Blow Blew

Ocracoke Coffe Company and Java Books
No LL

Yesterday morning I wrote that the gale was less than forecast. Well, after lunch it picked up to more than forecast. I clocked the winds up to 49 knots (56 mph, 25 meters/second). That's plenty of wind. There were only 4 boats anchored out in the harbor. We could see two of them trying to reset their anchors. It made me very glad that we were at the dock rather than at anchor.

Fortunately, I had placed us on the dock so that the wind blew us away from the dock rather than on the dock. One of our three big fenders exploded while tied up to the wall at Blackbead sailing club. I'm going to have to switch brands of fenders. That is the second time we had a fender explode on us. On of the brands has a lifetime guarantee. I'll buy that one.

Tied up next to us was the local para sail boat. There was no para sailing yesterday. One could imagine the would be para sailor being lifted to orbit in that wind. After lunch, the ferries also stopped operating for the day. It must be really bad for that to happen. You can see Tarwathie and the para sail boat and the stranded ferry all in this picture.


During the blow, I could see our 5/8 inch dock line all stretching like crazy. I hurried to put on chaffing gear to prevent damage where they feed through the hawse holes. Then the chaffing gear kept creeping up the rope until it didn't protect any more. I sifted through my knowledge of sailing lore from books I read, and recalled a way to secure the chaffing gear with twine so that it didn't creep. It worked.

Actually I shouldn't whine about 49 knots at all. Our friends who go to Georgetown, Exumas, Bahamas all report that 50 knot blows pass through Georgetown almost once per week in the winter. They have lots of experience of sitting out at anchor in exposed places with 50 knot winds. Must be that we're just too soft.

This morning, the winds are down to 20 knots again. Probably tomorrow we'll leave for Manteo.