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NUTS & BOATS

 The monthly newsletter for to-be and already-are cruisers

Volume 3, Issue #7 - July 2005
Publisher: Trish Lambert
www.takehersailing.com
(C) P. Lambert 2005

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IN THIS ISSUE

• PLAYING AT NATURE'S ROULETTE TABLE

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A CRUISER'S EYE VIEW
Playing at Nature's Roulette Table                                                         by Trish Lambert

Unless you've been completely out of communication for the past couple of months, you know that hurricane season has arrived with quite some fanfare. Here it is midJuly, and we've already had five named storms. The latest one, Emily, just charged across the Yucatan Peninsula and is heading for the Mexican Gulf Coast.

And the one before her recently visited us in Florida, the big creep. Dennis walloped us just 10 months after Ivan made almost the same trip. The whole area from Pensacola from Panama City, much of it still in the process of post-Ivan rebuild, was impacted--some parts more than others.

Our marina, having just finished replacing the docks that were washed away by Ivan, required the boats in our section to evacuate prior to Dennis's visit. So, instead of being tied to pilings, this time Nehalennia rode out the storm on two anchors in the bay just outside the marina.

Actually, "rode" is not exactly what she did. She dragged, along with a number of other boats anchored with her. And she collided with another vessel, which damaged the deck and cap rail and bent a couple of stanchions.  Not too bad, considering what happened to some of the other boats in the marina--at least two were lost and quite a number have far more extensive than our little girl.

So we came away from this round of nature's roulette game with most of our chips still in hand. But we still have the major part of the season left, and that wheel is likely to turn quite a bit more for those of us living in the hurricane zone. According to the National Hurricane Center's historic data, the most adventurous gamblers among us (highest to lowest probabilities) are in Florida, Texas, Louisiana, and North Carolina, and the most "games" are played in August and September.

Like any gambling game, there is a load of information about how to win nature's roulette.  Books, articles, checklists, seminars, and anecdotal advice are available to anyone trying to figure out the "right" way to prepare for a hurricane season and for an approaching storm. And the material is worth reading-but having now gone through a number of 'canes and tropical storms over the years, I have two principles that I suggest you keep in mind while you research.

First, there is no one "right" way to prepare. Read what others have to say, sure, but then use your own knowledge and instincts to drive decisions. Your specific boat, its location, and the general topography of your area are just three factors that impact how you prepare. And each hurricane is different, with its own set of characteristics. Ivan, for example, caused far more damage to towns' infrastructures because it moved far slower than Dennis, even though both were Category 3 'canes. Your preparations should be two-phased, then: First, for the season in general and second, for the specific storm that is coming your way.

Second is the "dumb luck" principle. People who have done all the "right" stuff have still lost their boats, and people who hardly did anything have had their vessels come through unscathed.  You will never know for sure beforehand how your boat will fare, no matter how much you've done to sway the odds in your favor. At some point, you will have to just step back and trust to dumb luck. I think the best you can achieve is knowing that you did everything you could.

Skip was in Florida for Dennis just as he was for Ivan. After taking off everything that wasn't bolted down and getting her anchored, he stayed with Doug and Rosemary Stark, friends in a "bullet proof" house near the marina.  They watched the news while they ate Rosemary's great cooking--during one of our phone conversations, Skip reported on some "kick butt" cookies she had made and it occurred to me that comfort food definitely has its place during a hurricane.  Maybe, in fact, that's a third principle of hurricane preparedness-have plenty of comfort food on hand to get you through the landside vigil!

So for all you fellow gamblers out there--Pacific, Gulf, and Atlantic Coasters--here is Rosemary's "kick butt" cookie recipe.  And here's a though: If any of you have some recipes that would make great "hurricane cooking," let me know. Maybe I'll get enough for a book!!!

Ingredients:

• 1 cup (2 sticks) butter, softened

• 3/4 cup packed brown sugar

• 1/3 cup granulated sugar

• 2 eggs, 1 tsp vanilla

• 1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour

• 1 tsp baking soda

• 1 tsp cinnamon

• 1/2 tsp salt

• 3 cups Quaker oats (old fashioned, uncooked)

• 1 cup raisins

• 1 cup chocolate chips

• 1 cup pecans or walnuts (optional)

• 1 cup craisins or dried cherries(also optional) 

 Cooking Instructions: 

1. Heat oven to 350 deg. 

2. Beat together butter and sugar until creamy 

3. Add eggs and vanilla, beat well 

4. Add combined flour, baking soda, cinnamon, and salt;  mix well 

5. Stir in oats, nuts, raisins, craisins/cherries 

6. Drop by rounded tablespoonfuls onto ungreased cookie sheet

7. Bake 10 to 12 min. or until golden brown

8. Cool 1 min. on cookie sheet, remove to wire rack 

(Makes about 4 dozen)