Storm Ratings Are Not the Same.

We are in Cyclone season in Queensland and back to that age old cruiser summer hobby of weather watch.  Our first cyclone, Vania, a category one with 35 knot winds, what?  So I did some research.  The above table shows the rating systems for different tropical storms. Here is a surprise, different countries use different ratings for storms.

In Australia Cyclone ratings are as follows.
Category 1 Cyclones - 34 to 47 knts
Catergory 2 Cyclones - 48 to 63 knts
Category 3 Cyclones - 64 to 85 knts
Catergory 4 Cyclones - 86 knts to 106 knts
Category 5 Cyclones - greater than 107 knts

This contrasts with the US rating system
Category 1 Hurricanes - 56 to 72 knts
Category 2 Hurricanes - 73 to 85 knts
Category 3 Hurricanes - 86 to 99 knts
Category 4 Hurricanes - 100 to 119 knts
Category 5 Hurricanes - greater than 120 knts

So, in summary at the low end of the scale cyclone warnings may scare us prematurely however on the high end all severe storms are best to be avoided if possible.

Rain, Flooding, Safe at RQ in Manly

Bristol Rose and crew are safe tonight at the Royal Queensland Yacht Squadron, RQ, in Manly.  We have Brisbane's City Cats for company, as well as Merlin, Alexis and Whiskers.

Getting out of our slip at Dockside Marina and over to Manly was windy, wet, bumpy and cold.  At least we zoomed down the river at a brisk pace, dodging debris, and doing well.

One of the deciding factors that convinced us it was time to move was seeing all the ferries and City Cats heading down the Brisbane River, and buildings in the CBD were evacuated.  When Robert measured the distance between the high water mark and the top of the pylon holding our dock,  he measured 7 feet, well short of expected levels.

We're thinking about our neighbours at Dockside Marina.  There were so many boats in their slips when we left today, including some liveaboards.  If the levels rise as suggested, the floating docks will come right over the tops of the pylons.  It's too horrifying to think about.  Images over the last days and weeks have been horrifying.

Aussies have earned the reputation for being tough.  Here's a quote from a woman interviewed on the news, "You gotta be strong and just keep going, that's the Australian way".

Story in the NY Times: Staying Afloat Down Under

We Make Our Move to Manly. Inland Instant Tsunami in Toowoomba

Eight dead, 72 missing.  Families separated, many people stranded and isolated.  Gatton, Qld evacuated overnight.  Flash floods, Toowoomba devastated by a wall of water.  Houses washed away with people in them.  One spokesperson calls the wall of water that swept through Toowoomba yesterday, "An inland instant tsunami".

Queensland government calls an all agencies briefing.  Suburbs at risk today or tomorrow include: Albion,  Auchenflower,  Bowen Hills, Brisbane City, Bulimba, Chelmer, Coorparoo, East Brisbane, Fortitude Valley, Kangaroo Point, New Farm, South Brisbane, Windsor, Wacol.  The equivalent of two Sydney Harbours are flowing into the Wivenhoe Dam.

We are holding tight to our floating dock at Dockside Marina while considering our options.  The marina is protected a little by the curve of the river, with the other side experiencing fast flowing water (we estimate about 10 knots), and our lines not straining at all.

Moving out from our little eddy would present some difficulties with the flow of the water,  and all the debris making its way to the sea.  We are expecting a three meter tide, which these docks could sustain.  No evacuations have been called for Brisbane city and we're trying to get more information.

Noon.  We are preparing to leave the dock and take our chances getting down the river, out through Moreton Bay and to the Royal Queensland Yacht Squadron marina at Manly.

Tail With A Sting

Convergence Zone Squall

Squalls are the scariest of sailing experiences.  For the most part they are relatively harmless but, then there is always that nasty one with unpredictable winds.

Fly Bird Fly

Free

On a dark and stormy night, off the coast of Tahiti, this Tropic Bird crashed into our cockpit.  We thought it must be injured, however the bird stayed with us until sunrise and then flew off.

Grey Days in Paradise

Turquoise, Blue and Grey

Grey Day

Another Grey Day

This sequence of photos was taken while passing through Raiatea on route to Bora Bora.  Nasty storm clouds all around as we sailed through the pass.  However nothing developed, we had a good passage.

French Polynesian Sky

Storm over Tuamotus

This picture was taken by John Southwood aboard Dignity.  Bristol Rose sailed into this storm and experienced winds to 48knts.

Keeping a Watch on Storms

Update: The Weather Buereau is now calling this tropical wave Invest 97. Still on track to pass north of us.

Update: Weather forecasters give this a low probability of developing into a tropical storm. However it does serve as a reminder to us to be vigilant.

Seems we have at least 3 tropical waves coming our way at any given time these days. When they pass by we get rain and wind followed by pleasent weather. These tropical waves have the potential to form into some very nasty hurricanes.

The tropical wave shown above is the strongest so far this season. We will be keeping a watch on it.

Safe at Ferry Point. Hanna has gone and Ike is heading to the Gulf

The plot above shows Hanna from the Thomas Point Light. The tidal surge was not great and the storm passed us by without incident. Lots of rain.

Deciding to keep Bristol Rose at Ferry Point proved to be a good move. Very little wind was experianced at the marina and the staff are very helpful.

Bristol Rose will return to the water this week.

Mid Atlantic Storms Hanna and Hurricane Ike

"URGENT - IMMEDIATE BROADCAST REQUESTED TROPICAL STORM HANNA LOCAL STATEMENT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BALTIMORE MD/WASHINGTON DC607 AM EDT FRI SEP 5 2008...HANNA MOVING TOWARD THE MID ATLANTIC STATES...AT 500 AM EDT...0900Z...THE CENTER OF TROPICAL STORM HANNA WASLOCATED NEAR LATITUDE 28.0 NORTH...LONGITUDE 78.0 WEST OR ABOUT125 MILES NORTH-NORTHWEST OF GREAT ABACO ISLAND AND ABOUT 430MILES SOUTH OF WILMINGTON NORTH CAROLINA.HANNA IS MOVING TOWARD THE NORTHWEST NEAR 20 MPH. A GRADUAL TURNTO THE NORTH WITH AN INCREASE IN FORWARD SPEED IS EXPECTED LATERTODAY. ON THE FORECAST TRACK...THE CENTER OF HANNA WILL BE NEARTHE SOUTHEAST COAST OF THE UNITED STATES LATER TODAY...AND MAY REACH THE GREATER BALTIMORE WASHINGTON REGION INCLUDING SOUTHERN MARYLAND SATURDAY MORNING.MAXIMUM SUSTAINED WINDS REMAIN NEAR 65 MPH WITH HIGHER GUSTS. ONLYSLIGHT STRENGTHENING IS FORECAST PRIOR TO LANDFALL...ALTHOUGH ITIS STILL POSSIBLE FOR HANNA TO BECOME A HURRICANE" Fortunately Bristol Rose is still on the hard. Trish and I prepared her for the storm last night. We are also keeping a close eye on Ike.