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Chesapeake tidal surge after Hurricane Earl

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JohnP
Master Marine Consultant

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1520 Posts

Initially Posted - 08/31/2010 : 10:26:01

It looks like Earl may hit North Carolina but then skim the mid-Atlantic coast and brush New England and the Maritime Provinces.

I have read that in 2003 the tidal surge in the Chesapeake Bay in the days after the direct hit from Hurricane Isabel passed was something like 5-10 feet, and this flooded many coastal towns and cities. My marina staff told me that they were working full time to re-tie the 60 boats in the marina, as the water rose up to 5 feet over the fixed docks.

Labor Day weekend will be an interesting time around here, after Hurricane Earl passes.

Anyone on the Chesapeake Bay pulling their boat? So far, my marina is not recommending that.

JohnP
1978 C25 SR/FK "Gypsy"
Mill Creek off the Magothy River, Chesapeake Bay
Port Captain, northern Chesapeake Bay

Edited by - JohnP on 08/31/2010 10:27:41

GaryB
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
4306 Posts

Response Posted - 08/31/2010 : 13:42:12

Depending on your location on the bay we had a 12 - 15 foot surge during Ike. My marina rose a little over 12 feet and was within 2 - 3 feet of floating off the pilings.

Edited by - on

JohnP
Master Marine Consultant

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1520 Posts

Response Posted - 09/01/2010 : 08:55:53

The yard manager of my marina is pulling his trawler today, and I have decided to have the boatyard staff pull my boat today or tomorrow and put it on stands. The next weekend I had planned to start work on bottom paint, in any case.

If there is no significant storm surge in the Chesapeake Bay, I will only lose one weekend of sailing. If there is a 5 or 10 ft. storm surge, then I will be glad to have the boat sitting in the parking lot.

I am concerned that the sailboat in the slip next to me has blocked scuppers, and its cockpit regularly fills up with rain or ice and snow. And if that boat sinks and leans over in the mud, then mine will not get caught in its rigging.

The good news is that BoatUS, in an email yestereday, volunteered to pay half of my haulout fee. They probably avoid a lot of big claims this way.

Edited by - on

OJ
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
4382 Posts

Response Posted - 09/01/2010 : 09:47:47

Good luck John!

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redeye
Master Marine Consultant

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3476 Posts

Response Posted - 09/01/2010 : 09:55:39

http://www.ndbc.noaa.gov/station_page.php?station=cbbv2

Found one ( observation station ) with the water levels listed, on the south side of the bay. It will be interesting to watch. Have not found one yet on the north side of the bay.

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redeye
Master Marine Consultant

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3476 Posts

Response Posted - 09/01/2010 : 09:57:32

http://www.ndbc.noaa.gov/station_page.php?station=chcm2

North side of bay water levels listed.

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DaveR
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
2015 Posts

Response Posted - 09/01/2010 : 13:13:45

Hopefully it'll stay far enough away that there'll be little tidal surge. Good luck, and cool deal that BoatUS is helping.

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Voyager
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
5397 Posts

Response Posted - 09/01/2010 : 13:50:52

Thursday afternoon/evening appears to be the worst for NC and VA coastal and bay areas. Good luck to all there. Then it looks like it will be New England's turn on Friday afternoon/evening.

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Tom Gauntt
Navigator

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204 Posts

Response Posted - 09/01/2010 : 18:09:36

I spent the morning doubling up on lines and running them so they could be eased from the dock rather than on the boat. I started to remove the sails, but it looks like the wind will not be as big a problem as the higher high tides. I started to haul out, but the marina here does not have haul out services and the weather after Saturday looks fantastic!

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Voyager
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
5397 Posts

Response Posted - 09/01/2010 : 18:44:02

Tom,
The storm looks to be jogging west, so I'd be careful in assuming you don't have to reduce windage in any way you can. Removing the sail, the furled jib, the boom, any random lines or anything above decks is advised, and what could it hurt?
Good thing you've added lines. Are you on a floating dock or fixed one? If fixed, make sure there's plenty of scope.
You still have tomorrow morning to take any last minute precautions.

Edited by - on

JohnP
Master Marine Consultant

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1520 Posts

Response Posted - 09/02/2010 : 10:22:08

As of 1 PM Thursday the storm has finally veered right and will not make landfall in the mid-Atlantic states. The storm surges may be significant in NC and on the VA and MD beach towns, but there is little risk of major wind or flooding damage inland.

I've canceled my haul-out request, and I hope to go out on an overnight sail this Labor Day weekend.

Best wishes to the RI & MA sailors who may get hit with wind , rain, and very high tides. Today is the last day to get ready!

Edited by - on

Tom Gauntt
Navigator

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204 Posts

Response Posted - 09/02/2010 : 11:46:44

Bruce,

Thanks for the advice. I've been following the track of Earl very closely and have taken "reasonable" precautions given the forecasts... lines doubled up, all loose gear secured, additional fenders, new snubbers, main and furler lashed down, etc. Based on the activity at my marina this morning, I am one of the few who has taken any precautions. Perhaps they know more than I? Honestly, I'm not really concerned with wind, but with the tides. Removing the sails is a chore that I don't mind doing, but unbending the sails isn't going to matter much if the problem is high tides. The local NWS forecasts here on Eastern Bay are calling for max of 20 kt gusts during Earl's transit north. I do know if I was out toward Cape Cod, I would probably have the boat pulled out if at all possible and sails removed. It's a bit of calculated risk (as is most everything in life), but I think "Lil" will ride this one out in her slip and I'll tell her it's just a warm weather Nor'easter! I hope you good folks in New England are spared Earl's wrath (especially since I'll be flying into Boston tomorrow afternoon!)

Best of luck to you and Passage,

Tom

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Stinkpotter
Master Marine Consultant

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Djibouti
9082 Posts

Response Posted - 09/02/2010 : 12:39:52

The hurricane warnings are within 40 miles of me--I'm in tropical storm warnings. I live on something of a hurricane hole--Passage couldn't get here, so now Bruce has her. Sarge has doubled-up lines, extra fenders, electronics off, cockpit empty,...

I'm kinda wishing I could see the 15' seas on Block Island Sound tomorrow night, but I think I'll stay in port.

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Voyager
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
5397 Posts

Response Posted - 09/03/2010 : 18:01:48

Dave, according to the NWS, waves were 15+ feet with a period of 8 seconds off Montauk.
That sounds like some pretty fierce CHOP!
I have to agree with your decision to stay up on the river, but it would be an awesome sight.
You could always take the Block Island ferry from New London.

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Stinkpotter
Master Marine Consultant

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Djibouti
9082 Posts

Response Posted - 09/03/2010 : 19:28:56

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Originally posted by Voyager
 You could always take the Block Island ferry from New London.<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">I suspect they cancelled it--it's a catamaran-style fast ferry. I saw buoy data for 17' on Block Island Sound. That's a Cape Cod house.

Looking at the Doppler, it seems like Earl turned harder right than expected, and is now down to a cat-1. Looks like CT is out of the woods and MA will get off easier than expected.

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Even Chance
Captain

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USA
393 Posts

Response Posted - 09/03/2010 : 19:39:35

About 20 boats in our marina (Fishing Bay, Deltaville, VA) went on the hard Thursday. We put new 1/2" dock lines on the boat, lengthened them, turned her facing NE, and wrapped lines around the jib and the mainsail cover. The Harbormaster and I, who went through Isabel together at another marina, agreed that Earl didn't look like a big threat. We're thankful to have been right.

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