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| Clayton, NY, 18 Miles Down the St. Lawrence from Lake Ontario |
It blew and blew. And then it blew some more. Nellie frolicked on her docklines all night. The crew slept fitfully. This morning saw no letup in the 20 mph NW winds. The predictions were for more of the same until nightfall. With any thoughts of getting underway relegated to fantasy, we attended to shoreside duties.
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| Murals on the Koffee Kove |
The stories of unfortunate sailors who foolishly challenge Mother Nature abound in these parts. Just last night I heard about a tug captain that knowingly ventured into a rapidly closing weather window. The waves on Lake Ontario got so big that his two crew aboard the barge feared for their lives. They signaled the tug to get them off. During the approach the tug fouled its prop on a towline and went dead in the water. The barge subsequently sank and both souls aboard were lost.
Right, don't go across Lake Ontario in a closing weather window. But, when do you go? Best advice I've heard is, in settled weather but no sooner than 48 hours after a blow. So, Saturday, at the earliest, for Nellie. DBH
