Orrible urricanes

[stevesales]

Just got back after picking up a bargain 39 foot ketch (due to USD) in St Croix (STX) and driving it over to St Martin (STM) courtesy of one day's westerly wind in a mind boggling plume of noctilucent plankton.
If its of any use I got SSR for the boat, paid 70 dollars extra to LIAT the airline for a return ticket from STM to STX so no awkward questions at the airport, just the bloody officious US immigration process we all know and love. Boat customs at STX were delightful and ended up filling in the exit clearance forms for me, I went to French side of STM and spent 10 seconds getting customs clearance while the Gendarmes took the micky over UK's rugger disasters then cleared into Dutch side with no probs. with the French paperwork.
No-one in any of the Customs was in any way difficult, indeed it was almost too easy.
I now have to make a decision re hurricanes. The current vogue is to sail to Venezuala, about 4 days sailing but I can't say I'm too keen on this, even though a daunting quantity of small arms are available at reasonable prices at Carib' Arms with no apparent restrictions but an AK47 makes such a mess of the teak when fired through the hatch at someone stealing the hubcaps and hurts the ears to boot.
One possibility is to play Hurricane Roulette and just wait + see, the off season in STM is, apparentlly, great fun.

Anybody have any opinions ? Stupid question.....

Re another post some time ago, the US authorities have no objection to giving me a radio license even though I don't live there, all they want is a US address which can be a friend who will pass on correspondence. I was completely open with my request so I am convinced this is legal. In any event no-one in the Caribbean cares less. Lovely place once you get away from the USVI which are not nice. At all.

 

[Stingo]

Have you considered Trinidad & Tobago? Even Grenda because despite being clobbered last year, it was the first time since 1963 so they're not due another hiding until 2060 or so.

As for the radio license, I've heard the same and while you're about it, you could even end up with an HF/SSB/SW whatever licence

 

[CharlesM]

Steve

I have just got a boat in St. Martin. My current plan is to leave it in a trench over the hurricane season. This may change of course after I have seen the trench. If it is pretty bullet proof then I will leave it there though.

May cost a lot, but not sure about how secure trinidad may be - Grenada is out and look how it got clobered last time.

I am off to St. martin on 23 March. Keep a look out for a 43'ketch (Hartley Fijian) called Serendipity. If you see us drop by for a drink.

Later
Charles

 

[DaveNTL]

or how about going to new england / canada for summer and back to the caribbean when the hurricanes have gone?

thats what we're going to try this year /forums/images/graemlins/cool.gif

 

[Sea Devil]

Trinidad is really the best place in the Caribbean for the hurricane season - even trenches will have the problem that if the island takes a direct hit the infrastructor will suffer terribly - looters everywhere and cranes out of action so the question will become how do you get the boat out of the trench and the folks now living in it out of the boat -

Tempting providence but Trinidad and chagararamas bay have more facilities than anywhere south of Lauderdale and have a similar hurricane hit rate as the solent.....

Venezuala is really good news - Margarita has everything a holiday island should have and I had a marvelous time in Puerto de la Cruz - good boat yards and marinas, good shopping big security fences et al - well worth a visit - Can go by bus towards Angel Falls from there - seee my video

 

[CharlesM]

Michael

So disregarding the looting and such, how bullet proof is a trench as regards hurricane protection?

Apparantly St. Martin is in the hurricane habit, and therefore most if not everything is built with hurricanes in mind. I would anticipate the infrastructure to be a lot more intact after a direct hit than Grenada was. This may be nieve (SP?) on my part but...

later
Charles

 

[Sea Devil]

Charles hi,

It is all opinion of course - I spent some time in St Martin... Really do not think it has had a direct full hit.... Think about Florida - There is a big difference with a 'glancing blow' as opposed to a full blow - George town in Grenada is more solid than the buildings in St Martin and look what happened there... Mind you it may not happen for years - decades but one day it probably will.

I am not reccomending Grenada (although the insurance companies thought it was safe!) I am saying that Trinidad is so far south as to be outside the probable zone of distruction of any normal hurricane (don't forget there have been a couple hitting the UK in recent years - all those oak trees..)

Chagaramas bay in Trinidad is the centre of sailing and the accepted hurricane season base. The facilities are excellent and the social life very good and lots going on amongst the boats.. Before you dig your hole I would have a quick look at Chagaramas - lots of web sites Peakes, Powerboats, Chagaramas bay marine organisation.. Do not have to take the masts out - excellent security in locke pounds with hungry dogs running round them.....

Not too far to sail down to and if you don't fancy it then sail back - some great islands and places to see and easy day sails except Grenada to Trinidad which is a day night day...

Have a look on the internet first...

just to add - holes in the ground are 100% if the masts are down and nothing falls on top of the boat - and the looters et al - the problem is the local facilities after a bad hurricane hit - can you get your boat out of its hole and into the water???

 

[stevesales]

Thanks to all for the useful info.