When it Storms

Hooly dooly, the sky did say we were going to 'cop it'. A change had been forecast which is why we'd elected to head for Coasters rather than Towlers Bay after arriving back in the Pittwater. We decided that we'd put up with any roll delivered by the North Easterly for one night, knowing that we'd have to move bays within 24 hours anyway. We're so glad of our decision. The change came early and way harder than expected.

Quite a number of skippers (but not all) were paying attention and took off back to their marinas while they had a chance. One yacht had barely rounded the Barrenjoey lighthouse and crested the headland straight into a seething body of white water.  It was hardly the shelter that they were racing to reach.

 

 Early rain. The campers are dashing for cover too.

 A telling cloud and the rain intensifying.

Not liking the look of things, we shortened the dinghy painter and attached an extra line.

 Properly squalling.

 White out!

40-50knot gusts and the boat was heeling. Even though we were on a sturdy mooring, The Bloke had us in our life jackets and the motor on in case we broke free. When it was all over a couple of nearby boats had flipped dinghies. The Water Police spent half the next day retrieving 'escaped' dinghies and small runabouts from all over the Pittwater. Once the wind had swung and settled to the south, it was 'Happy Days'.