Let the Games Begin
August 22, 2011
Tis the season when all mariners and marine interests gaze toward the east coast of Africa. The object is to see the weather waves that start there and travel westward toward one’s particular harbor. I have written about the fact that even mariners shift attention elsewhere when a storm targets someone else. Little note is taken thereafter except to thank Neptune for the good fortune. For those in the “cone of uncertainty” there is a countdown clock started as the tropical wave approaches the location of one’s boat. The projection of the path determines how intense one watches the developments. The weather services call the waves, Invests at first. Then they become a Tropical Depression, a Tropical Storm and finally a Hurricane. As the monster becomes a hurricane, the weather Gurus start to project a path based on a zillion computer models. They call it the cone of uncertainty to allow for error. Invest 97 has now become Hurricane Irene. So now it is that Why Knot is in that cone, albeit on the eastern edge of it. The fact that it is still seven days until the monster makes landfall, if it is to land in the Carolinas, makes for some time to cast the bones, do the dance, invoke the spirits, find the rabbit’s foot and whatever one can do to curve that monster to sea. It is too far out to start to look for a replacement boat. Many factors can, and most often do, influence an entirely different path. The good news if there is any relating to Irene is that it is not going to the Gulf of Mexico thus it is possible that it will recurve to sea and miss the US. Were it in the Gulf, there is no way out without thumping some coastline. At this stage of the predictions, it is possible that some force will take pity on us and send old Irene away. Nawh, we might not be that lucky.
Most will welcome the rain. The marine interests will start the process of dragging out the hurricane bag which holds heavy lines, fenders, chafing gear and that little invisible poultice bag full of the luck tokens. To all who are in the Kill Zone, which may well include Why Knot, here’s to yer luck tokens. May they work perfectly.