September, 2004:

Last night was fairly relaxed. Winds hit 40+, but the boat didn’t move an inch. Which is encouraging, considering that we may see 100-150+ MPH winds as Ivan draws closer. This morning’s forecasts show Ivan passing close to Cuba’s tip, which is good news, because it means that we will probably be outside of the hurricane zone of the storm. Still a bit early to tell where it’s going to pass us, however, since the storm is only going 8 MPH.

Thanks for all the comments, emails and other good wishes, we appreciate them all!

I’ll update as much as possible. Once the storm gets here, however, there’s a good chance that power will go out on the island, so communications will be tough. If necessary, we’ll try to post an update via our sat phone after the storm passes to let everyone know what’s up.

All the best!

Well, it’s looking worse and worse for us here in Isla Mujeres, the storm is now slated to go right up the middle of the Yucatan Channel. Knowing this, we had no choice but to get off the dock and move the boat into the lagoon, where it’s much more sheltered.

We actually ran the boat aground onto the soft muddy bottom, hard to believe we actually ran our boat aground on PURPOSE. We got her about 100 feet from the mangroves on the westside of the lagoon, and ran three lines from her bow, tying onto the thickest mangrove trunks we can find as deep in as I can get. We also dropped 2 anchors off the stern, and plan on dropping one more. After that, it’s off the boat before the storm hits, and hope for the best.

I think as long as nothing flies off its anchor or foundation and lands on Andiamo, she should fare out fine.

We will update as often as we can after the storm passes. Wish us luck, we’re going to need lots of it.

Well, it’s looking worse and worse for us here in Isla Mujeres, the storm is now slated to go right up the middle of the Yucatan Channel. Knowing this, we had no choice but to get off the dock and move the boat into the lagoon, where it’s much more sheltered.

We actually ran the boat aground onto the soft muddy bottom, hard to believe we actually ran our boat aground on PURPOSE. We got her about 100 feet from the mangroves on the westside of the lagoon, and ran three lines from her bow, tying onto the thickest mangrove trunks we can find as deep in as I can get. We also dropped 2 anchors off the stern, and plan on dropping one more. After that, it’s off the boat before the storm hits, and hope for the best.

I think as long as nothing flies off its anchor or foundation and lands on Andiamo, she should fare out fine.

We will update as often as we can after the storm passes. Wish us luck, we’re going to need lots of it.

Comment from: zus [Visitor]

GOOD LUCK!!! detje

2004-09-13 @ 06:55

Comment from: nichie [Visitor]

Thinking of you and good luck!!!
Brenda

2004-09-13 @ 06:58

Comment from: Michael Greaney [Visitor]

Best of luck weathering this one. Do you best to stay low and keep safe.
Michael

2004-09-13 @ 08:12

Comment from: Barbara [Visitor]

Thinking good thoughts for you! Stay safe

2004-09-13 @ 09:10

Comment from: Mike [Visitor]

Happy for your move inside. Out of the waves so your anchors will hold. Hunker down and be safe. I will look for your update after passage. Got Pictures?

2004-09-13 @ 14:56

Yup, as we had feared, Ivan is more than likely going to get pretty close to us. Right now, it’s projected to go somewhere between the Yucatan Channel and Cuba, which means that it will get anywhere within 50 to 100 miles of Isla Mujeres, which is not good. The hurricane force winds extend up to 90 miles from the center of the storm. So, if the storm’s center passes west of Cabo San Antonio on Cuba’s west end, we are going to get slammed. Needless to say, everyone is hunkering down here on the island, and we’re still trying to decide whether we should stay tied up to the dock, or to bring Andiamo into the lagoon here on the island and run her aground into the mangroves where we know she won’t be going anywhere.

It’s a tough call, because if it gets any closer, the dock is not going to be a good place to be. But if we go into the lagoon, we can expect that there will be lots of other boats there, and that means more chance of another boat coming loose and plowing into our boat.

Makes me kinda wish that we had left to Rio Dulce already. Damn.

Comment from: zus [Visitor]

hope Ivan won’t get closer than it is now. Anyhow we wish you good luck!

2004-09-12 @ 14:42

Comment from: Mike [Visitor]

2004-09-12 @ 16:56

Comment from: Mike [Visitor]

Peanut Gallery says move Andiamo into the inner harbor. Your position at the end of the dock exposes you to the open sea and winds expected from the NW in your area. It may pass from a distance, but prepare for 75-90 mph winds. The holding ground in the inner harbor is grassy and poor holding….get a slip at the yacht club! Good Luck from your crew suffering in Key West.

2004-09-12 @ 17:04

Yup, as we had feared, Ivan is more than likely going to get pretty close to us. Right now, it’s projected to go somewhere between the Yucatan Channel and Cuba, which means that it will get anywhere within 50 to 100 miles of Isla Mujeres, which is not good. The hurricane force winds extend up to 90 miles from the center of the storm. So, if the storm’s center passes west of Cabo San Antonio on Cuba’s west end, we are going to get slammed. Needless to say, everyone is hunkering down here on the island, and we’re still trying to decide whether we should stay tied up to the dock, or to bring Andiamo into the lagoon here on the island and run her aground into the mangroves where we know she won’t be going anywhere.

It’s a tough call, because if it gets any closer, the dock is not going to be a good place to be. But if we go into the lagoon, we can expect that there will be lots of other boats there, and that means more chance of another boat coming loose and plowing into our boat.

Makes me kinda wish that we had left to Rio Dulce already. Damn.

Ivan’s projected track is getting perilously close to us here in Mexico. All projections have him turning more north into Cuba and onward into the Gulf, but if Ivan doesn’t follow those projections he may get a little to close for comfort to us. So we’ll be watching him pretty closely throughout the day. If Ivan continues not to cooperate, we’re going to have to hunker down the boat for the inevitable storm, which by all accounts is a bad one.

All we can do now is wait and see.

Ivan’s projected track is getting perilously close to us here in Mexico. All projections have him turning more north into Cuba and onward into the Gulf, but if Ivan doesn’t follow those projections he may get a little to close for comfort to us. So we’ll be watching him pretty closely throughout the day. If Ivan continues not to cooperate, we’re going to have to hunker down the boat for the inevitable storm, which by all accounts is a bad one.

All we can do now is wait and see.