Seems to be all over, but the clean up

Hopefully this time tomorrow we look back on Irene and think; could've been worse, but what a mess. Luckily, it seems that she didn't pack the punch to the east coast (though it did hurt) that we were afraid it would do. No one can say we weren't prepared and absolutely no one can say we weren't warned... 24/7 for the last few days.

We heard from Tucker and our friends at Wild Tamarind—everyone is okay.
Wild Tamarind seems to have lost an east facing dock, but that and some damage to the vegetation is about all. We're sure Leonora, Artemio, and crew will have that repaired in no time.
Tuck has no damage at all (except to our Sat Dish) boat, dock, houses, everything good... as Preston would say. We may be heading back over with some supplies soon and to bring the net back up.

Boy did we get out of the islands and head to the right place or what? We almost took Istaboa back up to the Chesapeake again this year... That wouldn't have been a good move.
We almost stayed at Compass Cay. That would've been interesting. Maybe too interesting for our tastes.

Found some pics of the Abacos and it looks like they did okay... again, just a mess and loss of power, but nothing like we've seen in the past. e.g. Hugo, Wilma
Pics here http://www.local10.com/slideshow/weather/28974547/detail.html

Now we read that New York City has escaped major damage and the storm is subsiding.

Everything good?

Adios... Irene!

Istaboa


PS... Totally off the subject, but an interesting article out of my hometown... Grew up with the dancer... Bet he's not dancing now.

Hollywood directed defense, challenged old case against 'West Memphis Three'

Irene, the aftermath... Exumas, Nassau

Staniel Cay Yacht Club

More pics of Staniel at Marv Market's Smugmug page.

Update from Compass Cay

Tucker has called the Memphis office and told them that all was good. He said they had 130 MPH winds and that none of the boats, the marina, or the houses were damaged. Then his phone died.
Tried to call back, but got a busy signal.
Good news, very good news.

Staniel Cay's Watermakers Air office 8:00AM

This video was cut from Marv Market's weather site Still no active sessions on Compass Cay's internet monitor nor any word from Tucker.

Irene news from the Exumas

Heard from a good source that several of the Cays in the Pipe Creek area were okay, but still nothing about Compass Cay as of yet. We monitor the internet at Compass and as of right now it's still down; we're hoping because the weather is blocking the satellite dish.

No active routers and no active sessions = no net.

 
Good news that Staniel Cay Yacht Club is still standing and they are starting to clean up.
Found this youtube of 6:30 AM today in Nassau. At the time of shooting this video it was 2 hr before the eye's passing.




It's not looking good for Eleuthera or the Abacos

Cut from Chris Parker's WX Update

Exumas: Conditions in StanielCay & G'twn have increased in the past couple hours as squall bands arrived. Peak conditions may increase a bit more overnight (backing NE-N-NNW@50-80k sustained, with some higher gusts). Peak conditions should persist from now thru midnight in G'twn / mostly overnight in StanielCay. Thereafter...winds should begin to decrease as they back from NNW-W-SW, probably near 50k sustained (gusting 65k) for a few hours, before SW winds decrease further. G'twn should subside to SW 50k-or-less by Dawn / StanielCay SW-WSW@50k-or-less by late morning Thu25. Cat & Eluthera: Areas W of Irene's center (some of Eluthera but not any of Cat) should see backing NE-N-NNW@80-100k sustained, with some higher gusts until Irene's center passes (tomorrow morning for Eluthera)...then backing W-SW under 80k sustained, with higher gusts.

For us here in S Florida? A bit rainy and breezy, but okay. Maybe more wind later today and tonight, but not much.
The folks in North Carolina are bracing for a blow as Irene's taking aim at Cape Fear and on up the east coast.

That's all we know for now.

Adios,

Istaboa

Good news/Bad news

The good news, for Crew Istaboa anyway, is the storm seems to have turned east and away from Florida.

The Exumas look like they will be spared the total force of the storm, though it still is too early to tell.
The bad news is for the eastern Bahamas. e.g. Eleuthera, Long Island, the Abacos
They look to be in line for quite a blow.
Think good thoughts... pray... meditate... curse... what ever works for you, let's hope Irene goes east and out to sea.

Here we go again

Yep... another blow.
Wish we were back at Compass. Much better protection from all sides.

Making plans... Crossing fingers and toes.

Happy Birthday, Mason

Almost forgot...

Home away from home... away from home.

Reentry:
Stuart and Sunset Bay.

So this morning, rested and nursing a few bumps, scrapes, and bruises, we're all enjoying the comforts and conveniences of being back in the USA.
Mel had pizza delivered last night, Radar got to see his buddies, Clyde and Bob, and I had the idea of driving our truck up the street to a grocery store for milk... then a liquor store for whatever I wanted. (not just Rum or Kalik)
Oh, the comforts of home.

Over the last few months, we've intentionally stayed away from TV news and all that goes with that. Our internet surfing has been no deeper into current events than the hyped up headlines of the news sites that made us cringe and look for something more entertaining and enlightening, such as Skype, tech stuff, and boat stuff. Stuff that actually had an affect on our lifestyle.
Yes, for three months we've had the luxury of living a wonderfully carefree existence. Of course we did a little work, but we did it island style. (When in the island, do as the islanders; as if you have a choice. If you haven't, everyone who dreams of doing business in the islands should read Don't stop the Carnival by Herman Wouk....)

And now... we're back.
We flip on the TV to catch up on what's happening and BAM!
The whole world is collapsing. Not just the USA, now the whole world is on the brink of financial destruction, the Arab Spring has been extended into summer, London is burning; in America, The Tea Party types are lost somewhere down the rabbit hole,  and with all this going on, our President has the audacity to go on vacation at about the same time other American families do. (Hope he and his family have a nice time, we've always wanted to go to Martha's Vineyard. Heard it's beautiful) About the only positive thing we've heard is the authorities finally let those three young fellows go free in my hometown of West Memphis, Arkansas. It's a crime they lost their youth. It's more of a crime the investigation into who did this stopped when it did. (Props to those who never gave up.)
Added on 8-28-11... Article from Memphis Commercial Appeal http://www.commercialappeal.com/news/2011/aug/28/hollywood-directed-defense-of-three/


But we look outside and it all looks just as when we left. We don't get it. So we turn off the news, eat our hot delivered pizza, take pleasure in the fact that the boat is notta rockin, relax, and watch a mindless, but mildly humorous, sitcom on TV.
Ignorance IS bliss.

On leaving the Exumas and Compass Cay:
The rest on page 2.

Back in the USA

Stuart is home again...
Lots of different weather and few foul-ups, but tired after the 2 day run.
More later.