Any word on Elissa?

[Mac Bentley]

I hope this doesn't sound too crass, considering everything the folks on the Gulf Coast are going through, but I'm curious about the 1877 tallship Elissa, which is docked in Galveston just a block from The Strand street, where television is showing buildings burning.If anybody hears anything over the next few days, perhaps they'll share.Mac

 

[Franklin]

It will be fine

It really isn't that bad here. The storm really lost a lot of power because of the many miles of shallow water it had to go through to get to the Texas coast. Plus, it also is about 100 miles east of Galveston.Don't believe the media, the wind isn't 100 mph like they say....its more like 70-80. My neighborhood is only getting gusts and they are about 40 knots.The only reason there was a fire is because of the transformers catching a lot of wind and not being secured well. Hell, I've lost power about 20 times today for a few seconds and the first time was when the storm was 300 miles out and we had no wind.Now over by the LA border, that's a different story but still noting like last month.

 

[max7804]

Kemah Boardwalk Marina

Franklin--I'm here in Central Texas and won't be able to get to Kemah until next weekend at the earliest.Please, do you have any word on how the sailboats fared at Kemah Boardwalk Marina?? We are able to get Channell 11 (KHOU) news here, and they showed the Boardwalk itself, but not the boats and Marina.Many thanks--and I hoped you fared well.

 

[Franklin]

Kemah

I'm going out there soon...maybe in the next couple of hours. I want to un-prep my boat or shall we say prep it for sailing tonight. Maybe even spend the night and take her out in the morning. I will give you a sit-rep no later then noon tomorrow (Gotta be home for kickoff).However, I'm sure there wasn't much if any damage to the boats. I think the max winds Kemah got was about 80 mph and when I left there Thursday night, 90% or more of the boats were already stripped and tied down good. Plus, I'm sure if there were boats sunk or floating away, the news crew would be all over it. There isn't that much damage west of the bay and the news is trying hard to find interesting news. I did hear that power was out just north of Kemah.What slip would you want me to look at in detail?

 

[smarter sailor]

Franklin

I can't believe you didn't get out there and try out those "running from a hurricane" schemes you used to talk so much about! Mother nature gets a little intimidating doesn't she? You people just got STUPID LUCKY over there and should count your blessings.

 

[Franklin]

Kemah update

Two boats sunks and a few jib ripped open. Othe then that, everything is ok.One of the boats is a powerboat and they were working on getting it up when I left. The second boat is a 55-60' Hinckly. Was such a beautiful boat. Seacock must have busted because all the dock lines were still attached.smarter sailor...I never said I wanted to go find one...was just looking for info on what to do if I got stuck in one and no...I will not just stay out of the Gulf 6 months out of the year.

 

[max7804]

Thanks Franklin

Thanks for the update. A friend of my husbands is going to check our boat out today but I am feeling much more optimistic about her fate, especially since we took our jib, bimini etc down last weekend in anticipation of rough weather with my husband gone on business. I was bummed that KHOU didn't fly over the Kemah/Seabrook area to show folks that everything was okay the way they did on Galveston Island. With as many sailboats out there (and power) it would have done a lot to alleviate folks minds. Thanks again.

 

[max7804]

Elissa

Mac--one of the local tv stations flew over Galveston Island to show the lack of damage from the storm to alleviate folks minds so they wouldn't rush back I guess. Anyway, they made it to the Strand, near where Elissa is docked. They got within a block of her--not specifically over her, but I was able to see her mast still up. I think if she was damaged it would have made national, if not at least the Houston news. They made a really big deal out of the Elks Lodge burning down in Galveston. I have always meant to tour her--we have spent quite a few weekends docked near her at the Harbor House Marina, but never quite walked over to her. I hope that Harbor House is still there--it's a nice little place for the weekend and it's fun to walk to the Strand and all the good seafood places.

 

[Glenn]

Rita

Seabrook Shipyard seemed to experience no damage other than a few boats on my pier had rub rail damage, mine had no damage. In Clear Lake Shores one ketch was completely sunk, only masts and bow pulpit showing above the water, another had bow pulpit hung on a piling and ripped deck loose from hull, another boat moored at the Hilton had furled jib shredded and one power boat was sunk at Watergate. Heard in the news that there were gusts of 90 mph in Kemah. I secured my main, took off jib Tuesday evening, went down Friday morning to disconnect power, water was just over pier, deck was about 4’ above pier, Saturday afternoon deck was 1’ below pier, north wind helped tremendously. Sunday afternoon water was back up. Minimal damage in the Clear Lake area. Hope all faired well.

 

[Glenn]

Smarter Sailot

My daughter and granddaughter left Clear Lake and drove to Conroe, 50-60 miles, on Wednesday morning, it took 6 hours. One of her brother-in-laws left Houston to Conroe, 30 miles from his house, Wednesday at 9:00pm, arrived in Conroe 4:30 pm Thursday, 17 1/2 hours. Another one of her brother-in-laws left Houston Friday morning and it took him 50 minutes. My daughter left Conroe at 11;00 am Saturday and arrive home in Clear Lake in less than an hour. My wife and I seriously considered leaving Houston Thursday morning, but to see people still not as far as Conroe after 20 plus hours, we decided we could not get my 93 year old mother-in-law in the car for that long, and there was the real possibility of getting stuck on the highway when Rita hit. As we watched the news Friday morning, we saw the more north movement over the last few days, the projected hit went 100 miles east from Matagorda to Galveston, and saw the very real possibility of a northward turn that would move it towards Louisiana.I think those of us who stuck it out at home really were lucky. Those of us in the Galveston area were lucky. None of us want to try this again. Somehow we need to get 3 plus million people out of the Houston area. The people in east Teaxs and Louisiana were given less than 12 hours notice to evacuate, I am amazed that as many got out as did.

 

[texastom]

Kemah Broadwalk is fine

Ruth, I keep my boat at Portofino Harbour and came right passed the Kemah Broadwalk Marina yesterday morning. Everything looked fine. Water was as high as I've seen it, within a foot of the broad walk, but not a problem for floating docks. The guy next to me had some rub damage as one of his bumpers blow out and the other ones must have become air borne causing his boat to rub against the dock.(mental note; make sure to secure bumpers to dock as well as boat)Yes we did dodge "The big one" this year, I hope. Those miserable high pressure systems that have been causing the high temperatures saved our sweaty butts.

 

[Mac Bentley]

Thanks, Ruth, Franklin

We toured Elissa a couple of years ago, just when we were getting into sailing. Very enjoyable, it was a weekday morning, virtually no one else aboard, we paid our money and had all day to explore her and imagine what it was like 130 years ago.We're headed back down Thanksgiving and looking forward to another Elissa visit, now that we know a little bit more about sailing.Mac