Getting prepared for what may come.
03 February 2012 | Vuda Point Marina, Fiji
still raining with no let up in sight.
Well, as the weather report at the top says, it's still raining. We got up early this morning and took advantage of two things--the rain had stopped and the wind had stopped also. We wanted to get the large genoa sail down and off and stowed before the next tropical depression comes in. The local radio station is calling for people to stock up on food and to buy some candles. While the local stores may love this(more money in the drawer), the rest of us have a bit of work to do to get ready. We already have food and with our batteries, we are quite self contained on a boat. The winds are forecast for about 40 knots(if you believe them) and lots more rain. Two depressions are set to be in the Fiji area in the next few days. The first is no big deal(just lots more rain) but the second may turn into a cyclone and pass right over Fiji. No one is willing to make that call yet as Mother Nature will tell us in her own sweet time.
We headed out to the bow and took down the tarp we have there to keep the Sun off the deck. It's been two weeks since we have really seen the Sun so no problem getting it down. We took down the spinnaker pole that supported it and stowed it away on the life lines. We clipped some wires that keep different shackles closed and loosened the line that held the sail up and down it came nice and easy. We stretched the sail out on the deck so we could fold it and get it in the bag and put it in a somewhat dry location. Now we are all clear on the bow. If this does turn into a cyclone with all it's big winds, we will need to take the other two tarps down as well as the dodger that covers the cockpit. All this can be done in under a hour so we should have no problems getting the rest down and stowed.
The last thing we will have to do is loosen the lines(3/4" lines attached to chains attached to railroad rails driven into the ground) that keep us attached to shore and tighten up the bow lines to pull us safely away from the concrete walls of the marina. I still haven't gotten to Lautoka to pick up the new lines we've ordered for the bow but Monday is coming. If it really turns nasty, I'll be pulling out the chain that's used on our second(now third anchor) and attaching it to our back up anchor line and taking it out to the middle of the marina and attaching it to the center weight. Then, if the winds really get going, all we have to do is pull in on that anchor line and we will be very safely away for everything.
It's all in the planning. It pays to be prepared. Even if this one doesn't turn cyclonic, if the next ones that come along do, we will still be ready.