It is 9 a.m. on a gray Tuesday. I am standing on our dock at City Island in the Bronx, New York, surveying my handiwork, sipping hot coffee to assuage the gnawing tension. I have just finished preparing my sturdy boat and home, Windbird, to ride out a hurricane on a 40-year-old dock in an exposed marina. The storm is not to arrive for a few hours yet, but a freshening salty breeze and foreboding smudge on the southern horizon foretell its coming. I check and double-check the braided dock lines, which are fitted with rubber snubbers and anti-chafe gear, spiderwebbed between strong points on the boat and various dock cleats of admittedly questionable integrity. Fenders are arrayed on the leeward side of the hull. I’ve removed our dodger and Bimini canvas and lashed the framework in place. I cut short a family vacation and flew into LaGuardia Airport yesterday afternoon to storm-prep the boat. With Dawn absent and me working singlehanded, I decided to leave the headsails in place on their furlers. I hope that wasn’t a mistake.
Two Views of Hurricane Isaias
Key Takeaways:
- The author details his dual experience with Tropical Storm Isaias, first as an airline pilot navigating flights during its early stages in San Juan, Puerto Rico, and then riding it out on his boat, *Windbird*, in New York City.
- Despite extensive preparations for his boat, the storm brought sustained 55-knot winds with 80-knot gusts to NYC, causing significant damage to the marina and other vessels, though *Windbird* incurred only minor scratches.
- The article highlights the unusually early and active hurricane season, emphasizing the increasing frequency and intensity of tropical cyclones and prompting the author to reflect on the growing threat and the need to adjust future plans.
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