Irma, the outlook

[gaucho]

Irma is huge. Irma will probably take a very high toll in Florida. It will surely destroy so many boats.

Im sad, as I finish prepping my sailboat in Fort Pierce, FL, I try to think positive and wander in my mind how it could go further west, or further east. I have hopes, otherwise these last two days of very hard work prepping the boat are a waste. So I want to keep a positive outlook.

The people; oh my god the people. There's like a good vibe around. Im lucky the liveaboard community is as nice as it is. Or maybe as ****ed up as it is. In any case, I feel right at home. The outlook is grim, in particular if you have a boat. This may re-write how insurance handles hurricane loses.

Im saddened, my heart aches already. I hope something almost magical happens and it turns out to be a scare. That's where my energy is (if you believe in that stuff, or just think of praying if you believe the other stuToff, it's all the same to me). Tomorrow I will finish my prep, and kiss my boat. I spend yesterday a beautiful night at the marina, sleeping on my boat. Today I had to check in a hotel, since inside it's too full of stuff (starting with the fully battened mainsail).

Im hopeful. Im inspired by Floridians and the liveaboard community. I will give a nice hug to my boat, and hope to see it again. It pisses me off how people are talking about charters in St Martin, or buying totaled sailboats after a hurricane. **** you people. Let us mourn before you vultures start landing. Armchair sailors. The beauty of it all is for us, who have experienced the beauty of boat ownership.

Stay safe.

[maxingout]

My catamaran is on the hard in the haul out yard in Fort Pierce. Over the years there have been quite a few hurricanes blow by on the east and west coast of Florida, and Fort Pierce has done well for the past ten years. Fort Pierce has a small inlet which will limit the amount of storm surge at Harbourtown Marina. The biggest risk will be the wind.

By the time you feel the effects of the hurricane it will likely have been downgraded, and if the eye misses Fort Pierce, you could do very well. I would rather be in Fort Pierce than farther north up the coast or down in the Miami and Fort Lauderdale areas.

In Fort Pierce I am looking for wind without storm surge. Hoping for the best for you. If I have to be on the east coast of Florida, Fort Pierce is my first choice.

[james247]

The threat of cyclone in Northern Australia is a real and regular threat. You will find the marinas abandoned and a cooperative troop of commercial and recreational boaters woven into inlets filled with mangroves. We do not loose boats or lives but shelter in nature with the crocs mozzies and midgies until the danger passes. If these natural hide out have been replaced by canals and housing then there is "nowhere to hide and nowhere to run to"

[GordMay]

Greetings and welcome aboard the CF, James.

[neilpride]

I have a UK female skipper friend in sxm who loose the boat in the boatyard and she have another one, a beneteau 50 in the hard in Florida, i mean i can understand the frustation to see one of your yacht destroyed in sxm and see how this bitch is going to FL to maybe wreck the other one. Cant believe this crap of weather.....

[zeehag]

outlook for irma depends on location. solely location. bleak for those directly under eye until it weakens to levels of reasonability or ts. it will beat the helloutta fla first. looks like all of fla. best of luck to those under this one . i hope my friends in so fla in mangroves come out unscathed, but it is looking bleak so far. i hope all laid in a supply of depends, as it could get scary

[poiu]

Originally Posted by neilpride

I have a UK female skipper friend in sxm who loose the boat in the boatyard and she have another one, a beneteau 50 in the hard in Florida, i mean i can understand the frustation to see one of your yacht destroyed in sxm and see how this bitch is going to FL to maybe wreck the other one. Cant believe this crap of weather.....

I hope your business and property and people in SXM are ok. What a mess.

[atoll]

Originally Posted by neilpride

I have a UK female skipper friend in sxm who loose the boat in the boatyard and she have another one, a beneteau 50 in the hard in Florida, i mean i can understand the frustation to see one of your yacht destroyed in sxm and see how this bitch is going to FL to maybe wreck the other one. Cant believe this crap of weather.....

yesterday you asked about damage in sxm you can use this link for the SXM group

https://www.facebook.com/groups/1664...04898759646073

Latest update that I got from the awesome folks who keep pitching in their updates from family:
#sxmstaysafe
Beacon Hill: No info as yet
Belair: Homes seem to be OK
Betty’s Estate: People OK. Roofs gone. Looting taking place.
Cole Bay: Hit hard. Very heavy damage. Some people getting connection to family some not.
Trees uprooted. Roofs blown off. Zinc everywhere. Poles down
Large Harley Davidson building destroyed.
Cul de Sac: No news yet.
Dutch Quarter: Not good apparently. Buildings collapsed?
Roofs are gone, everyone so far is safe
Madame Estate: People OK. Roofs gone.
Marigot: Sever flooding. Many many roofs gone.
Mary’s Fancy: People OK no news on damage
Middle Region: Heavy Damage
Orange Grove: Heavy Damage
Pelican A Mess
Billy Folly Area:Most roofs gone. Very few roofs survived.
Point Blanche: Heard from 2 homes. Roofs gone. People OK
Inaccessible due to flooding.
Reports of containers from the Harbor floating in the bay
Puerto Cupecoy: No News
Saunders: People OK. Some say damage OK some say many roofs gone
St. John’s Estate: Seems to be OK. Apparently there’s a local watsapp group that’s active there.
Simpson Bay: Heavy Damage. Lots of flooding right now. Houses wrecked.
Town: Very heavy damage.