The air is cool and clear, Oyster Bay is once again filled with birds, and the roar of tropical storm Irene is quickly fading from memory. We have a busy couple of weeks ahead with Wind Horse, and then we return to Arizona for a month. Before the lessons learned fade we thought a few observations might be in order.

Although Irene missed us – the 45 to 50 knots we saw was far from the worst we have experienced at anchor over the years – we do not regret preparing for much worse. We are simply more comfortable assuming the worst and acting accordingly. Rather than worrying about things that might go wrong, this approach leaves our full mental bandwidth to cope with whatever nature dishes out.

Our approach to anchor selection paid dividends in that we have a hurricane sized anchor for every day use. This makes second anchors, and their attendant risks and hassles, relegated to a back up role. The 250 pound ROCNA, ridiculosuly sized for normal conditions, did not budge a foot during the blow.

Our second and  third anchors have been on deck this season, ready to deploy without hesitation, rodes nearby as well. These would normally be stowed in the forepeak, but the forecast of an active hurricane season was incentive to dig them out so they were ready to use if needed. We now feel that dragging the big Fortress forward when prepping for Irene was unneccesary. Next time we will pre set the rode, but leave the Fortress where it normally resides. If needed we can slip it under the lifelines.

The dual snubber system worked well, and chafe on the Spectra pennants by which the nylon snubbers were attached to our Sampson post was negligable.

A couple of weather resources were valuable. First was the Google Crisis web page with a variety of links. There were two helpful Ipad Apps: Buoy Data and Hurricane Watch. With the former we kept track of wind speed and direction in the path of the storm system.

During Irene’s approach we experimented with differing boom positions to reduce sailing back and forth. Having them out, creating drag, may have been better than having them streamlined. But the evidence is not clear. Up through 35 knots  of wind there was very little shearing. Higher wind speeds did induce sailing, occasionally; plus or minus 30 degrees. The stretchiness of the snubbers may have exacerbated this.

When we initially calculated the amount of chain to deploy we neglected to include an allowance for storm surge. To water depth remember to add height of the bow roller, tidal range, and storm surge. We had plenty of scope to cover the three- foot (90cm) surge. But in another situation this overlooked item might be more serious.

A final comment, this on endurance. Between the adrenalin rush of dealing with adverse weather, the need to constantly check the weather and boat, and the noise of a tropical storm, sleep is occasionally hard to come by. Lack of sleep leads to poor decision making, or simply the inability to function, and is to be guarded against.

In our own case the situation was well in hand, we had a good anchorage almost to ourselves, and a stout boat that had she been driven ashore would have suffered little. Yet we were all more than just tired by last night.  As evidence we offer the photo above of dinner. Three grilled cheeses and a grilled peanut butter and jelly sandwich for the four of us.

Conditions having returned (for now) to benign.  We have had time to try our hand at photographing a few of the locals, a collection of which you will find below. Shortly we shall check the engine room and head towards the Chesapeake.