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First Mate
Posts: 77
Home Port: kent island md
IP Logged | Wanted to share a story with all those who have not experience a 66-70 mph wind thunder storm. My family and I(wife and 3 and 6 year old) were anchored up with some friends. As time came to head in we started and I noticed a darker extremely fast moving group of clouds off to my north. Within a minute we were in a storm with sustain winds and esitmated winds speeds at 60-70 mph. I was in a narrow channel with shoals on both side of the markers. At that time the wind was so signifiacnt that it blow us around even with some sustain throttle. All the drawers and coffee maker were scatterd along the salon floor. The Ms. Was crying, sobbing. Mind you My wife is no drama queen. Gps went out with storm. Only useful working item, DEpth sounder that read 60 feet of water. Promptly made he right decesion. Drop the hook and ride it out as ending up aground was a sure possibility with no sight and heavy driving winds.
Headed off the bridge to secure anchor and slipped and fell all the way to the cockpit. Gashed my elbow, Got up and secured the anchor. 1/2 hr later beatiful dead calm and we headed home. Thanks to god that the wife cell phone was only casualtie!
What a scary event!!!!
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Admiral
Posts: 440
IP Logged | Was this the same frontal system that resulted in two deaths in the DC area?.. Those were some powerful TRW's.. Congrats on making it through relatively unscathed! |
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Admiral
Posts: 634
Home Port: Fremantle
IP Logged | <p>Yup squalls can be very scary. I remember getting off the ferry to join my boat already moored in Rottnest Bay Western Australia. Huge - and I mean absolutely mean HUGE - thunder/lighting storm came through for about 45 minutes, so we sat it out on the mooring. I have never seen so much lighting in all directions hitting around us. Luckily our boat (a 38' Grand banks-type at the time) was not hit. An hour after the storm all clear skies and off we went to another bay about 3 miles around the island. Half way there a massive squall hit with recorded winds of 60-knots. Only second time I have feared for my safety on my boat. Fortunately most of the wind was head on and the boat loves that sort of track. However after clearing the bay markers we had to turn 90 degrees to the wind. Even though the hills of the bay gave us some shelter the wind was so strong the boat keeled like a yacht - I estimate close to 30 degrees for the rest of the journey as we made the 500 yard passage to our mooring. Getting onto our mooring was just too hard so we hooked up to someone else's until the squall finished (15 minutes) - after that no wind for the rest of the week.</p>
Edited by circaburns 7/27/2010 2:51 AM
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First Mate
Posts: 77
Home Port: kent island md
IP Logged | Same storm that was responsible for the Jet ski death.
We were real lucky, I am investing to the PFD that blows up when you hit the water. What I did realize that the event happen so fast that I was concern for family safety that I did not put my own PFD on right away.
Seems like a good investment to keep under the helm so I am sure If I go over I am protected.
Taking a weekend off as my wife needs some land time, Mechanic is going top replace the port risers as there are due.
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Admiral
Posts: 442
Home Port: Montreal, Canada
IP Logged | Boating can be so pleasant BUT also very scary in a storm. It is good practice to always listen to a weather channel before taking off ... even if all seems ok. Most weather stations will indicate if there is a possibility of squall formation. Certain cloud formations are conducive to squall formation and an experienced weatherman can "read" this. The real problem is that it is practically impossible to tell where and when squalls will form and what their path (sometimes quite narrow) will be. BUT THEY WILL OCCUR SOMEWHERE. So it's best to stay put until the squall warning is lifted.
Remember ... boating should be pleasant. |
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Admiral
Posts: 440
IP Logged | I have a radar app on my cellphone that I check before heading out.. Of course that doesn't help much if you are already out and hours from home. |
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Storms in the chesapeake bay
