Tropical storm Brett

[geem]

Watching the approach of the storm this evening. We are in Antigua with 2 anchors set as the storm approaches. We are on the fringe with gusts in the 30kts range. Those to the South are in for 40 to 50kts. I saw photos of the anchorages in Le Marin, Martinique, packed with yachts. Glad we are North.

 

[Wansworth]

Watching the approach of the storm this evening. We are in Antigua with 2 anchors set as the storm approaches. We are on the fringe with gusts in the 30kts range. Those to the South are in for 40 to 50kts. I saw photos of the anchorages in Le Marin, Martinique, packed with yachts. Glad we are North.View attachment 158605

Keep safe…….what anchours

 

[geem]

Keep safe…….what anchours

30kg Spade on main anchor chain plus a Fortress FX55 on chain and 3/4" nylon braid on braid. The Fortress is huge. I dug it in by hand in 4 foot deep water. Anchors set in a Y. Just two boats here so no draggers

 

[john_morris_uk]

We’ve got friends who are on a mooring buoy in Bequia. Not too crowded.

However I guess there’s a reason why there aren’t many boars as far N as Geem in this season. I was in Antigua when a Hurricane hit. I was very glad to secure the boat as best as possible (bow with multiple lines into the mangrove and two anchors out astern) and retire at to a stone built hotel room.

 

[geem]

We’ve got friends who are on a mooring buoy in Bequia. Not too crowded.

However I guess there’s a reason why there aren’t many boars as far N as Geem in this season. I was in Antigua when a Hurricane hit. I was very glad to secure the boat as best as possible (bow with multiple lines into the mangrove and two anchors out astern) and retire at to a stone built hotel room.

We have friends here who have spent the last 8 years in the Caribbean in hurricane season. They don't head south until July. The reason being that storms like Brett are common this time of year. They will go through the south of the island chain. August and September they head down to Grenada., We will be doing the same. The beauty of being here is there are no boats to drag on to us. We didn't even get 30kts here

 

[john_morris_uk]

We have friends here who have spent the last 8 years in the Caribbean in hurricane season. They don't head south until July. The reason being that storms like Brett are common this time of year. They will go through the south of the island chain. August and September they head down to Grenada., We will be doing the same. The beauty of being here is there are no boats to drag on to us. We didn't even get 30kts here

If only tropical storms were that predictable…

We all make our own choices in these things.

This is only the third time I’ve been sailing in the Caribbean so I just stick with expert advice.

 

[geem]

If only tropical storms were tgat predictable…

We all make our own choices in these things.

This is only the third time I’ve been sailing in the Caribbean so I just stick with expert advice.

Yep, it's all a gamble. Ivan decimated Grenada in 2005. We saw it shortly after. I don't want to be part of that

 

[john_morris_uk]

Yep, it's all a gamble. Ivan decimated Grenada in 2005. We saw it shortly after. I don't want to be part of that

I play the odds. Ivan was a very extreme event. The more northern islands get hit regularly. Grenada gets his very rarely.

 

[geem]

I play the odds. Ivan was a very extreme event. The more northern islands get hit regularly. Grenada gets his very rarely.

The problem is that it's so full of boats if it's going to be hit you need to leave. Far too many boats at anchor.
All hurricanes are extreme.

 

[john_morris_uk]

The problem is that it's so full of boats if it's going to be hit you need to leave. Far too many boats at anchor.
All hurricanes are extreme.

I’m not sure I agree with all hurricanes are extreme. Some are extremely extreme. The difference between a Cat 2 and a Cat 5 is significant. Wind power/force goes up with the square of wind speed IIRC.

Fortunately we’re laid up ashore in Grenada in what is hopefully a reasonably sheltered valley a couple of hundred metres inland. Props chained together and boat tied down to ground anchors all round.

No crowds where we are.

 

[geem]

I’m not sure I agree with all hurricanes are extreme. Some are extremely extreme. The difference between a Cat 2 and a Cat 5 is significant. Wind power/force goes up with the square of wind speed IIRC.

Fortunately we’re laid up ashore in Grenada in what is hopefully a reasonably sheltered valley a couple of hundred metres inland. Props chained together and boat tied down to ground anchors all round.

No crowds where we are.

I saw the devastation at all the boatyards in Grenada, 2005. I am guessing you are in Grenada Marine.
I don't think they have learnt anything. They still dont use cradles. The ground is gravel not concrete. The heavy rain and wind combined, causes most of the problems. The ground turns to an aquifer due to saturation and vibration from the resonating masts. The props walk free from the boat or simply sink in. We saw many boats with triangular holes in their side where the props punched through. Once one boat goes over, the domino effect ensures they are all damaged as they pack them so closely.
I really hope you dont get hit.
We won't leave our boat ashore there having seen how it plays out. In my opinion you are way better off in the ABC islands.

 

[Bajansailor]

When Irma and Maria (both Cat 5 hurricanes) caused utter devastation in the islands between Dominica and Puerto Rico in 2017, hundreds of boats and yachts were complete write offs.
Hurricane Irma - Wikipedia
Hurricane Maria - Wikipedia
It was utter carnage amongst the boats that were packed into a 'secure' hurricane hole (Paraquita Bay) in Tortola.
https://www.passagemaker.com/lifestyle/irma-tortola
I saw one photo of a big catamaran upside down on the roof of a building in Tortola.....
Most of these vessels were charter boats, but some boats in other hurricane holes were liveaboard yachts, who found out too late that in a Cat 5 storm, a hurricane hole is definitely not secure.
The best option in circumstances like this (if a Cat 5 storm is bearing down on you) is probably to run if able - boats that ran 100 miles south of Irma and Maria, and then just hove to, were fine.
My pal Dave was here on his cat 2 years ago when Elsa was approaching us - she was 'only' a Cat 1, but we still had hurricane force winds, and our power was off for a week afterwards. Dave sailed south about 40 or 50 miles, and hove to there until Elsa had passed. She passed south of us, so the island didn't have any westerlys thankfully - if we did, there would have been a lot more boat carnage, as many boats were left on moorings on the west coast. A few boats went off on walkabout, and were later recovered off St Lucia.....
With Ivan, all the forecasts were saying that he would stay north - another pal Nick on an S & S 34 was in St Lucia, and headed south to Grenada where he tucked up in a bay on the south coast when Ivan was forecast to head for St Lucia, but then Ivan decided to alter course for Grenada instead..... thankfully the S & S 34 survived, but she needed a lot of rebuilding work. Nick had totally rebuilt her 10 years previously in Antigua, and then taken her around the world, only to be then clobbered by Ivan in Grenada.
Hurricane Ivan - Wikipedia

 

[Bajansailor]

30kg Spade on main anchor chain plus a Fortress FX55 on chain and 3/4" nylon braid on braid. The Fortress is huge. I dug it in by hand in 4 foot deep water. Anchors set in a Y. Just two boats here so no draggers

Which bay are (were) you anchored in please?

 

[AndrewB]

Yep, it's all a gamble. Ivan decimated Grenada in 2005. We saw it shortly after. I don't want to be part of that

Actually 2004. We were intending to go that way but on learning the news headed for Brazil instead. By 2006 when we arrived, Grenada had made a good recovery, though there were still wrecks in Prickly Bay.

 

[Roberto]

A catamaran has sunk not far from Martinique, the crew went into their liferaft; the French MRCC said conditions were too harsh to give immediate assistance (they talk about 10m waves), the people were rescued by helicopter a few hours later.

https://twitter.com/x/status/1672207365590986755

"Cruisers rumours", apparently the catamaran was finishing its transatlantic and had little or no news of the cyclone.

 

[Mudisox]

Just finished reading "In Hazard" by Richard Hughes.

 

[geem]

Actually 2004. We were intending to go that way but on learning the news headed for Brazil instead. By 2006 when we arrived, Grenada had made a good recovery, though there were still wrecks in Prickly Bay.

Yes, it was Sept 2004. We arrived Jan 2005. What a mess.

 

[davethedog]

Here in Grenada, Prickly Bay, we saw 30kt very briefly but a lot of rain... So think the decision to come here and use it as a "base" is a good one.... Frantically touching wood in the aft cabin as I type this!

 

[geem]

Here in Grenada, Prickly Bay, we saw 30kt very briefly but a lot of rain... So think the decision to come here and use it as a "base" is a good one.... Frantically touching wood in the aft cabin as I type this!

If you are going to get a direct hit, run for Trini. Prickly Bay offers no protection even in moderate winds.

 

[capnsensible]

June too soon, July stand by.

Trini is interesting, best not go to Port of Spain after dusk....