'Reef the Geraniums!'

[zoidberg]

Given our revered Met Office has issues a 'Storm Darragh' Red Warning for yotties, commuters and occasional gardeners, valid tomorrow....

....and predicts windy conditions along the M4 ( for example ) to be Storm Force or Violent Force, noting the main rain belt has already arrived in the West Country, and travellers are advised not to....

Are there any measures you really ought to have taken to secure your boat and its bits ( and your neighbours' ) - but didn't?

 

[chris-s]

Well, in the blow we had a week or so back a tree came down in the boat yard taking out the mast on one boat which crashed onto its neighbour adjacent to me. So, I’m hoping the next tree along is a bit more sturdy, tho it doesn’t look much better tbh.

 

[Wansworth]

At least it’s a proper name!

 

[blush2]

At this point I am glad I no longer have a boat

The riblet has been turfed out of the garage to make space for a Lotus Elan. I think it is fairly safe and sheltered otherwise it will be in a close relationship with my

 

[Mister E]

We are in a red warning area and got the government message.
It is starting to blow a bit now but not to bad.
Just waiting for the main event, not sure how the boat will cope tomorrow.

 

[veshengro]

" and got the government message."

That's the second reference to Government message I've seen/heard. Is that BBC weather warnings, or did I miss out on a personal message from the No: 10 Disneyland ?

 

[Mister E]

the government message was sent to phones. If you are not in the area with the red danger to life warning you wouldn't have got it.

 

[ProDave]

the government message was sent to phones. If you are not in the area with the red danger to life warning you wouldn't have got it.

Or not got a modern enough phone.

 

[veshengro]

I am just about at ground Zero here in SW Wales, but the 'phone bit makes sense as HMGov no longer have the steam powered technology necessary to contact my telephone...even if I knew where it was.....

 

[KevinV]

Just had it through - all battens are hatched down and checking lines moored

 

[sarabande]

Ordered to shut the hydro electric down bcs of debris risk. Thank you National Grid. An Impressive red warning with clear instructions and 4 v loud klaxon sounds ( clever stuff) from Met office.

Chain saw sharpened. Venison roast ready in casserole. Enough for about 10 sandwiches if the power is iff tomorrow.

I do hope Bilbo's trees dont. get blown down.

 

[KevinV]

Chain saw sharpened.

Ditto! Trailer at the ready too

 

[Wansworth]

Ditto! Trailer at the ready too

Your meant to stay indoors under the stairs!

 

[KevinV]

Your meant to stay indoors under the stairs!

I live in the countryside - we get to heroically keep the roads open - entirely for our vulnerable /less able neighbours' benefit of course. It's a terrible bother having to find space on the woodpile for the debris

 

[chris-s]

Cover still there and now sign of any tree appearances..

 

[veshengro]

4 x 30 second power cuts in last half hour. It's like living in a Lighthouse.

 

[Boathook]

My boat is ashore but if on the mooring I would be ok.

It's the spring tides combined with flooding that slightly worried me plus other boats breaking adrift.

 

[zoidberg]

I do hope Bilbo's trees dont. get blown down.

You 'n me both....

 

[William_H]

Best wishes from Oz for my UK boating friends. Hope you all come through with minimum damage.
Meanwhile ol'will is recovering from a wild sail (race) last evening. Should have stayed home but in the end all ok. Winds were 26 knots average 28 knot gusts according to records. I put in 2 reefs and smallest jib (no 4) and set out with 4 other boats. Me and 2 crew. Now the course is set to run up and down the river outside the club house for what turned out to be 1.5 hours.
So in the end one 22fter pulled out another 30 fter pulled out and a 35 fter and another 30 fter finished along with my little 21 ft trailer sailer. The course went past my mooring twice and first pass I suggested calling it a bad job and going home. Crew revolted so we persevered.
Course involves a lot of tacking and the little boat just did not like tacking. Tended to slow down too much in irons. Backing the jib left us way off course and then knocked over before getting under way again.
In the end all OK and pleasing to be able to race successfully in horrible conditions. Needless to say we won the division being the only daft ones to go out.
The madness of sailing .......... ol'will

 

[ANDY_W]

The government warning states that " it is not safe to drive in these conditions ".

Does that suggest that if, for whatever reason, someone were to drive their car and it was damaged as a result of
the storm, a insurance claim would be unsuccessful, having acted against official advice?