4 August Tropical storm Isaias

 It's a wonderful irony that we left Grand Cayman to be safe from hurricanes and now we are in the path of tropical storm Isaias (Aye-sa-ee-as) barreling up from North Carolina where it made landfall last night.

For the last week we've been following the weather reports; what is the likely path and what are the likely wind strengths? Do we stay on our mooring or seek out an up river cove in which to anchor?

Last night the latest NOAA forecast showed the centre of Isaias would be to the east of Annapolis giving us west, less windy, side of the storm track. Isaias has remained below hurricane force but is still expected to bring heavy rain, north winds of 40 knots with gusts up to 70 knots. The good news (?) is the storm is moving fast and would come at us from the southwest and fly away across the Chesapeake, Delaware and onto New Jersey quickly.

With the forecast and the Harbormaster confirming all City moorings are hurricane rated with a 15' sand screw and all chain and cable and that we have the three storey Naval Academy as a windbreak directly to our north we decided to stay on our mooring. We were one of only four boats on the moorings. Super yachts stayed tied alongside in the marina, one left and went up the Severn river to anchor.

In south island NZ in 2012 we encountered three 'wind bombs' in a three week period with winds up to 65 knots. The first we were on a mooring watching smaller boats being laid on their sides around us. The second we were in a marina held with a spiders web of lines and for the third we were anchored. Being on anchor was the most comfortable.

On Monday night the storm clouds were approaching from the south. At 7am Tuesday morning we were prepared for the 'hit'. Anything on deck had been removed or firmly tied down, the cockpit rain curtains were fastened in place. We had anchor watch switched on and instruments on. The rain began at 8am, winds stayed steady in the mid twenties with an occasional burst to 35 knots and by lunchtime it was gone. The rains stopped and we had a fine sunny afternoon.

Looking back on TS Isaias the most worrying part of the experience were the forecast predictions. The weathermen and women gleefully predicted destructive winds, waterspouts and biblical floods . they're weather people they don't often lead the news of the day. This was their chance to be on screen centre front. Someone commented to me that NOAA have to go with the worst case scenario possible just in case to avoid legal action should conditions be really bad. I was just relieved Isaias disappointed the storm watchers.