Here comes Irene

I spent the morning on Thursday, August 25, prepping C'est la Vie for Irene's visit.  Since she is already on the hard at Bock Marine, most of my effort went into sealing hatches, double checking jack stands, securing loose stays & shrouds to the mast, and generally removing clutter from around the boat.  Now it is all up to her to successfully ride out the storm.

The yard at Bock was filling fast on Thursday.  The majority of the haul-outs were commercial and research vessels.

Thursday afternoon was devoted to assisting Dennis Chadwick, owner of the house that NCOBS rents for the summer, with removing trees that may threaten  the house during the storm.

It was not until this morning, Friday, that Anne and I began to pack up for a possible evacuation.  Stalling our final decision to stay or go, we began by packing the remaining NCOBS equipment in the mini bus.  By noon we had completed loading the bus. All the while co-workers, friends, and family called to inquire about our plans for the storm.  During our lunch break we checked the forecasts and were pleased to learn that Irene was picking up forward speed.  This is good news for two reasons.... First, forward speed typically retards a hurricanes ability to strengthen.  The current forecast is for Irene to make landfall as a Category 2 storm.  Second increased forward momentum means we will spend less time exposed to all the hazards associated with the storm - winds, rains, surge, etc.   Based on the noon reports and support from our neighbors here in Straits, NC.  We are now planning to remain in the house during the storm.

We have moved the vehicles into the front yard away from the large pines and sycamores that ring the property.  We have 25 gallons of potable water, 20 gallons of non-potable water (flushing & bathing), 12 beers, 10 pounds of ice, 7+ days of food, 5 gallons of gasoline, 3 canisters of fuel for the MSR stove, 2 pounds of coffee, and 1 Honda generator.  I am bit worried about the beer supply.

We are expecting to loose power and communications between midnight and dawn tomorrow.  We will post our status here, on facebook, and on Google+ once our phone and/or internet returns.

Now it is time to pop some corn and snuggle up with Anne for a movie.

Prepping for Irene or sanding louvers

I ponder the question often... which is my favorite pastime prepping for Hurricane Irene or sanding louvers?

Really what is not to love.  All the media hype and instant access to computer models updated hourly

create a stress the is difficult to define yet very present in myself and everyone locally.  I find focusing on tasks that do not relate to storm preparations nearly impossible, but I'm uncertain how far to take the preparations.  No sense creating additional work if Irene actually stays at sea, but don't want to be caught with my pants down if she knocks on our door.

In preparation, Trish Haitz and I removed C'est la Vie's hard bimini, checked all pads under the jack stands, checked the chains on the jack stands, loaded up the boom, and connected to shore power to charge up the house bank so the bilge pump has plenty of juice.  I plan to head back out to C'est la Vie at least once more before this weekend to finish up the storm prep.

But not to be outdone by my love living in the sights of a hurricane is sanding louvers...

Did someone invent these things simply to challenge those of us who are beginning to feel successful with brightwork?  I have progressed along from lazurette hatches to companion way trim to counter fiddles with small radius curves, but now I encounter louvers.  How does one successfully sand a louver?  Once I get around to applying the Bristol Finish how do I get into the narrow slits without creating runs on the opposite side? 

It has been 15 minutes, better go check Weather Underground Tropical Weather site.