Time to go sailing off Cape Hatteras?

[TahitiNut]

I remember the summer of '62 when the 295' USCGC Eagle, under full sail, set a speed record off the coast of Hatteras. (Max speed under sail supposedly 17 knots, we did over 21 knots.) It was a full gale. Starboard side was awash on the Eagle -- with a 12' freeboard (9' to scuppers, 12' to gunwhales). Mess deck portholes were underwater. We were only a few degrees from capsizing. Riding the forecastle was a blast -- until it was prohibited. Blew a mainsail. Wow! Unforgettable. (A couple of days later, JFK came onboard to review the ship. I was a sideboy.)

Sailing anyone?

[Jacobin]

1. Hmm..

If it stays on that track D.C. will get ripped a new one. How appropriate. (Not for you civilians living there, but perhaps the beltway insiders need a really good bath and a really good "blow dry".)

[qanda]

4. Please don't say that

I've been worried about this storm for the last few days. I'm sending my husband out now to get some flashlights and batteries, but if it looks like its coming to close, I think I'll take a trip home to Pittsburgh.

[alfredo]

2. A Cat 5 hitting the Cape? I wonder

if any would dare ride it out?

[radwriter0555]

3. I'm THERE baby! I'm a HELLA galley wench and have no problem

lashing myself to the mainsail and yelling YEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE HAWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWW in the big uns! Now THAT'S what I call SAILING!

[TahitiNut]

5. It was freaking AWESOME!

I was 'black gang' on the 4am-8am watch. It was a flat-ass calm when I went on watch. When I came off watch, we were about 15 deg off center and vertical was losing its meaning. Getting breakfast was tricky. We rigged lifelines down the ships centerline on the weather decks. Going aloft to furl sail was out of the question. (At the end of our summer training cruise, we opted for excitement instead of fear.)

[goobergunch]

6. Oh no...that's the DOOM TRACK

A storm going up Chesapeake Bay, staying in the water while affecting DC, Baltimore, and yours truly.

[TahitiNut]

7. Yup. The storm surge might be stupendous.

Look for many millions of taxpayer dollars to bail out beachfront homeowners.

[Ivory_Tower]

9. Baltimore ain't "beachfront"

If this stays in the bay and rips through Maryland, it could cause some real damage, and not just to those who own second vacation homes on the beach.

I'm rooting for this storm to turn out to sea, but it's not looking good right now.

[IMayBeWrongBut]

10. If it stays a CAT 5...

We will be bailing out more than the beachfront homeowners.

This is one of those straws that could push our teetering economy over the brink.

[Don_G]

12. FEMA Dosen't Have Much Left In Their Budget

Better count on support elswhere...like China or Japan.

[TahitiNut]

13. Maybe that Saudi prince still has his checkbook open?

[angka]

8. i'm sure that was a ride.

21 knots of wind power? was this a planned event?

washington dc getting pummeled in some biblical storm. i am shutting up now.

[TahitiNut]

11. Nope. Not planned at all.

It was '62 ... no satellites or doppler. The con was taken by the coach of the sailing team. I wasn't privy to any recriminations, but I'd guess there were some. The officers were preoccupied with the prospect of getting back in time for Kennedy to review the ship in DC. We stopped in Hampton Roads (alongside the nuclear merchant ship -- made an interesting photo op) to let some folks disembark and finalize the spit'n'polish.

[uptohere]

14. there is a difference between full gale and hurricane

have you been in a hurricane ? I have. It will get you attention.

And Diamond Shoals is not where you want to be unless you don't like your ship or value your life.

But have fun !