A Short Storm Story...

Last year about this time in August I hooked my Macgregor M25 and went to Atlantic City and put her at the Trump Marina for August.

I really was more familiar with the inlet at the other end of the island so I wanted to catch an eye full of the north side inlet. The day after our first night aboard was nasty and gray but I got some help and warped off the dock, motored out to the inlet to the mile buoy and motored back in.

The day after I was itching to get my first Blue Water Sail. After all I had been sailing on the Delaware River for 5 years now. It's real thin where I sail which translates into lots of tacking and jibing so maybe you can feel the excitement of my first attempt to tack for miles instead of yards.

I am no stranger to the Ocean as I was a sport fisherman on POWERBOATS for more years than I want to admit to here. But those boats were larger and had speed when in need.

There was a chance of thunderstorms and it looked clear in the morning, so we sailed... It was just great. 1-2 footers and 10 knots of wind... The direction? It really didn't matter as there was no river bank to impede with any track I took.

About 3 PM I noticed a dark cloudy section approaching in an otherwise bright and sunny sky, and while it was quite a distance away, I decided to always err in the area of safety so I set sail to the Inlet... I then noticed 5 other sailors had the same idea and were heading in also. I never really took to the idea of being out in an electrical storm with a 28 foot lightning rod in the middle of my boat anyway so the shore looked good.

Underway I furled the Jib, then doused the main and powered all 7.5 horsepower up for my ride through the inlet. It was getting darker on the way in.

Just as I entered the marina it started to rain lightly... As i docked, tied up and put the sail cover on, the rain got a little heavier.

When I completed the operation, the "chance" of thunderstorms that you hear about in this area all summer long, broke loose into a full blown light show and sound extravaganza.

Inside, my wife and I had a cocktail in our 1984 Sailboat. It had a pop top canvas that was new, unused and put in place the night before. It kept out the storm and provided a nice view of the elements also.

We were safe and dry and back in time... Just in time... The next island down, 11 miles away from our location, Ocean City, NJ, had no storm. I spoke to a sailing friend who said he could see the storm approaching Atlantic City. I told him I was back in port...

Hey, not a horror story. It even had a happy ending too.

I learned a few things as I always do.

Where the screws in the deck leak water into the ceiling and where to caulk them.

Always keep an eye and ear on weather.
Watch other boats and notice an "Exodus" when you see one.
Make an error on the side of conservatism and safety.
Remember the words "Chance of Thunderstorms".

Stay out, go in, don't go out, don't stay in, I DUNNO!!!

It's always your decision, it's "so lonely being the Captain"

Captain Alexander Bruce Klein