From: David & Suzanne Chappell

Sent: Friday, August 26, 2011 5:29 PM

To: Blog Mailasail

Subject: Going up River

Last night (sounds like a Chris de Burgh song) we anchored near Indian Point Nuclear Power Station and had a security van driving along the bank watching us most of the night. Not really an ideal place, but the depth, wind and swell protection were all good, we noticed them venting “steam” a few times but we were upwind so didn’t worry too much and nothing was glowing this morning (well no more than normal)

 

It was so quiet and still we slept in (well Suzanne was up at each turn of the tide – but the anchor alarm was on) until around 0900 when Aussie went by in the 57 ft Motor Yacht “Passion” and gave us a call, saying the Mustang was safe and he was also bugging out going 100 miles up river.

 

We got the hurricane watch updates and decided to continue up, it is so pretty, through Bear Mountain National Park, with Amtrack goods trains snaking their way up and down both sides of the river, lovely sunny day, no wind, up past West Point and towards the Catskill Mountains, playing Dexy’s “Come on Eileen” at full volume on the Bose (can’t find a song with Irene in the title), I feel like Martin Sheen in “Apocalypse Now”, knowing trouble is on its way.

 

The Hudson is a river in a canyon and is mostly very steep too, with no banks or shallows to anchor. So it looks like 50 miles up river today to get into a suitable location. I have just rung Dave Andrew at Admiral Insurance and he has already checked our blog and was relieved to see us going up river, so if you guys aren’t using Admiral you are crazy – call his DDI on 01722416106.

 

We heard the USCG on Ch 16 and they have issued a Port Condition Whisky, calling all vessels in the New York Port Authority to file a written hurricane plan by fax within 24 hours, for authorisation and are expecting storm force winds to start within 48 hours, as Irene is a big old girl at 800 miles wide with storm force winds 200 mile from the eye

 

It feels a bit like the tsunami – you probably know more about what is happening than we do, we have the FM radio on and can monitor the WX Weather Stations on VHF, then get occasional internet for CNN and BBC – have a lively weekend, we will !!