HERE COMES EARL!

[Bob23]

   Here in the South of NJ, I am keeping an eye on the this potential trouble maker. I liked it better when hurricanes were only named in the feminine; it reminded us all of the storms unpredicicality.(is that a word?)
   In the Manahawkin Bay which is Koinoina's summer home, when a storm such as Earl passes, the problem begins with the shift-off which can produce strong NW winds which in turn send some pretty high wave action. I've seen more than one boat wrecked in our little cove due to unattention therefore I am obligated, as unofficial mayor of Harry's Cove to take off work to keep vigilant watch over the fleet. It's not an easy job, being Mayor!
   Koinonia will probably be moved to a marina on the mainland. Some have said, accusingly, that this is just another excuse to go sailing. Well, I report-you decide!
   Any other folks daring to stand in Earls way?
Bob23

[Stray Cat]

Hey Bob-I decided to leave Stray Cat in her slip and keep watch over her Friday. Only plan is to add a couple more dock lines today. Judging by the reports this morning it looks like Earl is tracking a little more east of us. I think main concern for me will be a flood tide around 4 to 5 PM tomorrow (high tide at Manasquan and Barnegat inlets is around 3:30 but it's about 1 to 2 hours later when I see it) Normally I only see a minimal tide change of about 1 foot  where I'm at but in the past I've seen it 3 to 4 feet above normal with these storms.
Tim

[Ralph Erickson]

My boat is safe and sound an an inland lake in Eastern Pennsylvania.  Will probably only experience some minor wind and wave action.  We, on the other hand, are in North Carolina!  We're inland so won't see much, I'm sure, unless the track of the storm changes.

Ralph

[newt]

I've been watching and hoping it misses the east coast. Please keep us updated on the winds- and anything we can do to help!

[bmiller]

I'm certain Pooka is safe. 1,800 miles of dirt seperate us from the drama.

Best of luck to all of you out there.

[lostsailor101]

While I am sitting here in the Middle East, my #1 has been frantically preparing for the worst. We live in Beaufort NC. Just a few minutes ago (6:05 pm EST) she was clocking 39 mph winds with the hand held anemometer we use while sailing. Our little 16 sits out in the middle of her grandmothers yard, away from the trees and branches.  Good luck to all of you who have to deal with
the approaching storm. Of course our son is hoping for good surf after Earl passes.

[Bob23]

I moved Koinonia to a friends slip just a few hundred yards from my mooring. Whacked the starboard side good due to a very fast incoming tide. After the ordeal of running springlines, and many stern and bow lines, we relaxed to an amazing sunset.
I'll be over first thing in the AM...I just love hurricanes and radical weather...as long as my CP is safe!
Bob23

[Bob23]

7:34 am est update:
   Looks like old Earl is going to stay a bit East of my home state, NJ. We'll still get some winds and a bit o' rain but nothing serious. I'd like to put the Force 5 in to catch some of the shift-off winds. I don't know how fast that boat goes but it sure is fun.
   More later,
Bob23 on location

[Salty19]

Best of luck to those the path of Earl. 

[Bob23]

Well, Earl turned out to be a real sissy, at least for us rough, tough New Jerseyans. He passed by practically unnoticed but did leave a very clear sky tonight as the high dropped in. Sure, winds gusted to about 40-45 for a bit but that's not really unusual for around here.
All is well!
Bob23

[Bob23]

   Koinonia and I braved the NNW shift-off winds yesterday. They weren't too bad, about 20-25 mph with some higher gusts. I debated going out for a while and then realized: Carpe Diem rules!
   When I got out into the bay, I noticed that I was the only sailboat out there. In fact, there were hardly any small boats of any kind out there. Various conclusions can be drawn from this: Is Capt Bob23 the bravest skipper in the area? Or does he not know something everyone else does. We had a great, but short sail; it's fun to experiment with difference sail combinations and wind/current conditions and I love the feel of salt water spray coming over the bow and hitting me in the face- I really do!
   So ends, me thinks, the saga of the fiercesome Hurricane Earl. I know that some in NC experienced some damage and evacuations and I sorry to hear of that but it's said that we here in NJ are a tough lot. It's even said that Hurricanes are afraid of making landfall here for fear of being taxed. I report; you decide!
Bob23 off for Sunday morning coffee and bagels.

[newt]

Very funny Bob. Were the currents bad in the bay after the storm? I guess that is what most people would have been scared about. But good on you for sailing!!!

[lostsailor101]

Thankfully Earl was nothing more than what we call a "Mullet Blow" around Cape Lookout.......very little rain, but still it is much better to be safe than sorry. On another note: We had a shark attack a surfer while he was out at Cape Lookout last week. I read he lost half his foot.  And in the words of Captain Barbossa "You're off the edge of the map, mate. Here there be monsters".

cheers mates!