Avoiding Hurricanes - Advice, Anyone ?

[Velma]

So here is another question for all your experienced sailors out there:

So I sail from November to May in the Caribbean, then I want to avoid hurricanes so where do I go? How do you avoid them? Do you up and leave the Caribbean and go north? What do you do with your sail boat? Just one of the concerns I have before we make the leap, I know people deal with this all the time but I want some education so if you please?

Enjoying all of the experience of others out there, cheers to the day I can join you!

Velma

[boatman61]

1/ Head south to Trinidad and the islands 'off the track..'
2/ Head Ntheast for the Azores..
3/ Join the 'Geese' and head Nth till your out of range..
4/ Get her lifted out de-masted and stored in a hole... not 100% but beats other options.
5/ Set up a good anchor web and leave her in a lagoon
6/ Stay afloat and dodge em as they come...

[Palarran]

Hello Velma. Try entering the key words "caribbean hurricane plan" in the custom CF search. There are about 10 threads with this exact topic and many posts. This last year I kept my boat in the zone in a recognized hurricane hole. I have a person monitor the boat. He prepared it for Hurricane Earl this year and we had no problems. But, if a cat 3 hits, who knows. That's what insurance is for. It must be a fairly safe decision as my insurance company covers the boat in this harbor.

[Velma]

I actually did do a search if CF but didn't come up with much so that's why I've asked. Its always good to get others opinions when it comes to the unknow for someone like me. Great advice.
Thanks again for all the support everyone,
Velma

[Bash]

Originally Posted by Velma

I actually did do a search if CF but didn't come up with much so that's why I've asked. Its always good to get others opinions when it comes to the unknow for someone like me. Great advice.
Thanks again for all the support everyone,
Velma

http://www.cruisersforum.com/forums/...son-45817.html

[GordMay]

See the “Mariner’s Guide For Hurricane Awareness In The North Atlantic Basin”

Here ➥ http://www.nhc.noaa.gov/HAW2/pdf/marinersguide.pdf

[kenny chaos]

Here's a video from a boater, of Hurricane Thomas which wiped out St. Lucia the end of October;

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C7eTB0Y5NII

[zoombats]

Trinidad is a great place to haul out and stay on the hard if you plan to return to Alberta for work or summer or both. There is a lot of yard space and the flights out of Trinidad are common. Air Canada daily including a red eye Toronto to Trini for a 6:00 arrival.

[Palarran]

That's a really good video. I wonder why so few boats removed their roller furling jibs. It seems like an hour task would be worth the safety. My boat had all rigging removed. We pulled all the lines off the mast except the topping lift, the sail came out of the stack pack and into the cabin, anything that could become airborne was removed. In addition I had a total of 14 lines spider-webed to the dock, all with chain attachments and chafe guard. Either I was overkill or St. Lucia was lucky. But, again, that was a good video.

[kenny chaos]

The first thing you see in that video is a shot of the sky which sets off alarms. I bet an old dirt farmer shares some weather knowledge with a few real cruisers.