Brunswick Landing Marina - Georgia
Magic Friday
Phil, Di and Annelise
Fri 8 Sep 2017 17:02
Up early Friday morning - more hurricane preparations to make. However, it looked like Irma was going to track northwards along the west coast of Florida - a lucky miss for Miami. Nevertheless at 495 miles wide both east and west coasts were forecast to experience tidal surge and high winds.
Set to.jib down and stowed below (the saloon become crowded with folded sails), spray hood down and ready to take home for a bleach/clean, fore and aft biminis down and stowed, all loose lines tied. Extra mooring lines added (thankfully the new lines were well used)!
Activity on other boats - similar preparations in the "calm before the storm" - an uncanny atmosphere of fear and expectation of an impending disaster - perhaps not so luck as last year's hurricane Matthew which brought a tidal surge of 6-8ft but at low tide.
The marina was filling up fast as boats arrived from more coastal moorings - not long before every dock slip was full except for Dock 1 which is emptied and used as the "sacrificial dock" against high waves travelling up the waterway.
Down at the marina office I learn that a "mandatory" evacuation order has been issued for Brunswick and the surrounding area (not exactly announced or publicly broadcast), but no choice now but to leave at first light in the morning. Although, the exit roads were not exactly overflowing with residents leaving and the clubhouse was to stay open all night for those who wished to stay but would not be rescued by any emergency service!
At least Irma appeared to be losing strength as it moved northward - but still a category 3 with winds over 125mph - Florida was getting a beating!
A sleepless night wondering what else I could do for Magic Friday..
Phil
