Fear of Hurricanes

Hurricane Matthew is barreling toward Florida having taken more than 100 lives in Haiti and grown back to a category 4 behemoth. Florida and coastal Georgia and the Carolinas are being evacuated. The Bahamas are being pummeled and the eye was due to pass over Nassau. Don't know if it did.


The safest thing to do is haul your boat, secure the hull and the mast to the ground (using straps and halyards) and go inland yourself. If you can't do that, then the next best thing is finding a hurricane hole, reducing windage and tying up as best you can either to shore or to multiple anchors to weather it. Even then, it's best not to risk your life for the boat. Tie up and head inland.

Here is an article we wrote about being prepared for hurricanes. http://cruising.coastalboating.net/Seamanship/Weather/HurricanePreparedness.html

And here is an article about anchoring with multiple anchors.
http://cruising.coastalboating.net/Seamanship/Anchoring/Two_Anchors/index.html

I hope it helps someone remain safe through this ordeal. Bon chance. A healthy dose of fear is good.