My boat survived Irma in St Maarten

[Otia]

An interesting image here from the US Navy showing Irma's center line track, in yellow. Irma tracked directly over my s/v Otia. I mean bull's eye over it!

[SecondBase]

Originally Posted by Otia

An interesting image here from the US Navy showing Irma's center line track, in yellow. Irma tracked directly over my s/v Otia. I mean bull's eye over it!

That's a tight little hole you were in !! I bet that helped a lot.

Is the picture oriented north-up?

How did the winds clock within the picture?

(Starting position, ending position, W max)

[Otia]

Originally Posted by SecondBase

That's a tight little hole you were in !! I bet that helped a lot.

Is the picture oriented north-up?

How did the winds clock within the picture?

(Starting position, ending position, W max)

North up yes
I don't know specifically how strong were the winds there. They were reported around this area (Cupecoy) at up to 350 kph (217 mph) sustained.
The surrounding buildings are a mixed blessing, they provide some shelter but they also can amplify winds as they swirl in the basin.
direction of the winds: its a hurricane, so you get them from all directions when the eye tracks over you.

In my opinion it is the best location in sxm. I used to bring my s/v to Grenada every hurricane season until I got this spot where I feel confident enough to leave my boat in the water through the hurricane season. Sxm is easily accessible from the east coast (I'm from Montreal). These past 3 years I didn't have the time to take the whole winter off - I used to sail 4 months from February to May. Sxm allowed me to go there frequently for smaller trips. This summer I sailed in July and August.

But there was the hurricane issue, it is risky compared to Grenada. When I found this relatively new complex, in the Lagoon, in a little hole with concrete docks, I felt I could leave my s/v there.

The problem with this spot is that you have to go through 2 bridges to get out to the ocean (my s/v draws too deep to exit from the French side). Many people would not consider this spot for that reason. The other consideration is that this is not a marina per see, it is a condo complex with docks owned privately, so you have to find owners willing to rent you their slip.

[SecondBase]

You clearly began defending your s/v months & months before the storm.

Congrats on your wise choices !!

[hpeer]

Originally Posted by Iaangus

Luck happens when preparation meets opportunity.

I've never heard this put so succinctly! Very nice. Very nice indeed.

[SofiaB]

Congrats on her survival. Agree about build quality with a Bavaria. I own a 2016 Bavaria Vision 46 which I chose after a close and lenghly inspection before making my decision. In my opinion a step above the competition. Loved the layout and simplicity. After 2 seasons and a recent trip over 1000 miles to Georgisn Bay am still really happy with her. Shame Bavaria USA is gone snd my impression of their new dealer is not good. But the boat makes up for the lack of support from Germany. Again, congrats.

[Otia]

Originally Posted by SofiaB

Shame Bavaria USA is gone snd my impression of their new dealer is not good. But the boat makes up for the lack of support from Germany. Again, congrats.

For service, I contact Bavaria directly to get part numbers. Then I go through Island Waterworld in St Maarten to purchase parts. Island Waterworld in St Maarten has the best service I have ever experienced (I do not own any interest in this business lol)

[michaeltorras]

Originally Posted by Otia

An interesting image here from the US Navy showing Irma's center line track, in yellow. Irma tracked directly over my s/v Otia. I mean bull's eye over it!

Wow, that's incredible. You were very lucky.

Were all of your neighboring boats as lucky as you were?

[Otia]

Originally Posted by BwkLndingMarina

Wow, that's incredible. You were very lucky.

Were all of your neighboring boats as lucky as you were?

As one wrote in a prior post in this thread, luck happens when preparation meets opportunity :/ My immediate neighbors, to the right and to the left survived, though they suffered more damage. If you look carefully in the background of the pic I posted with the first post, you'll see a 65ft deep sea fishing yacht (I think a Hatteras) sunken.

There's a part of luck I have to admit. But I had prepared my boat to go to war.