Southwinds Sailing June 2004 - Southwinds Magazine

FROM THE HELMHURRICANE SEASON 2004 BEGINS JUNE 1 (and ends November 30)With June we again have the beginning of another hurricaneseason, a season that strongly affects the readersof Southwinds, who mainly live in those states most threatenedby tropical storms-from North Carolina south intoFlorida and into the Gulf Coast states. In this issue we haveinformation and articles on helping you prepare your boatfor tropical storms. You can also go to our Web site,www.southwindssailing.com (our new recently redesignedsite), go to past issues, July 2002, and get an article which is aBoatUS (also go to the BoatUS Web site, www.boatUS.com)reprint about more information on protecting your boat instorm conditions, along with some success stories.SOUTHWINDS will, in the coming months, print more storiesabout others’ experiences with their boats and how they faredin these storms.This year, forecasters predicted eight hurricanes, three ofwhich they foresee being intense storms (this does not discountthe severe damage that a tropical storm can do). Theyare predicting a 52 percent chance of a major storm (category4 or 5) to hit the East Coast, including the Florida peninsula,and a 40 percent chance that one will hit the Florida Panhandlewest through Texas. Here in the Tampa Bay area, many feelthey live in an region which has little chance of a major storm,although, a few days after 9/11 (which resulted in little coverageof the storm), in 2001, tropical storm Gabrielle, thoughnot of hurricane strength, did enough damage, largely becauseof the storm surge, to boats that some were completelydestroyed, along with some serious marina damage. See page28-30 where we have an article about protecting your boat ina marina and dealing with marinas.Many whom I have talked to, especially in the TampaBay area, have no real plan beyond, “I’ll worry about it whenit happens,” or, “I’ll probably take it over to an anchorage Iknow.” Most have one common theme: “I’ll make sure I’mcurrent on my insurance payments.”In 1979, only two weeks after my girlfriend and I hadreturned from a summer cruising the Bahamas, while livingin southeast Florida and under the threat of Hurricane David,I spent a long day moving my 26-foot sailboat to an anchoragethat was a well-known protected hurricane hole. A lot ofboats were moving on the ICW that day, and fortunately theanchorage I came to rest at was not too crowded. I was luckyenough, after the storm moved through, to have minimal (abroken topping lift and smashed compass) damage to the boatand two muddy anchors to clean. We spent the week in asmall apartment with a filled bathtub watching weather reportson TV.Today, 25 years later with a lot more boats out there, Iwonder how many boats would crowd the ICW and otherwaters as they all scramble to find that perfect hurricane hole.Let’s all hope for a quiet hurricane season, with minimal impact-butlet’s not forget to work on having a plan. Have extralines and fenders ready, extra anchors for those hurricaneholes, and everything else needed to minimize damage fromwind and storm surge.And a safe and happy hurricane season to all.Steve MorrellEditorPhoto Contestfor photosfor the2005SOUTHWINDSCalendarSend your photo in! Go to our Website, www.southwindssailing.comfor more information.SOUTHWINDSannounces the2004-2005West Florida Racing Calendar& Yacht Club Directory.This calendar will cover West Florida racingfrom September 2004 through August 2005.Call now to advertise in this publication:Steve Morrell, Editor, (941) 795-8704,editor@southwindssailing.comGary Hufford, Advertising Representative,(727) 585-2014,gary@southwindssailing.comContact Steve Morrell, Editor, to list yourupcoming races and regattas!8June 2004 SOUTHWINDS www.southwindssailing.com