Quote:
Originally Posted by Doodles
Some of you macho types can poo poo the projections and warnings but the tropical storm wind fields are suppose to be huge and we are well within them. I'm preparing for the worse and will be very happy if we're wrong.
Don't say they didn't warn you!
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As predicted, Sandy has recently been upgraded back up to
hurricane status.
Here's one injury from Sandy that won't be recorded in the statistics. Yesterday I was stepping off my boat in gusty north winds. My boat is on the south side of the finger pier. An unexpected gust hit the side of my boat just as I stepped off, and I barely made contact with the
dock before my foot slipped into thin air. Fortunately I had a good grip on a handhold on the
dock and a line on my boat. I ended up hanging over the side of the boat holding on to those things, with one leg lying across the
deck and one dangling in the
water.
Fortunately a couple of people heard my shouts of help. They got the breast line under one foot so I could push myself up, and with help I was able to park my bottom on the finger dock. But I dangled for a while first.
I was very lucky. I could have hit my
head on the finger dock and slipped into the
water without anyone ever knowing it. How often have I told people that getting on and off is the most dangerous part and to focus only on what you are doing, but I was distracted by the demands of moving and didn't follow my own advice. If I had been focused on what I was doing, I would have loosened my starboard bow lines so the bow could move closer to the dock. I've done that many times before in a strong north wind, but not yesterday.
I have a sprained ankle and a lot of pulled, sore muscles (and a supply of muscle relaxants) and a few bruises -- much better off than Newt! -- and a valuable reminder about what I already knew.
I'm too stiff and sore today to attempt getting off the boat but this is small potatoes. I was lucky. Be careful out there!