Confined waters, cumulonimbus and traffic

[Mark Overbury]

Hi.

Is there a standard procedure we should all be following under storm conditions heading into port?

Let's say for instance there are several boats all heading into port in a confined area. A stray thunderhead blows through kicking the winds up to 20 kts, gusting 30kts and reduces visibility to your foredeck in heavy rain.

Thanks for your feedback!

Mark

[Pelagic]

Anticipating those conditions comes with experience in weather gauging.

If you can not make it in early enough to avoid what you describe with many others caught unprepared in confined waters…Better to get wet, take your lumps outside rather than bumps inside, wait till the rush is over and prepare to come in when comfortable with your plan of action and everyone has been briefed.

Guaranteed, those who made it in before you will be more in a position to help you dock and in those conditions, have the anchor ready and look at the easiest dock to secure to, including the fuel dock

[starbolin]

Put on life jackets.
Close up boat.
Turn on running lights.
Sound horn or bell every two minuites.
Start engine.
Reduce sail.
Maintain reduced headway.

I'm certain most of this is in the regs.

[Ex-Calif]

Visibility reduced to the foredeck? Not unusual here in Thunderstorms. Confined space? How confined?

A lot of people forget to take a compass bearing on where they want to go. When the vis drops you still gotta stay off the rocks.

If I wasn't totally familiar, I'd stand off.

I also love Starbolin's list.

[Eleven]

That's the trouble with day sailing. Getting home to a deadline creates these things.
When the crew (and guests) come on board explain that ETA means estimated.
The ship comes first and the skipper decides EVERYTHING.
If a 180 into the departing lane(s) is available, stand off, half an hour going the wrong way might make all the difference in terms of crew and boat preparation and briefing. They might moan but they'll feel much safer going with you in the future.

[AnchorageGuy]

mark, Confined spaces and heavy weather are the worst situation. If you know a storm is coming, and you usually do, but not always, then head for open water and wait it out. the temptation is great to get to safe harbor but in the long run, open water is your safest tactic and wait. These storms usually don't last long when they are sudden and severe.

[Talbot]

99% of boating accidents are due to a time constraint overruling common sense.

That stray 1% - when you have upset the big guy overhead, sh1t happens

[GordMay]

Originally Posted by Chuck Baier

... These storms usually don't last long when they are sudden and severe.

Very true: soon come hard - soon gone easy.

[AnchorageGuy]

Here is a prime example

Voyages of Sea Trek: 0024. A Close Call from St. Augustine to Fernandina Beach Florida

[sandy daugherty]

I place reefing higher on Starbolin's list, possibly at the top if I have enough visibility to see the weather coming a couple of miles away. If the visibility is down and there are other indications of sudden weather change, then life jackets are already on.