| Do you have a Severe Weather / Hurricane Plan For | | | | up a river or if you are going to a dock up a river, |
| your Yacht? | | | | what are the local regulations on Bridges? Most South |
| | | | Florida communities have ordinances that affect |
| Have you heard from your insurance company lately? | | | | opening hours and they have ordinances that dictate |
| If you have not and you are the Captain, Owner or | | | | how their bridges will operate during severe weather |
| Operator of a recreational vessel Power or sail, | | | | events. It may seem overly cautious to depart a |
| expect to and soon! | | | | seemly safe slip or dock 3 days in advance of a |
| One insurance company in no uncertain terms | | | | warning or watch however timing is indeed everything. |
| categorically states on it's Severe weather Plan | | | | Too late may preclude getting into that hurricane hole |
| Questionnaire for Crewed vessels "Wind coverage will | | | | you had in mind or being trapped behind a bridge in an |
| not be afforded to vessels located south of Morehead | | | | unsafe location. . |
| City NC between 30 June and 1 November unless an | | | | Broward County has a Flotilla Plan for the New River; |
| acceptable Severe Weather Plan is completed and | | | | you can review it at |
| Approved by a *** Private client Group Yacht | | | | On the East Coast of Florida the perennial question is |
| Underwriter". | | | | to go North or to go South, the United States Navy in |
| The questions can be as detailed as "how many lines | | | | Norfolk VA usually takes the big ship option, they go to |
| are going to be used," which direction is the slip facing" | | | | sea. That may not be the best option for a 10-knot |
| and of course a wonderful catch 22 " do you have | | | | vessel however. |
| alternative plans if your primary plan becomes | | | | Good weather forecasting is imperative and taking |
| unlikely?" | | | | those actions to keep your or your clients vessel out |
| In short, if you are to have a reasonable chance of | | | | of harms way in a timely manner is the responsibility of |
| collecting from your insurance company, they expect a | | | | the Captain and his crew Make a seaman like decision |
| reasonable effort to protect the vessel and real | | | | based on all available data and be prepared to alter or |
| efforts to mitigate loss or damage, now more than | | | | modify that decision as events dictate. |
| ever before. | | | | Consultation with the owner to establish practical time |
| Understanding that yacht crew may have shore side | | | | parameters is an essential part of any plan That when |
| responsibilities, house car etc. they cannot just tie the | | | | question needs to be addressed and agreement |
| vessel to the dock and run, after all the vessel that | | | | reached. |
| they are being paid to care for is their job and may | | | | It could result in an expensive voyage to nowhere or |
| have funded those shore side assets in the first place! | | | | prudent action could save the vessel. However, running |
| Therefore that word again PLAN. | | | | away from the storm just might be the best run the |
| The components of that plan far exceed how many | | | | vessel ever made. If nothing, else such a trip could |
| lines are in inventory. Is the vessel kept topped off? (If | | | | provide an excellent opportunity to exercise the vessel |
| there is, a Severe WX warning fueling might not be | | | | and do some real crew training. A Plan is not a |
| readily available or waiting for it might affect your | | | | unilateral thing, the owner, and insurance carrier, crew; |
| plans). A recheck of just what is the vessel's range at | | | | need to be on the same page with the captain if it is |
| speed, if the plan is to get out of the way. What is | | | | to be workable (emergency funds for example, |
| your window, that is just WHEN do you make the | | | | relocation of the vessel's vehicle, the crew working |
| decision to run? Of course WHERE TO? If you are | | | | together to secure their personal assets in adequate |
| short of crew, it might be a bit late to augment the | | | | time to implement the vessel's plan etc.) |
| crew compliment 2 days before a Hurricane is | | | | The middle of the Season may not be the optimum |
| forecast to strike (after all it is the middle of summer). | | | | time to develop a plan, reduce it to writing, and |
| Like shore side people, you need stores to last a | | | | organize the necessary supplies and assets. However, |
| week. Someone needs to feed the crew and grocery | | | | it is better NOW than when storm damages are being |
| stores are notoriously busy at the last minute. | | | | negotiated with a claims adjuster or trying to get into |
| The devil is always in the details, if you are at a dock | | | | the Yard behind a hundred other vessels. |