wind and rain aplenty(& boat pics)

[Bernadette]

Foul weather is upon us...while the north WA coastline gets a battering from TC Fay (currently 955 Hpa) we have two lows off the north east Qld coast which are expected to develop into a cyclone later this evening. Currently situated north of Cooktown but moving SE (pressure 994 Hpa). Yesterday we did all we could to secure the boat but she is currently sitting high and dry with both masts in...I'll go take a photo later and post it here. This doesn't give us much to be happy about especially without an insurance policy. There are areas of flooding across the entire region. The main (national) highway is cut in several places. And localised flooding is inundating houses etc. All up a typical picture of what nasties a cyclone will bring and something we are all too familar with none-the-less. Last 24hr rainfall at home here was 230mm. Previously each day's total has been around 100mm or so. Anyhow, hope some of you other folk are having nice sunny days!!
http://www.imagestation.com/picture/sraid108/p7a8475d469a10c7d949cd0f3ec9cab6e/f94aa9ba.jpg
the temporary awning came down weeks ago but we had loose awnings up to keep the sun off and the heat down! some lines from the masts were tied to nearby trees but these have been removed in case the trees fall over!
http://www.imagestation.com/picture/sraid108/p9837f71947d4611184a3588b044ebe19/f94aa9ab.jpg
part way through some foredeck work...our dorades have been sealed with ply nailed down.
http://www.imagestation.com/picture/sraid108/pdf3afaf36ff564e93cae38c8de846888/f94aa998.jpg
The (bright) colour of the cabin top is a real eye popper here but for all the detractors of the colour...we prefer the colour to white or cream. The hesian rolled up on the cabin top has been used to keep the heat/sun off the hull sides until launching.
http://www.imagestation.com/picture/sraid108/pa6c2a59f42a72417f970931389e82f26/f94aa99d.jpg
The main boom lashed.

[ 03-19-2004, 11:39 PM: Message edited by: Bernadette & David Hedger ]

[Venchka]

I believe my heart has stopped... smile.gif

[mmd]

I hope that you make it through the cyclone unscathed. It's probably too late now, but you could stabilize the hull on the cradle by running lines down at a 60-degree angle from the mooring bitts to deadmen posts driven into the ground at all four corners of the hull (that is what is done to fishing boats on exposed coasts in the windier parts of NS & Nfld).

The concept of 100mm of rain per day boggles my mind - we think that 25mm is a lot.

The bright colour of the cabintops has its advantages. If the unthinkable happened and one or all of the crew needed helicopter evacuation it sure would be nice to be very visible from the air in bad weather. Let's hope you never have to be thanked by an airman for being visible. ;)

[Paul Scheuer]

What winds are associated with TC's in that part of the world ?

[Leon m]

Beautiful boat! good luck...

[brian.cunningham]

Nice lines/form
She's really turned out nice. http://media5.hypernet.com/ubb/icons/icon14.gif

[Concordia..41]

Thanks mmd - this morning I started a long drawn out thing about guy wires and then couldn't even make sense to myself.

Also, if that's not pavement - if there's anyway to get some 3/4 plywood sheets - even half sheets - under the cradle in strategic areas. Drill through the plywood and sledge hammer in lengths of rebar. You're probably fine, just the worst case scenario of a washout on one side or another.

During TS Gabrielle we had about 10" of water under the boat with winds gusting in the 60 range.

Not a good feeling tightening a jackstand while water surges over your ankles. Also not a good feeling with a project sans dock and anchor lines. Any other time we'd just reach in a lazaratte or dock box and make things right. That night had us using extension cords - contributed lines - anything at hand. BTW - extension cords are almost impossible to knot :mad:

We'll trust that the Gods of Hard Work, Wooden Boats, and Beauty will keep you out of harm's way.

- Margo

[nedL]

Absolutely Fantastic Bernadette & David!!!! :D

[Bernadette]

Hello everyone,
The low passed without any further problems for us. One of our mottos with boats is as follows: if you are thinking of taking evasive action (like putting in a reef), then it's time to do so. Thus, we secured the boat and afterwards we rewarded ourselves with the rather smug feeling, that having done so, a cyclone would not hit!!!! Winds were about 30 or 40 knts or so but not so bad here at home. The winds closer to the low's center were at about 110 kilometers/hr. Flooding was the main problem for people this time around.
Back to work tomorrow.......

[Leon m]

Glad you play it safe,it would be a shame to
see anything happen to that beautiful boat.

[skuthorp]

Just superb Bernadette and David, glad you did'nt have to sail her out on a flood! ;)
Down here in Victoria we'll gladly swap you a week or two of sunshine (great one day, perfect the next) for a couple of hundred mm of rain. Our people should to talk to your'e people
:D :D

[ 03-22-2004, 03:24 AM: Message edited by: skuthorp ]

[Wild Dingo]

Well done!! Nothing like survival :cool:

mmm could do with some of that rain over here Bernadette!! last 2 days of 40+C high 30s last week and heading into more for the coming week... aye tis a warm March over here weve had just 2mm of rain this month usual is over 30mm but the warmth aye the warmth is something to :D about.

Spoke to my sis in Broome yesty and theyre tying down the hatches as the cyclone moves slowly coast wise... seems the locals up there reckon theyre due for a hit... winds graded at around 270kph in the centre apparently... so I gave her my best advice... take out the windows of the living room and back the boat in then board up the window area again... SAVE the boat!!! ;) well I will need their boat to go fishin in if I ever head up there wont I?

Good on you Bernadette and David shes looking a real treat :cool:

[videoguy]

Well if the rain keeps up you can always start colecting animals 2 by 2 Just don't let them mess up that deck. ;) ;) ...Phil

[TimH]

Cross-drive single-wide trailer tie-downs would give you something to tie to. And if you use enough of them, there is no way your boat could go anywhere. And they arent that expensive.

[John B]

Glad she's all OK.
Our turn next then ,I suppose.