 

network of strong tie-down points.”

Our location in the yard, back row next to a large powerboat

Hurricane monitoring:  We receive Chris Parker & NOAA weather forecast emails daily.  When there is a threat, we monitor the NOAA Tropical Storm Forecast every 6 hours.  There are several other websites that we follow also.

Officially the strongest hurricane in the Atlantic Basin

Hurricane Hugo:  Hurricane Hugo is the most talked about weather event in Puerto Rico.  It was part of the criteria when we chose our storage facility.  It was a Cat 5 approaching the islands, Cat 4 over St. Croix and a Cat 3 when it reached Puerto Rico (Cat 4 damage recorded on the ground).  You can read more here:

https://www.nap.edu/read/1993/chapter/2#3

Sailors may remember that Hurricane Hugo is the storm that took Fatty Goodlander's boat Carlotta, while anchored in Culebra, Puerto Rico.  You can read an excerpt here:

http://www.fattygoodlander.com/corina__other_boats/carlottas_end

Latest Chris Parker forecast:  N PR near SanJuan: ENE<NE@7-15<15-20k Today; then NE<N@15-20g25k overnight-Wed6 morning N@15-30<W@50-70k<SW@40-70k Seas 25-35’ Storm Surge 6-10’ Wed6 afternoon-Wed6 midnight; SW<S@40-70<S@30k Late Wed6 night-Thu7 morning then similar to Guadeloupe-Leewards Thu7 onward.  

Webcams:

Puerto del Rey:  http://www.puertodelrey.com/en/boatyard-storage

Fajardo:  https://www.webcams.travel/webcam/1277812058-Weather-Fajardo-Bay-View-from-Rabirubia-Vacation-Rental-Playa-Sardinera

Links:

Chris Parker

NOAA Hurricane:  http://www.nhc.noaa.gov/

Puerto del Rey:  http://www.puertodelrey.com/en/boatyard-storage

Tuesday morning forecast, NOAA Hurricane Center, Public Advisory: (http://www.nhc.noaa.gov/text/refresh/MIATCPAT1+shtml/051742.shtml?)

000

WTNT31 KNHC 051159

TCPAT1

Hurricane Irma Special Advisory Number  25

NWS National Hurricane Center Miami FL       AL112017

800 AM AST Tue Sep 05 2017

...IRMA BECOMES AN EXTREMELY DANGEROUS CATEGORY 5 HURRICANE...

...PREPARATIONS SHOULD BE RUSHED TO COMPLETION IN THE HURRICANE

WARNING AREA...

SUMMARY OF 800 AM AST...1200 UTC...INFORMATION

----------------------------------------------

LOCATION...16.7N 57.7W

ABOUT 270 MI...440 KM E OF ANTIGUA

ABOUT 280 MI...445 KM ESE OF BARBUDA

MAXIMUM SUSTAINED WINDS...175 MPH...280 KM/H

PRESENT MOVEMENT...W OR 280 DEGREES AT 14 MPH...22 KM/H

MINIMUM CENTRAL PRESSURE...929 MB...27.44 INCHES

WATCHES AND WARNINGS

--------------------

CHANGES WITH THIS ADVISORY:

The government of the Dominican Republic has issued a Hurricane

Watch from Cabo Engano to the northern border with Haiti and a

Tropical Storm Watch from south of Cabo Engao to Isla Saona.

SUMMARY OF WATCHES AND WARNINGS IN EFFECT:

A Hurricane Warning is in effect for...

* Antigua, Barbuda, Anguilla, Montserrat, St. Kitts, and Nevis

* Saba, St. Eustatius, and Sint Maarten

* Saint Martin and Saint Barthelemy

* British Virgin Islands

* U.S. Virgin Islands

* Puerto Rico, Vieques, and Culebra

A Hurricane Watch is in effect for...

* Guadeloupe

* Dominican Republic from Cabo Engano to the northern border with

Haiti

A Tropical Storm Warning is in effect for...

* Guadeloupe

* Dominica

A Tropical Storm Watch is in effect for...

* Dominican Republic from south of Cabo Engao to Isla Saona

A Hurricane Warning means that hurricane conditions are expected

somewhere within the warning area. A warning is typically issued

36 hours before the anticipated first occurrence of tropical-storm-

force winds, conditions that make outside preparations difficult or

dangerous. In this case, for some of easternmost islands, the

hurricane conditions are expected within the next 24 hours.

Preparations to protect life and property should be rushed to

completion.

A Tropical Storm Warning means that tropical storm conditions are

expected somewhere within the warning area in this case within 36

hours.

A Tropical Storm Watch means that tropical storm conditions are

possible within the watch area, generally within 48 hours.

Interests elsewhere in the Dominican Republic, along with Haiti,

the Turks and Caicos Islands, Cuba, and the southeastern and central

Bahamas should monitor the progress of Irma.

For storm information specific to your area in the United

States, including possible inland watches and warnings, please

monitor products issued by your local National Weather Service

forecast office. For storm information specific to your area outside

the United States, please monitor products issued by your national

meteorological service.

DISCUSSION AND 48-HOUR OUTLOOK

------------------------------

At 800 AM AST (1200 UTC), the distinct eye center of Hurricane Irma

was located near latitude 16.7 North, longitude 57.7 West. Irma is

moving toward the west near 14 mph (22 km/h), and this general

motion is expected to continue today, followed by a turn toward the

west-northwest tonight. On the forecast track, the dangerous core of

Irma will move near or over portions of the northern Leeward Islands

tonight and early Wednesday.

Reports from NOAA and U.S. Air Force Hurricane Hunter aircraft

indicate Irma continues to strengthen and maximum sustained winds

have increased to near 175 mph (280 km/h) with higher gusts.  Irma

is an extremely dangerous category 5 hurricane on the Saffir-Simpson

Hurricane Wind Scale.  Some fluctuations in intensity are likely

during the next day or two, but Irma is forecast to remain a

powerful category 4 or 5 hurricane during the next couple of days.

Hurricane-force winds extend outward up to 45 miles (75 km) from the

center and tropical-storm-force winds extend outward up to 140 miles

(220 km).

The latest estimated minimum central pressure from aircraft data is

929 mb (27.44 inches).

HAZARDS AFFECTING LAND

----------------------

STORM SURGE:  The combination of a dangerous storm surge and large

breaking waves will raise water levels by as much as 7 to 11 feet

above normal tide levels along the coasts of the extreme northern

Leeward Islands within the hurricane warning area near and to the

north of the center of Irma.  Near the coast, the surge will be

accompanied by large and destructive waves.

The combination of a dangerous storm surge and the tide will cause

normally dry areas near the coast to be flooded by rising waters

moving inland from the shoreline.  The water is expected to reach

the following heights above ground if the peak surge occurs at the

time of high tide...

British and U.S. Virgin Islands except St. Croix...7 to 11 ft

Northern coast of Puerto Rico...2 to 4 ft

Southern coast of Puerto Rico and St. Croix...1 to 2 ft

The deepest water will occur along the immediate coast in areas of

onshore winds, where the surge will be accompanied by large and

destructive waves.  Surge-related flooding depends on the relative

timing of the surge and the tidal cycle, and can vary greatly over

short distances.  For information specific to your area, please see

products issued by your local National Weather Service forecast

office.

WIND:  Hurricane conditions are expected within the hurricane

warning area in the Leeward Islands by tonight, with tropical storm

conditions beginning later today. Tropical storm conditions are

expected within the tropical storm warning area where hurricane

conditions are also possible. Hurricane conditions are expected

to begin within the hurricane warning area in the British and U.S.

Virgin Islands and Puerto Rico on Wednesday, with tropical storm

conditions beginning tonight. Hurricane and tropical storm

conditions are possible within the watch area in the Dominican

Republic by early Thursday.

RAINFALL:  Irma is expected to produce total rainfall accumulations

of 4 to 8 inches with isolated maximum amounts of 12 inches across

the northern Leeward Islands, the British and U.S. Virgin Islands,

and Puerto Rico.  These rainfall amounts may cause life-threatening

flash floods and mudslides.

SURF:  Swells generated by Irma will affect the northern Leeward

Islands, Puerto Rico, and the U.S. and British Virgin Islands

during the next several days.  These swells are likely to cause

life-threatening surf and rip current conditions. Please consult

products from your local weather office.

Tracking Hurricanes

Hurricane season is upon us in the Caribbean.  With internet access anywhere from good to non-existent, we need a reliable source of info about possible activity.  I've received our first Atlantic Tropical Weather Outlook email, so I'll share what I have set up, then I'll update as the season progresses.

This is based on an article from The Boat Galley written in 2006, titled Tropical-Storm-Tracking-with-Sailmail-Revised-2-06.  I've tweaked it with updated info and to include references to our Iridum GO! (see blog, "Setting up my Iridium GO!")  The goal it to use Saildocs to receive text forecasts on our Iridium email (and regular email when available).  Secondly, research and bookmark links for low-bandwidth graphic forecasts for the Opera Mini browser (see blog "Slow internet and/or using less data") when closer tracking is required.

We'll start simple.  On Twitter, follow @NHC_Atlantic:  on the Iridium GO!, text to 40404: follow @NHC_Atlantic

Facebook also has several good pages including : NOAA NWS National Hurricane Center, Mike's Weather Page, Marv's Weather Service, and Crown Weather Service

Now it's time to go to saildocs.com and get familiar with their service.  The following are the send/sub requests you might need for hurricane season.

TEXT FORECASTS, Saildocs, (Atlantic):  

If you want to check my work, for current Saildocs filenames send email to query@saildocs.com:

• send nws-gmex

I recommend the Offshore Forecast throughout the season (text):

• sub FZNT23.KNHC (see blog What do you use for weather?)

but if you’re sitting for hurricane season, maybe:

• Synopsis only (Carib):  send/sub AMZ001
• Windward/Trinidad only (no synopsis!): send/sub AMZ035

The following 11 subscriptions are for tracking a tropical storm.  After the initial subscription, you only get an email when there is a change:

1.  Atlantic/Carib Tropical Wx Outlook: 

• sub atl.outlook interval=1 days=365  

2.  Atlantic/Carib Discussion (gen comments/prediction confidence).  NHC monitors multiple systems so repeat for 2, 3, 4, & 5.

• sub atl.disc1 interval=1 days=365
• sub atl.disc2 interval=1 days=365
• sub atl.disc3 interval=1 days=365
• sub atl.disc4 interval=1 days=365
• sub atl.disc5 interval=1 days=365

3.  Tropical Depression Forecast/Advisory (detailed).  NHC monitors multiple systems so repeat for 2, 3, 4, & 5.

• sub atl.tech_advis1 interval=1 days=365 
• sub atl.tech_advis2 interval=1 days=365 
• sub atl.tech_advis3 interval=1 days=365 
• sub atl.tech_advis4 interval=1 days=365 
• sub atl.tech_advis5 interval=1 days=365

(Check at 1 hour intervals for updates:  interval=1)(Specify subscription period: days=365)

You can also get National Hurricane Center's High Seas Forecast (text):

• send/sub FZNT02.KNHC

I recommend subscribing to the text forecasts above.  However, the following are larger graphic forecasts, so experiment then have this list standing by for when things require closer observation:

Bookmark NHC Marine Forecasts in Opera browser:  http://www.nhc.noaa.gov/marine/

Here are the 5 primary graphics from the National Hurricane Center:
GRAPHICS, Saildocs, (Atlantic).  Be aware of file size vs your data plan

• (To get a list of Radiofax Internet File Names (Caribbean/New Orleans):  http://weather.noaa.gov/pub/fax/rfaxmex.txt )

• 1.  NHC Sea State Analysis (graphic, current):  send PJEA11.TIF

Subscribe 0000Z (graphic): sub PJEA88.TIF

Subscribe 1200Z (graphic): sub PJEA90TIF

• 2.  NHC Tropical Surface Forecast (graphic, E half, 24, current): send PYEE10.TIF

24 HR 0000Z: sub PYEE79.TIF

24 HR 1200Z: sub PYEE80.TIF

Get 48 (graphic, E half, current): send PYEI10.TIF

48 HR 0000Z: sub PYEI81.TIF

48 HR 1200Z: sub PYEI82.TIF

Get 72 (graphic, E half, current): send PYEK10.TIF

72 HR 0000Z: sub PYEK83.TIF

72 HR 1200Z: sub PYEK84.TIF

• 3.  NHC Wind/Wave forecast (graphic, current, 24): send PWEE11.TIF

0000Z: sub PWEE89.TIF

1200Z: sub PWEE91.TIF

Get 36 HR, 1200Z:  send/sub PWED98.TIF

Get 48 (graphic, current): sub PWEI11.TIF

0000Z:  sub PWEI88.TIF

1200Z:  sub PWEI89.TIF

Get 72 (graphic, current): sub PJEK11.TIF

0000Z:  sub PJEK88.TIF

1200Z:  sub PJEK89.TIF

• 4.  NHC Wave Period/Swell Direction (graphic, 48 HR, current):  send PJEI11.TIF

0000Z: sub PJEI88.TIF

1200Z: sub PJEI89.TIF

Get 72 HR (graphic, 0000Z):  send/sub PKEK88.TIF

• 5.  NHC Tropical Cyclone Danger Area (graphic, current, after May 15/High Wind Sea):  send PWEK11.TIF  

0300Z:  sub PWEK89.TIF

0900Z:  sub PWEK90.TIF

1500Z:  sub PWEK91.TIF

2100Z:  sub PWEK88.TIF

(Mariner’s 1-2-3 Rule)

I also consider the following useful:

• Tropical Surface Analysis (low res wide area, graphic, E half, current):  send PYEA11.TIF

(W half, current):  send PYEB11.TIF

0000Z (E): sub PYEA86.TIF (W) sub PYEB86.TIF

0600Z (E): sub PYEA87.TIF (W) sub PYEB87.TIF

1200Z (E): sub PYEA85.TIF (W) sub PYEB85.TIF

1800Z (E): sub PYEA88.TIF (W) sub PYEB88.TIF

Is that clear as mud?  I had to save to the blog, so I wouldn't risk losing all my notes!  I can't promise this is all accurate, but it's a start.  Please share any ideas (or point out any errors) below.  Good luck out there.

Jan 6, 2015 The Black Point, Exumas Gale/Derecho?!/hurricane force winds

Some of the damage to the Government dock

(This is an ongoing situation. More pics & info when available.  UPDATE:  This low will become Hurricane Alex!)

A friend requested that the blog include "the good, the bad and the ugly."  Here is the ugly:

Jan 6th, 2016:  The weather forecasts are still contradictory. There is another possible clocking of winds through west, but after naps, we decide to move to Black Point since it is no more or less protected than Big Major. We motor sail on the genoa & one engine at reduced throttle the 10 miles on a beam reach. The waves are hitting us on our beam which is usually preferable but the banks aren't happy and it's a short but rolly ride. We only see 6 masts as we enter the channel and drop in line between sv Sasha and a Lagoon.  Still punch drunk from an anchor watch of 25-30 gust 36 the night before, The Captain increases his normal 7:1 scope to 10:1.

We decide to head into town for errands and a decent meal. We tie up at the government dock alongside 3 other dinghies. (It's a tall dock. Standing up, I can't reach the dock above my head, so I wrap the painter around the ladder and climb up. The Captain resecures it to a piling). We head towards a restaurant called Scorpios, noting the trash dumpster, water spigot, bakery and grocery store on our way (fresh eggs!). There is a table of cruisers at Scorpios as we arrive. They invite us over, but after a night of anchor watch, we don't have the energy. We order drinks and food. Pretty soon, their party breaks up and we chat with them as they leave. One couple stays behind (spoiler alert. sv Sasha) and we chat across the aisle. A quick rainshower comes through, so the bartender asks us to relocate inside. 

Not much later, a local comes in and asks if it's "our inflatables at the dock because they are in danger."  The men rush out and the girls stay behind to wait for our food. Someone comes in and says a big boat is on the rocks, so I throw my purse on Sasha's table and run out the door (I later learn a local lost his "big powerboat.") When I reach the dock, I see waves coming over the dock and no sign of the boys.  I can see our blue stern light still out in the anchorage.   It's getting dark, so I run back to Scorpios just as the power goes out.  More locals stagger in and our food finally arrives. An eternity later, the boys return. They are soaked.

The Captain's new glasses blew right off his face. They moved one dinghy to the other side of the dock and our dinghy to the beach. (He'll explain later that as the dinghies came up on the 4-6 ft waves, they were "flying" in the air.  While trying to move our dinghy down the dock, the outboard smashed up into the dock and the painter flew out of The Captain's hand. Luckily it went straight up on the beach, where locals helped secure it to a chunk of cement with chain attached.). We discuss the real possibility we may not be able to get back out to the boats tonight if it doesn't let up. We chit chat about other things--anything except our homes that are in imminent peril and there is no way for us to get to them. It turns out R is a pilot so that keeps us occupied for awhile. We settle up and the bartender says he will help us find somewhere to stay in town if need be. We take turns poking our heads out the door until, finally, the lights come on. The winds seem to have let up, so we walk down to the dock to check things out--"just for fun."

(The rocky beach where Sasha's dink landed)

The dock is missing a lot of boards and there are pallets from today's mail boat strewn down the dock.    Our dinghy is still on the beach but Sasha's brand new AB is not where he left it.  The locals coax us off the damaged dock.  Other locals find it washed up on the rocky beach. The aluminum hull is dented with a rip where the inflatable meets the hull. A large group helps drag it up and around to the other "marina" beach. Our outboard is in multiple pieces. Sasha's outboard is a little damaged (bent prop) but still runs, so they move it onto our dinghy. A local helps drag our outboard inside the government building--a little tricky with a broken lower cowl.  The water is almost calm now. All four of us pile into our dinghy and they drop us at our boat and continue onto their boat. 

(Dinghy/outboard--we shared with Sasha)

(Pic Anchor app) The cat is asleep but the boat is no worse for wear. I had closed up anticipating rain and everything was still stowed from our sail except for two drinks on the salon table. We head to bed after confirming the chartplotter & anchor alarm agree we are still where we were. (Pic) About 2:00 am the winds shift to the NW at 20 kts, making our home a bouncy castle again (Black Point not protected from the west). We can't sleep and The Captain decides to sleep in the salon, while I stay up until sunrise reading other's accounts on Facebook (see below). 

(Pic) Our chartplotter trick--one of the interesting things about reflecting on this storm was, how do you know if you're dragging?  We've tried several anchor alarms with mixed results. We currently use the "Anchor" app, but still get the occasional false alarm. Our secondary anchor alarm is:  When we drop anchor, I create a new waypoint named "anchor". When the anchor bites (I can feel it in my bare feet or I see a bow swing away from the wind), I create a second waypoint named "bite". Finally, when the bridle is on, I make a last point named "bridle."  This gives a line that should represent our swing radius. If the winds shift, we add another waypoint (in a 360 degree windshift, you should have an equidistant circle around the anchor.  If we get a gust that stretches the chain, we create a waypoint to show us the new radius). If the anchor alarm goes off, a quick glance shows if we are inside or outside our last mark or if we've swung to a new position (reason to be watchful).  Of course, when you are not on the boat, this technique falls apart!

We're still relatively new cruisers, but The Captain is a certified aircraft mechanic & IA. Redundancy and safety wire/zip ties are all over Odin. I quizzed him on our setup after hearing about some of the failures (I'm embarassed to admit, besides the ocassional conversation while buying parts, I was blissfully uneducated on our current set up). For what it's worth, here is our anchor set up--straight from the Captain:  "Primary anchor 44 lb Mantus with 120 feet 5/16 G4 chain + 200 feet 5/8 rope.  Primary Bridle: Mantus chain hook with 2 25 foot 1/2" three strand nylon lines connected to chain hook with 3/8 shackle. 1" water hose for chafe protection at chocks.  Secondary bridle: 5/16 chain hook with 5/8 double braid eye splice looped over port cleat.  All shackles safetied with nylon zip ties."  Our old primary anchor was going to be connected to the rope rode in the starboard bow locker, but we left Brunswick before this was completed. "Perhaps I should get that done."

We used to worry about dragging, but our new #Mantus anchor has been solid, so now mostly we worry about others dragging. However, we heard several stories of other cruisers having bridles FAIL, chain paying out uncommanded and LOSING anchors!  Nightmare!  That will keep me up at night. 

Another bad contributing factor here was, it was after dark. Everything is more difficult in the cockpit and on deck in the dark.  It will be a long while before I am comfortable going into town after dark. God bless the locals who were on the beach looking after their own property and stopped to help us. "That's what we do."

The day after (7th):  After sunrise, I finally fall asleep for a few hours. We finally get coffee and breakfast by 9:00 am and hail Sasha on the radio. We're on the beach by 11:00 am with a bag of tools and discover Sasha's dink has 3 tears, only one major. They air it up, bang out the hull & work on the leak. Next is our outboard. The Captain was confident he could get it running but in daylight, it's a broken carb, broken intake, broken lower cowl frame, broken lower cowl mounting lug is broken off at crankcase, bent prop, and a missing gas cap.  He figures it needs $800 worth of parts.  I walk down to retrieve our aux fuel tank from a local business owner who took it for safe keeping. We make a quick grocery store stop and upon return, we have two dinghies again (kind of). Sasha tows us out to our boat then returns with their spare trolling motor to loan us. Guess we'll be seeing them in Georgetown!

Excerpts from the Chris Parker summary on July 7th:

"StanielCay reported (confirmed independently from multiple sources) W-NW@45-50 with gusts at least into the 60s from about 6pm-7:30pm EST.

CambridgeCay (about 20mi N of StanielCay) recorded a gust which registered 106.2k on an anemometer. Even if not precisely correct, there were almost certainly Hurricane Force wind gusts.

Most reports were a bit less...mostly W-NW winds in 30-40k range, gusting 50k+ persisting about an hour+/- generally between the hours of 5pm-8pm in RoyalIsland & RockSound Eluthera, various locations near GreatExuma/LittleExuma."

"In 13 years, I don't think I've seen an event like this in the Bahamas. Although there was some fairly strong convection (Lifted Index -4 to -6, and CAPE 1000 to just under 2000), there were no very tall (cold) cloud tops. Infared Satellite cloud top temps were only about -20C TO -30C, suggesting cloud tops probably in the range of 20,000' to 25,000' or maybe a bit higher. In order to generate observed winds, I would expect cloud top temps below -50C, and cloud tops well above 40,000'."

"If we pick a point along TROF W of Andros (24N/80W) at 10am...and follow TROF E thru Bahamas (to 24N/73W) at 10pm, it covered about 400 miles in 12 hours, moving about 35k. As TROF began rotating around the LO which was developing just NE of Eluthera, the S portion of TROF/convergence moved more rapidly than the N part (closer to the developing LO)...and TROF/convergence gradually became more NNE-to-SSW-oriented. But throughout the day our TROF/convergence spanned about 300-400 miles from NE-to-SW (or NNE-to-SSW)."

What is a Derecho?

http://www.spc.noaa.gov/misc/AbtDerechos/derechofacts.htm

"Our event seems to meet all these criteria...we saw an event:

--over 300mi from end-to-end, and persisted along a path over 400 miles

--widespread wind gusts 50k+ along most of the line, with well-separated areas of 65k+

--straight-line winds, with reports of mostly uniform W-NW wind direction (perpendicular to the squall line)

--pool of cold air aloft located behind the squall line

--relatively-dry (cloud-free) conditions ahead of the squall line (at least in some areas)

--some sort of a shelf cloud was clearly visible in many of the photos I saw taken in Georgetown just before the event

--this occurred along the SE side of sub-Tropical JetStream, in an environment of strong wind shear

I can't be sure what we saw was a Derecho, but it was certainly (thankfully) a rare event."

Day 3 (8th):  I'm feeling a little emotional this morning. Perhaps the adrenaline or shock of the last couple days has worn off or maybe I finally got a good night's sleep. I was awoken by a pan-pan at 4:30 am this morning. One of the boats set adrift by the derecho is on fire at a wooden dock in Staniel. A pumper truck was supposed to be on the way, but everyone was at the boat on the rocks on the other side (Big Major). 

(Day 4:  next blog will cover Black Point to Georgetown)

(Transom--a piece of free corian)

Day 5 (9th):  Pick up new ouboard. Dinghy taking on significant amount of water. Had to start bailing halfway across Elizabeth Harbor.  Temporary transom repair. 

Hull crack--that blue is the water underneath!)

Day 6 (10th):  The hits keep coming. We discover the source of the leak while snorkeling--a 6" rip in the fiberglass hull.  Temporary fiberglass repair. 

Day 7 (11th):  Five of the six boats from Black Point have arrived in Georgetown. We gathered on the beach, went for a hike then sat down for lunch. This group can tell some stories!  Two boats clocked 78.9! (Pic)

Day 8 (12th):  Another run into town with Sasha for parts. They are hoping to resplash soon.  Insurance paperwork initiated. 

We aren't always the social butterflies at an anchorage. But we are usually very familiar with every boat in our immediate vicinity for various reasons. I like to people watch.  We peek through our binoculars to check their boat name & hailing port. Then we play name-that-boat. "That's a Switch 51.  Very rare.  Cool boat."   We rarely participate, but we listen to the radio chatter. We follow their comings & goings because we try to run the generator when are neighbors are in town (or just so we know where the dinghy dock is).  Ocassionally we'll check to see if they have a blog or facebook page. Some boats we've seen at several anchorages get nicknames like "red dinghy" or "Hatchet Bay schooner."  (When our dinghy is in the davits, you can't see our boat name. Apparently, were were "little cat" while anchored behind the grotto.  Yeah, not the Lagoon!). We check where all the boats are at sunset (who does and who doesn't have on their anchor light). At sunrise, I pop out to check ours and all of our neighbors positions. "Hey, Island Packet left!"  Our anchorage is our village. It changes day to day. We may not know their names. But one day we'll run into them at a bar and say, "yeah, you were anchored next to us in...."  So hearing the boat names of those who drug, ended up on the rocks and caught on fire was devastating. We never met, but they are still our people. Cruising is a small community.

Neko (Staniel):  http://svneko.com/2016/01/10/gale/

Magnolia (Georgetown):  http://a2baker.com/magnoliablog/?p=5679

Dos Libras (Georgetown):  http://www.thingswedidtoday.net/2016/01/el-derecho.html