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On June 1, we enter another Atlantic hurricane season.Still in the minds of many are the 2004 and 2005 seasonsthat were so destructive. Despite experts’ predictions ofstorm-heavy seasons since then, no hurricanes have comeashore in the continental United States for the last two seasons,leaving many wondering what’s up each year.At SOUTHWINDS, we continue to try to make peopleaware that each year is unique and can be another calmyear or another heavy one—or whatever lies in between.BoatU.S. held their second annual marina hurricanepreparation symposium in March. For the second year, Iattended this event and learned a lot about what the concernsare of marina operators in the South. Below you willread my report on that symposium and what has beenlearned over the last few years about preparing for a storm.For boat owners, SOUTHWINDS has prepared what Ibelieve is the best article out there on helping boat ownersput together and carry out a plan for their boats. Wehave published this article with changes in the last twoyears, but this year we are just referring our readers to goto our Web site and read this article, “Why Prepare YourBoat for a Tropical Storm,” on our hurricane pages atwww.southwindsmagazine.com/hurricane (go toSOUTHWINDS articles). Other valuable links to articlesand hurricane information are available on those pages.We are still asking our readers to send us articles andopinions about their experiences in preparing for storms,dealing with marinas and other aspects of boating andhurricanes.May there be no hurricanes this year.Steve MorrellEditor(727) 327-5361 or (800) 783-69532201 1st Avenue South, St. Pete, FL 33712Gloves$15 & upSailingShorts35% offSelected StylesSunglasses35% OFFSelected StylesFoul WeatherGear35% OFFSelected StylesTHE 2008 ATLANTICHURRICANE SEASONJune 1 - November 30Second Annual BoatU.S.2008 Marina Hurricane PreparationSymposium, Orlando, March 4-5By Steve Morrell, EditorAfter two years of no hurricanes coming ashore in theUnited States, I wondered how interested marina ownerswould be in attending another symposium, but attendancewas up this year to 160—plus more sponsors jumpedin to help pay for the event. SOUTHWINDS was one of them.Sponsors who had displays at the symposium numbered18, up from last year’s 11.I also wondered what new information BoatU.S. wouldpresent since so much was covered last year (SeeSouthwinds, past issues, April 2007, page 34, at www.southwindsmagazine.com/backissues).But they came throughwith flying colors, although a few subjects were repeated.But the repetition, like how one marina strapped their boatsto the ground, was important, since this practice hasbecome more widespread today (see past issues, January,February, March 2008).There was a lot of new information this year—much ofwhich was learned by those who rebuilt and had a couple ofyears to think about preparing for another big storm—lessonswhich can be very beneficial to those who were neverhit. Surely, the best-prepared marinas in the future will bethe ones who already have been hit. Many of them showedup, and they are the ones who are obviously the most prepared.It is the marinas who have never been hit who aremost likely to be less prepared, and who can really learnsomething at a symposium such as this. But the symposiumis really aimed at marinas, boatyards and yacht clubs—andthere was something to be gained for all of them.34 June 2008 SOUTHWINDS www.southwindsmagazine.com