Hunkered Down

Marg and I just wanted to let all of you know that we are fine and safe and waiting for the big blow. Each day the news gets marginally better but this storm will have consequences. We are in the Schenectady Yacht Club which in 2006 weathered the mother of all storms on the canal. The people here are experienced and everyone is pitching in with preparations including moving boats, securing docks, even setting anchors downstream to hold boats against the anticipated 50-70 mph winds. We are moving our dinghy to land, removing canvas and lashing down everything that could possibly blow away.

Dumping water from the canal in
order to lower the levels

The real consequence of Irene could be the closure of the canal. We have already received several Transalerts from the canal corporation advising boaters to seek safe harbor and to prepare for closures due to high water and debris. For the last 4 days, the canal corp has been opening flood dams to lower the water levels before the big rains hit. Unfortunately, the canal could be closed for up to a week. That could be a problem.

We are glad we are where we are. Some people went to Troy, NY to get out of the canal in the event it did close. Bad idea. Troy is at the confluence of the canal, the Hudson River and the Champlaign River. The sea walls are concrete so as the rivers rise so do the boats potentially over the top of the sea walls and on to ground. Also, hundreds of boats from NYC and Long Island will be charging north up the Hudson to get out of the way of Irene. That area can't handle all those boats. Like I said, we're glad we're here.

Thanks for all of your emails, texts and comments expressing your concerns. We are fine and look forward to posting "after-Irene" pix and commentary. Be well.