On June 1, we enter another Atlantic hurricane season. Still in the minds of many are the 2004 and 2005 seasons that were so destructive. Despite experts’ predictions of storm-heavy seasons since then, no hurricanes have come ashore in the continental United States for the last two seasons, leaving many wondering what’s up each year. At SOUTHWINDS, we continue to try to make people aware that each year is unique and can be another calm year or another heavy one—or whatever lies in between. BoatU.S. held their second annual marina hurricane preparation symposium in March. For the second year, I attended this event and learned a lot about what the concerns are of marina operators in the South. Below you will read my report on that symposium and what has been learned over the last few years about preparing for a storm. For boat owners, SOUTHWINDS has prepared what I believe is the best article out there on helping boat owners put together and carry out a plan for their boats. We have published this article with changes in the last two years, but this year we are just referring our readers to go to our Web site and read this article, “Why Prepare Your Boat for a Tropical Storm,” on our hurricane pages at www.southwindsmagazine.com/hurricane (go to SOUTHWINDS articles). Other valuable links to articles and hurricane information are available on those pages. We are still asking our readers to send us articles and opinions about their experiences in preparing for storms, dealing with marinas and other aspects of boating and hurricanes. May there be no hurricanes this year. Steve Morrell Editor
THE 2008 ATLANTIC HURRICANE SEASON June 1 - November 30
Second Annual BoatU.S. 2008 Marina Hurricane Preparation Symposium, Orlando, March 4-5 By Steve Morrell, Editor
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fter two years of no hurricanes coming ashore in the United States, I wondered how interested marina owners would be in attending another symposium, but attendance was up this year to 160—plus more sponsors jumped in to help pay for the event. SOUTHWINDS was one of them. Sponsors who had displays at the symposium numbered 18, up from last year’s 11. I also wondered what new information BoatU.S. would present since so much was covered last year (See Southwinds, past issues, April 2007, page 34, at www.southwindsmagazine.com/backissues). But they came through with flying colors, although a few subjects were repeated. But the repetition, like how one marina strapped their boats to the ground, was important, since this practice has become more widespread today (see past issues, January, February, March 2008). There was a lot of new information this year—much of which was learned by those who rebuilt and had a couple of years to think about preparing for another big storm—lessons which can be very beneficial to those who were never hit. Surely, the best-prepared marinas in the future will be the ones who already have been hit. Many of them showed up, and they are the ones who are obviously the most prepared. It is the marinas who have never been hit who are most likely to be less prepared, and who can really learn something at a symposium such as this. But the symposium is really aimed at marinas, boatyards and yacht clubs—and there was something to be gained for all of them. www.southwindsmagazine.com