HANDLING HURRICANES

I get a lot of questions about hurricanes and offer some tips gleaned from 55 years experience in preparing for hurricanes.
Nowadays we get much more accurate projected-track forecasts and earlier notification than in the past. The key thing is to have a plan and be ready to execute it. At one time I had a "Hurricane Prep Business" for yachts and we contracted with absentee owners to prepare their yachts for tropical storms and hurricanes. We never lost a yacht but we also never got a direct hit with a Category 2+ hurricane eye-wall. A direct eye-wall hit will destroy almost everything in its path no matter how well you prepare.
If you are living aboard you can easily escape danger by taking action early and heading away from the strike zone. The yachts that were destroyed in Hurricanes Irma and Maria were all absentee-owned charter yachts that just could not get out of harm's way.

[@IanHobday]

Always enjoy your videos, very informative. Stay safe during Dorian!

[@carlstoutamire9525]

Great advice! To bad you do not have a photo of the marina after Hurricane Andrew!

[@kjc9trader491]

...off the subject... I'm curious if you own a sailing cat - and what it is?... Since you know pretty much and have access to everything available out there, what do you sail???... Thanks!

[@Catamarans]

Hi I've owned two Lagoons which were great boats and at the moment I have eight monohulls I use in my sailing school and Miami charter fleet. Since I own two businesses that keep me super-busy without a lot of free time, I will probably get a 39-43' power catamaran next because I can get to the Bahamas easily for long weekends.

[@kjc9trader491]

@@Catamarans : Thanks! I will have to check out your sailing school once I get moved down to FL... If my goal is to own a sailing Cat - would you recommend I learn to sail on a monohull 1st - or just learn on a cat? I have heard both...

[@Catamarans]

@@kjc9trader491 We think the best way to learn sailing is to take it in steps with time to practice between each step . The steps are best done in progressive sizes of sailboats. So Learn To Sail (ASA 101...costs around $700 and takes 3-4 days) should be in a 20'-25 daysailer (monohull) because these help you get the feeling of balance when sailing. Then Basic Coastal Cruising (ASA 103- costs around $700 and takes 2 days) should be done is a larger size like 28'-36' monohull to see how these handle. Then ASA 104 (Intermediate Coastal Cruising or Bareboat Chartering costs $1600 and takes 4 days) should be done in 38'-44' monohulls or catamarans. Other schools offer Condensed week-long 101-103-104-114 combination courses (costs $4200) where you live aboard a catamaran for a week and cruise around with an Instructor. This is a LOT of material to absorb and test for and many students forget 75% within a couple of months. This combination-accelerated course is best for those with some prior experience who need tp get it done fast or need Certification to charter in one of the 9 countries that require this. Learning To Sail in a large cruising catamaran is like learning how to drive in a big city bus! Not the best way.

[@kjc9trader491]

@@Catamarans : Awesome - Thanks for your insight!

[@SOLDOZER]

Hurricane Dorian: Make Boats Cheap Again!!!