Hurricane Advice for Eleuthera, Bahamas

[theodyssey]

hi all.

there are 1001 articles written and to be read on this subject, but you all have helped me out more than any of them so far, so thought I'd turn to you first:

slight change of a hurricane coming in/around/through the Caribbean/Bahamas in the next 10 days.

I'm in a 31' sailboat, currently anchored in Governors Harbour.

a few primary questions:

1. Governors Harbour or Hatchet Bay? I spent time in Hatchet and it is indeed safe, but there are other boats on moorings and it's tight in there. Gov's is wide open, slight reprieve from the "hills", and I'm the only one here. also, it's huge.

2. things to prepare: stern line or secondary bow line? I'm going to remove the bimini if/once it gets close, but anything else? main and head are secured.

3. dumb question to some, but thought it worth asking: with the harbor being wide open, thoughts on staying aboard? it's shallow, with lots of room to move, should something come off. I'll have my important things already stored on-land, but wanted some advice as to staying on her [for as long as possible. obviously, if it gets up to a Cat 03 as they're saying, I wouldn't].

4. any other advice? currently researching how most boats sink, but will ask here as well. hitting other boats? with it being sand bottom here [mostly], wouldn't running aground be a small thing?

again, a lot of these might seem absurd and if so, feel free to correct me. new to this whole thing, really.

many thanks.

Odyssey

[the_alpine]

Governors is not very protected from the west. Hatchet is great but all the other boats are the risk in there.

Further north, Royal Island is a possibility but I'm sure south swell may sneak in there and cause some rolling. Spanish wells may also be an option depending on your draft.


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[bvander]

holding in Governers is not great, plus pretty exposed.
Holding about the same in Hatchet, but much better protection.
Waderick Wells?
Spanish Wells?

Prep,remove all things that add windage, sales,canvas,netting.
prep secondary anchor, deploy if you feel necessary. Lots of good chaffe protection on bridle/snubber. Tie on a back up snubber.

[the_alpine]

Or get the hell out of dodge. Maybe try to sail west. It's still far out, but this is not a good track for you




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[puffcard]

Governors Harbour has no protection from the west, got caught there in a bad westerly squall and the holding is some of the worst. Dragging in 6ft waves is so much fun, went behind Levy Island and snag a rock held but bent the anchor. Royal Island or Hatchet Bay only options. Don't trust the moorings in Hatchet, saw one break loose and it didn't even have a boat on it. Holding is better in the North side. Forget Rock Sound, but might give Cape Eleuthera a try if I couldn't get out of town, or it wasn't a direct hit. Long and Cat Island got crushed last year.

[four winds]

Sure running aground in sand is no big deal usuually.

Except when the water recedes and you find your boat is a couple dozen yards up on dry land. That sucks.

[GordMay]

Eleuthera is no place for a cruiser to weather a storm. Governor's Harbour is among the worst places to anchor in sprightly conditions. The harbour has a few inches of sand, over coral, so it's your chain the holds you - not the anchor (except it's deadweight).

For instance ➥ http://www.cruisersforum.com/forums/...t-now-203.html

[theodyssey]

can't thank everyone enough - this is information I need.

while it's too early to predict, it looks like - as the_alpine showed, it has the high possibility of bearing down right on me here in Eleuthera, so am going to high tail it to the Exumas on Tuesday morning, weather permitting.

will probably only get within striking distance of Shroud Cay [aprox area], so if anyone knows of a decent place to hide, I'm all ears. looks like if the storm goes as predicted, it'll brush Exumas, but not pound like it might here.

and good to know about Gov Harbour/Hatchet Bay. doesn't sound like any places I want to be near.

again, thank you.

[and GordMay - the Do it NOW post was really good, insightful and terrifying. appreciate you passing it on, though.]

[gunkylump]

Originally Posted by theodyssey

can't thank everyone enough - this is information I need.

while it's too early to predict, it looks like - as the_alpine showed, it has the high possibility of bearing down right on me here in Eleuthera, so am going to high tail it to the Exumas on Tuesday morning, weather permitting.

will probably only get within striking distance of Shroud Cay [aprox area], so if anyone knows of a decent place to hide, I'm all ears. looks like if the storm goes as predicted, it'll brush Exumas, but not pound like it might here.

and good to know about Gov Harbour/Hatchet Bay. doesn't sound like any places I want to be near.

again, thank you.

[and GordMay - the Do it NOW post was really good, insightful and terrifying. appreciate you passing it on, though.]

Cave Cay is where I would be headed, great all round protection

[Virginia Lee]

Rock Sound if you can't get out of the way. Plenty of room, sandy shores if you do drag ashore, good holding bottom, nearly 360 protection.

[theodyssey]

tried to 'add comment to 'thanks' option, but am not seeing it here.

would you aim for North Exumas? or down to Rock Sound?

[Dulcesuenos]

Originally Posted by theodyssey

tried to 'add comment to 'thanks' option, but am not seeing it here.

would you aim for North Exumas? or down to Rock Sound?

Rock sound holding is oK further out , near shore it's so so, but further out there's a lot of fetch so it can get nasty in there unless you move before wind veers, . Might shoot the marina at cave key an email, see if they have room. What is your draft? Cave cay has a bar in front thats maybe 4.5' ish? Normans cay has great holding and decent protection still could. Have so e waves from fetch but not as bad as rock sound. Normans does have a tricky entrance but 5' can do it with good tide. Gets much deeper inside. Not sure if the marina at highborn allows boats in a hurricane. . If you can get to George Town lots of spots there including hurricane holes 1,2,3. If you make a reservation.
We found holding and protection great in royal harbor by the way.

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[theodyssey]

okay, so it looks like Norman's Cay might be my best option?

I draw 4', so should be able to squeeze in near tide.

[bvander]

I would opt for Waderick Wells mooring. A few boats have ridden out a hurricane there. Call park first make sure you can grab a ball.

[Captain Bill]

Are you guys talking about Fiona or the next tropical wave? The NHC model page has Fiona going towards Bermuda then dissipating in about 120 hrs. I saw no models that put it anywhere near Eleuthera. The next system looks like it's more likely to cause problems in the Bahamas or Florida, but it's pretty far out there. The_alpine where did you get the graphic that shows a storm off of the Bahamas?