Bart Senior wrote:
I wanted to write this up soon, but I've been busy. Perhaps
it is better for that, as I now have better information to report.

Southwest Connecticut Ernesto damage.

After sailing around quite a bit for the last week, and chatting
it up with sailors in other towns, I have a rough tally on the
damage. I found it quite surprising since winds were not
very strong inland. I'm live on the last ridge north of Long
Island Sound that has water views--about 5 miles inland.
Things were very different on the coast.

Predictions were for sustained winds of 25-30 mph with
gusts to 45 mph. Reports are now stating the wind gusts
hit 70 mph. I think that may be an exaggeration. What I
do know is the winds were generally easterly which on
LIS means a long fetch and potentially ocean type seas.

While most mooring fields are in protected areas, that was
not enough this time. All the damage occurred to boats on
single moorings.

I personally saw a 35' or so Beneteau up on the beach at
Calf Pasture Beach, and a 27 foot walk-around set high
above the high water mark at Harborview. I have no idea where
the Beneteau came from as it is too big for the mooring field
at Sprite Island.

An older Ericson 35 was fortunate in that the current was flooding
and pushed it into a shallow area with a mud bottom--it had no
damage and was on it's mooring fairly quickly. Near Sprite Island
I saw about a 34' boat dismasted. I didn't sail over and get a good
look, but I suspect there was hull damage on the other side.

Farther west, one friends near perfect Sabre 34 now has about
a basketball size hole in the hull. He also lost his jib--shredded
to pieces--a not uncommon occurrence from what I've heard
elsewhere.

Several other boats at this yacht club lost their moorings and
were forced ashore including a Pacific Seacraft. All of these
boats used ground tackle and chafe protection owned and
maintained by the yacht club--everyone has the same gear!
I'm familiar with it and can assure you it is stout. Why did
some fail and other survive?

Still farther west--near Greenwich, 3-4 boats broke loose, with several
ending up on the beach. Again several jibs left on roller furlers
were ruined..

So what was the difference? Some bow chocks are not fair leads
and instead of being rounded are more sharp shaped. The net
result is these boats sawed though their thick leather chafe
protection and then right on through their thick double braid
mooring lines--on both sides!

Are they using snubbers, that may help. And it's best not to have sharp
angles again yer chaffin gear.

All these boats are moored in typical mooring depths and none
had adequate shock absorption protection. The thick double braid
mooring lines look tough and they around, but don't provide any stretch.
Any spring in the mooring line comes from the heavy chain, which
must have become bar taught for the system to fail.

The lesson here is this--Beef up your chafe protection, and make
sure your fairleads are fair not sharp!

Another lesson is take extra measures furling your jibs. We all
know what a sail does when it flogs. Few people take the time
to take extra measures to ensure roller furled jibs do not flog
themselves to pieces. Obviously taking a sail down prior to a
storm, or when out of the area for an extended period, is good idea.

Yeah, just think if you get caught at see with a roller furler in a big
blow.. Just about ever RF here was blown open and shreadded during
Rita. Best to have hanked on forward sails and put em below.

What can be done to protect roller furled sails for those who
wish to leave a jib furled on a sail boat?

Not much lash them down best as possiable, use a half hitch and hitch
from top to bottom, or yer wastin yer time


One final comment, I offer kudos' to the Norwalk Harbor Police for
saving many boats. I saw them towing one boat to safety. I know
that last year they pumped out another friends boat with it sunk on
it's mooring. They don't worry about liability issues and do whatever
it take to preserve property.

That was nice of them, might **** off the guy looking to sell via
insurance.

Speaking of storms, it was 106 yrs ago today that Galveston was whiped
out, still the most deadly storm in US history.

Joe