After Dorian

We are in Minnesota with our kids...

What happened and how did survived is below...

Arial view before the storm

We left Marsh Harbour to Treasure Cay early on the week before the hurricane arrived. We looked at the different predictions, we look at websites, talk to other that where is hurricanes before etc.

Back in MN with family

To go even earlier, when we got to Marsh Harbour, one of the first thing we did, was to consult with the marina owner, and he recommended Treasure cay is the safes marina for hurricanes in the season. So we booked a slip in Treasure Cay for the whole hurricane season.

Fast forward, we see Dorian forming, see the tracks taking it over the Dominican Republic, etc - thus we made the call that we will move to Treasure Cay and prepare the boat for a storm (that was predicted to me maybe a Tropical storm or maximum at that time low category 1 hurricane).

In the cargo plane on our way

We got to the marina, and started working.


We planned to stay on the boat but where told that it will not going to be a great idea. Hani talked with friends and they gave us the key to their condo to stay during the storm.

We spiderweb the boat, Removed all that we could and possible, we double tied every sail, boom, solar panels, etc.
We decided to remove the spare generator and took it with us to the condo, and even brought spare gas. We took food, water, the ditch-beg, radios, and our emergency satellite communication.
we did every thing we could to get ready and prepare.

Panoramic view of the "before"

In the meantime Dorian changed course, got bigger, much bigger and defied every prediction and path that was initially visioned. By the time it was clear that we will get hit it was too late to leave and by that time even the airport was closed (On Friday morning) so - we are for the ride.

We surveyed to boat again, took some more cloths and food to the condo, checked the lines, complained about how the big boat that was next to us was tied, and prayed.

We completed last minute shopping (and this how we met for the first time Deborah and Trip).
And than we waited.

The no winds on Friday afternoon. Nothing much, standing still.

Saturday was much the same. No wind most of the day, and in early evening, we walk the docks and we met Deb and Trip for the second time.

The winds have started during Saturday night
Around 0900, in rain and wind blowing 30 - 50 Kt, I called the dock manager on the radio, as the big boat next to us was slamming the dock. I was concerned. So I met him on the dock and we tried in increasing winds to tie the undersized line tighter.

First walk out after 3 days

Around 1300 hell broke loose. I was measuring wind speed and pressure as well as humidity, and going out until around 1000, at that time the wind was blowing hard and Hani did not let me go out again - smart wife!
The pressure was dropping rapidly.
1000 - 993 mbr, at 1030 - 990, at 1130 - 984, at 1215 - 978 and at 1230 - 975, by 1245 - 970 and - 952 my last reading was at 1335 - 947 mbr.

After that all become a war zone. The surge arrived, the water was rising at an unbelievable rate, in less than 10 min, we had about 4 feet of water against the back window (the window facing the marina) and the wind, ear popping due to pressure, sound, rain flying debris all mixed. We had to evacuate the condo we were in. We took some of our stuff, fight hard to open the front door, fighting strong winds (gusts over 200 mph), and very low pressure, and once outside going over the sandbags we put, trying in blinding rain to clime to the second floor condo.

It took a lifetime to open the door and get in.
We hide in the first room, and its ceiling caved in, so we move into the leaving room, and every thing was shaking violently. we hid under the staircase and stayed.

just after 1400 the eye was over us, and the winds where only in the 50's so we went down again to bring as much of our staff as we could. The devastation around us was unbelievable (and this is only part one and the less destructive part of the storm). We fought 4-5' of water, got into the condo again, saw that the big back glass door was broken due to a tree going through it and everything was flooded, overturn and ...

The low pressure of the storm brought the sewage out, every thing was a big mix of water and other things.
We grabbed the rest of things we could find, I had shoes, but Hani lost hers, mot of our cloths were now in the water, so was my drone and other electronics. But we managed to take most of our food, and water to the second floor.

We manged to inspect our boat, saw that it was still floating, even thou the mast was broken. The big boat that was next to us, broke loose, broke the dock, took or broke the pilings, and was now on the lawn in-front of our condo. There was nothing we could do, as there was still about 4' of water all around us.

Than at around 1630 the eye completed its pass and the storm was back with even more violence than before. We were on the north side of the storm and we were on the eye wall of the north side...

The winds and rain were blowing extremely hard for the rest of the night and most of Monday.
During the night the shook so hard we thought it will collapse.

We did not sleep during the night (and very little the following night too), had our flashlight on, waiting for the moment we will need to run and look for another place.

It was a very very long night.
Noise and wind, strong rain, and endless shaking. The floor and the ceiling where shaking with every gust of wind.

By Monday afternoon, the winds where only on the 40 - 60 kts range so between the band of rain we wondered out. We saw our boat from distance, we saw it was heavily damaged and that our mast was broken, we saw that it was siting on a piling (through the starboard net) and that the solar panels were gone. But it was floating!!!

In the condo

By than we also managed to communicate with our friends Deb and Trip, find pout that their roof was gone, they had to move through the height of the storm to a different unit, and than to the clinic for shelter. By Monday night they where with us.

View from the lower condo

We brought water from a pool outside that is now full with dirt, mud debris etc. to fill the toilette every time we used it. We saved clean water from before the storm to wash our teeth and clean dishes after we ate, the generator was used to charge our VHF radios and communication devices, as well as for others around us to charge their communication devices. No other means really exist in the area.
Trip and Deb brought a camping gas cooker, so we where able to boil water and cook some food before it was all spoiled. Remember we did not have running water nor electricity since early Saturday morning. We also lost all cell communication on Sunday early morning (very early morning).
As the storm was basically stationed over the Great Bahama, we continuously had rain and wind of a Tropical Storm to category 1 hurricane. On Tuesday the storm started to move, and we saw glimmers of a sunset on Tuesday night for the first time in 5 days.

 All that time we tried to make the best of an extreme situation. We managed to get to the boat on Wednesday morning and brought some food, and assessed the boat status.
The boat was dry inside, except some rainwater that was in the cockpit due to the fact that all the scoops where blocked with ceiling insulation material that blew over by the storm no other water intrusion was detected. I did not open all the floors, nor did we had time to look and the engines, but over all, the boat had external damage (massive) but no internal.

The first time we saw Coast Guard helicopter was on Tuesday, and they came for the severely needed and injured people.
There was no communication from authorities (did not see any) or from the coast guard (on the VHF.
So on Wednesday Deb went to town, registered us for evacuation and we waited. She also was told that another storm is coming in 5 days so everyone needs to leave. Another piece of misinformation that was given to people that increased the anxiety and confusion. When Deb told us about the storm we where really concerned as the unit we were in will not be able to hold another storm.

So I sent messages out using my satellite communication asking about incoming weather - and thank you for all of you that  help from afar and sent us information back - no storm on the horizon.

On Wednesday morning I also called the coast guard in Miami but was told by the (idiot) in charge to call 919 (the local 911). And when I explained to him that there is no communication and no control on site I was given to local Bahamian numbers to contact - what a joke!!

In the background, with us knowing Deb daughter and our daughter got hold of each other and where working on a rescue plan.

By Wednesday as the weather got better we where able to make some meaningful satellite phone calls, trying to arrange evacuation etc.
We heard the the government did not allow charter plans to land and take people - don't ask why, we do not get it.
They also did not allow planes to land with supply until Wednesday morning - again don't ask why, as the runway was always clear.

We (Deb and Trip mainly together with both daughters in the background) manage to get some plans for Thursday.

On Thursday morning a local friend - Wilson (a wonderful person that is always helping) came with us to the airport, we waited until a question was asked - 10 Americans to fly to the state - the four of us said - here we are...
We set in a seat less cargo plane, with a door that started to open after two third of the way, but we got there and after a night stay a Deb and Trip's friends house near Orlando we are in MN.

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We were very fortunate to enjoy eight amazing months on our beautiful boat.
We enjoyed every day, made new friends, warmth of the people and the surrounding and we hope that in the next few months we will find a way to renew our dream and boating life