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For the most recent reports from the BVI see this page.
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- It's Official, Gaston has been named 7th storm
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- By DearMissMermaid at aol.com
- Date: Wed, 1 Sep 2010 17:33:15 EDT
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Tropical Storm Gaston
LOCATION...12.9N 37.0W
ABOUT 895 MI...1440 KM WSW OF THE CAPE VERDE
ISLANDS
ABOUT 1635 MI...2635 KM E OF THE LESSER ANTILLES
MAXIMUM SUSTAINED
WINDS...40 MPH...65 KM/HR
PRESENT MOVEMENT...W OR 280 DEGREES AT 15 MPH...24
KM/HR
MINIMUM CENTRAL PRESSURE...1005 MB...29.68 INCHES
I don't like the looks of him at all. 
At noon all was calm and you would NEVER think a storm had past a day ago
and another was just off to the East at this very minute. Well as I said
that the internet went down!
It is now 3:30 and I'm on Wifi via Penn's Landing as my internet will Not
Work... as typical recently. Only change is the light winds, maybe 5 to 6
knots have shifted to the South SouthWest rather than the North West where they
had been all AM. Still a nice day and these clouds are actually welcome
relief from the hot sun. This is all Fiona is going to give us except
maybe some rain in the late Afternoon and AM. That is great with
me!!
Now TD9 is something else! Well south of the recent Hurricane tracks
this causes us to worry big time... is this going to be another Earl only
worst? Will it past to our West and give us worst of the winds and
seas? Wish the damn thing would just head to the South.... Way South to
the pole! It needs to cool off.
Well I'm back on da boat and have the bimini up as it was just too hot to
not put her up. Running generator now but will try to set up the solar
cells on the deck for a temp move. After we see what TD9 is going to do we
may put them up and put the sails back on and do some sailing. I really do
not like feeling like I'm being held captive by the weather. I understand
we do have to adjust plans for weather but we should not have to cower in fear
of it. That is No FUN.
later
da Wayward Sailor
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- More news about Earl aftermath
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- By DearMissMermaid at aol.com
- Date: Wed, 1 Sep 2010 12:31:20 EDT
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OhMyGadda Anegada pics and story
EMAILS...
any news on Jost Van Dyke ? can you post it on
storm carib?
I have good friends there and not hearing from
them...probably
no current??
did you swish that "goodbye Earl" with your tail in
the sand?
must have been a chore???
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Hoping to hear more from JOST VAN DYKE, if anyone
has any news...
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- Bye Earl, Hello Fiona?
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- By DearMissMermaid at aol.com
- Date: Wed, 1 Sep 2010 11:55:46 EDT
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- Chainsaws in need everywhere it seems
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- By DearMissMermaid at aol.com
- Date: Wed, 1 Sep 2010 08:44:37 EDT
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Good Morning from the Midwest
Whew!!! I can finally report to everyone that
is interested in the Mermaid Gardener that my house in the BVI did not sustain
much damage however Mr. Earl did some major natural pruning for me. I've
included several pictures from around my house that were sent to me last
night. Seems like most of the larger trees were shredded and many large
branches down around the property. I have been holding my breath ever
since I had the house shuttered up on Sunday. My communication with Dear
Miss Mermaid was almost a minute by minute conversation at times while Earl was
pounding the British Virgin Islands.
I have already put in to action that my gardener
will have a truck on hand to haul the debris away. Seems like nature pruned out
all the dead/weak limbs and wood. My beautiful gardens won't be quite so
beautiful for a few months but in the tropics plants mend their wounds and start
new sprouting of leaves and flowers.
Just as here in the states when we have a huge hail
storm that shreds everything to pieces plants survive and start a new. I'm
optimistic that my gardens will again return to their beautiful state when I
last was down there 2 weeks ago.
Thank you Dear Miss Mermaid for
all your reporting for those of us who have boats, homes and loved ones down in
the British Virgin Islands you have all helped us emotionally and spiritually
with your excellent reports and timely humor.
A now breathing Mermaid
Gardener
That is Paraquita bay full of boats
Ouch!
 Mother Nature and EARL did some pruning
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- Hurricane Gaston in our future?
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- By DearMissMermaid at aol.com
- Date: Wed, 1 Sep 2010 08:18:58 EDT
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SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS ASSOCIATED WITH A BROAD AREA OF LOW PRESSURE
LOCATED ABOUT 800 MILES WEST-SOUTHWEST OF THE CAPE VERDE ISLANDS HAVE INCREASED
IN ORGANIZATION OVERNIGHT. ENVIRONMENTAL CONDITIONS APPEAR FAVORABLE FOR
DEVELOPMENT AND A TROPICAL DEPRESSION COULD FORM AT ANY
TIME. THERE IS A HIGH CHANCE...80
PERCENT...OF THIS SYSTEM BECOMING A TROPICAL CYCLONE DURING THE
NEXT 48 HOURS AS IT
MOVES WESTWARD AT 10 TO 15 MPH.
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- Get Ready for Tropical Storm Fiona
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- By DearMissMermaid at aol.com
- Date: Wed, 1 Sep 2010 07:57:04 EDT
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FIONA MOVING AT A FAST PACE TOWARD THE WEST-NORTHWEST...
SUMMARY
OF 800 PM AST...0000
UTC...INFORMATION
----------------------------------------------
LOCATION...16.8N
58.7W
ABOUT 300 MI...485 KM ESE OF THE NORTHERN LEEWARD ISLANDS
MAXIMUM
SUSTAINED WINDS...40 MPH...65 KM/HR
PRESENT MOVEMENT...WNW OR 285 DEGREES AT
20 MPH...33 KM/HR
MINIMUM CENTRAL PRESSURE...1006 MB...29.71 INCHES
Looks like the rains from FIONA could be more of a
problem than the winds, at this point.
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- more video of HURRICANE EARL
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- By DearMissMermaid at aol.com
- Date: Wed, 1 Sep 2010 07:39:45 EDT
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Video from St John
: Evil Earl wreaks havoc on St John - CNN iReport
Hurricane Earl, before the storm, Westin Hotel, trees already down
Hurricane Earl from St John, during storm
Virgin Gorda note from the honeymooner:
So right after I sent that picture of the power pole that
was down across the road. Jes spotted the pole traveling down the road past our
hotel on the back of a truck. They had pulled it out and replaced it
already. We also saw a replacement pole bieng staged for installation when
we got there. The cleanup seems to be really well coordinated here.
Also, ferries are due to run from/to Virgin Gorda today.
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- Get ready for FIONA and more reports
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- By DearMissMermaid at aol.com
- Date: Wed, 1 Sep 2010 07:25:52 EDT
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Leyland Sneed in Sopers Hole, that wreck in the background has been there
about 15+ years, shame it's never been cleaned up. I don't think anyone got this
boat ready for Earl, you can see the rubber dinghy and engine hanging off the
side.
The BVI is 60 miles east of Puerto Rico
MESSAGES, QUESTIONS, INFO
ST JOHN VIDEO
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We haven't heard from our friends at Heritage Inn~are they ok?
Is Banankeet Cafe still standing?
Thanks for info.
February family
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
ALL Dive BVI staff, shops, and boats are safe and secure. There
are several trees down on Little Dix Bay resort property (but
the beach looks great!), limbs/branches across power lines, and
messed up yards. The power has been off since Monday at 5:30
am. One of the dock huts blew into the marina at VGYH but no damage
to boats in the yard or marina. Water was as high as we've ever seen
it in the marina around 3:30 pm on Monday. We've posted videos on
our http://www.youtube.com/divebviltd
page. We're going to start moving boats around in the yard on
Wednesday if it's dry enough to use the Travel Lift. We did get some
minor roof damage to our tank shed at Leverick Bay but nothing that can't
be fixed.
Thank you for your reports.
--
Jeff
McNutt
General Manager, Dive BVI
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
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- Pictures from Tortola, hurricane Earl
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- By DearMissMermaid at aol.com
- Date: Tue, 31 Aug 2010 20:11:36 EDT
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Power came back to East End this evening at 7. While several
businesses has Emergency power everyone else was with out power but for only
about 24 hours and my motel was out of water only about 12 hours.
This AM while I walked to Penn's Landing I took some damage photos and last
night and yesterday afternoon some photo of Earls actions in East End
Tortola. Hope some can be posted for you to see.
Everyone seems very happy that what damage that did occur was far less than
would have been expected with a 100+ MPH storm passing though. I did learn
today that one of my Fav eating establishments, just across from the Ferry Dock
was destroyed.... the roof of the ferry dock came off and crushed it.
Things are getting back to normal and I'll be moving back on the boat in
the AM as long as some other Mad storm does not jump up. Looks like the
next in line should clear us but I'll not count it as passed until the darn
thing passes!
later
da Wayward Sailor
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- More pics from Virgin Gorda
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- By DearMissMermaid at aol.com
- Date: Tue, 31 Aug 2010 19:47:16 EDT
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- Virgin Gorda pics
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- By DearMissMermaid at aol.com
- Date: Tue, 31 Aug 2010 19:19:03 EDT
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- Lots of Links and News from the BVI
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- By DearMissMermaid at aol.com
- Date: Tue, 31 Aug 2010 18:34:20 EDT
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Well what a storm! I'm at the Red Rock Cafe at Penn's Landing where
their generator and internet are one of the few in operation. Lots of
activity today around the bay. Several marinas and charter companies
operate out of the bay including one with a couple of the large cargo van and
equipment haulers. For the most part things went much better than could be
expected with such winds and seas.
A number of boats, I think 3 for sure, broke loose from their anchorage or
mooring and impacted other boats but most appear cosmetic.... then two of them
sailed / floated/ blown into a very small government dock for fishermen (but
lots of go fast boats use it). Since the marina had been emptied... the
two run away boats slid in and helpful area people did what they could to tie
them down. I didn't see any major damage to either boat and assisted in
the failed attempt to pull one clear. Its keep was a good two feet into
the mud and sand and would not budge and tide was going down. It will take
another storm tide or a power boat to pull the two boats free.
The dink docks at the Marina View complex were destroyed... only a few
pieces of lumber remain and they were nice docks. Very convenient to the
new RiteWay food store which did open mid morning today to a heavy customer
load. Alfonzo's Gas Station was able to get its generator going and had
ice and fuel to sell a large que of cars and taxi's. Water service with
those that have/ use the street lines were back in service by mid day which was
very nice as it allowed me my first shower in a while.
I'll try to upload photos when possible but limited internet will not allow
this to be done most places. If we get power back at the motel tonight
I'll have them ready for you early... but I must get some work done to get moved
back aboard the boat which will take most of the day. Hopefully this next
storm will infact stay well East if us!
later
da Wayward Sailor
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Pictures from Road Town
Tortola pics from BVI paper
Anegada Update:
They took tons of pics and videos, can't upload yet. Governor did a fly by
but didn't land due to "winds"...locals cursing him for not stopping.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Jost Van Dyke
Hello,
I
just spoke with Ivey – Sea Crest Inn. No one was injured but they have a
lot of cleanup. No communications. Her family rode it out
together
on St. Thomas.
Thanks
for keeping everyone updated.
Best
regards,
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Dear Miss Mermaid
Just wanted to say Thank you!! We have a boat in
the BVI, left in the water in Sea Cows Bay as there was no room to get her
hauled before we had to return to the UK earlier this year, we were up
all night glued to your website, it was the only real source of information and
we clung to every report that came in. We have now heard from our good friend
Lincoln Ramsarran, of Aquadoc marine based in Nanny Cay and who made sure
our boat was as secure as possible. We understand that virtually all the
boats in Manual Reef marina, Sea Cows bay are fine, some ferry's were moved in
there and secured to the mangroves and one broke it's lines but that is
all. We are so grateful to the people who stay behind on the islands when we
leave and make the sacrifices they do to ensure our boats are safe and secure,
so our heartfelt gratitude goes to all that went out in the weather to help, and
to you for doing such a good job keeping us informed.
Kind regards
the crew of "seas the
moment"
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
BOMBA SHACK is still standing! I guess the radio report was all
wrong. It's been a joke that Bomba Shack has survived all storms. Get
ready for the next fool moon party there! There is a good bit of
damage, but nothing Bomba can't put throw back together.
AIRCRAFT FINDS FIONA A MINIMAL TROPICAL STORM...(well, I will still keep
watching my crystal ball on this one...)  SUMMARY OF 500 PM
AST...2100
UTC...INFORMATION ---------------------------------------------- LOCATION...16.7N
57.7W ABOUT 270 MI...440 KM E OF THE LEEWARD ISLANDS MAXIMUM SUSTAINED
WINDS...40 MPH...65 KM/HR PRESENT MOVEMENT...WNW OR 290 DEGREES AT 24
MPH...39 KM/HR MINIMUM CENTRAL PRESSURE...1006 MB...29.71 INCHES ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Fun Stuff:
DMM....
You are an angel!
Thank you so much
for keeping Storm Carib Tortola up and running thru Earl
we really appreciate your efforts.
Walter, Vernon and crew must be just exhausted! How did Martin
and Leslie fare at Red Rock Restaurant!
I assume they are ok - maybe a bit battered and bruised!
Scot Free is on the hard at Nanny Cay, so doing 'ok' I guess.
I'd suspect she has sprung a few leaks in places that have never before
leaked.
Ah, the joys of boat ownership!
Again, many thanks for all you do!
You are the BEST!
PS. when in Scotland I took the photos of brother reading your
book. He loved it. Laughed so hard!
when things quieten down I will forward the photo to you
Cheers
~~~~~~~~~
Just to say
how grateful I am for your website – my bother is on Tortola, and there is
nothing on British news about the hurricane, so the only way we have any idea of
what is going on is through your website – thankyou so much, and do keep the
pictures coming. I feel nostalgic to visit you all again reading all
the familiar names – it is such a wonderful and magical place. Thank you
again.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
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- Virgin Gorda yacht Harbour
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- By DearMissMermaid at aol.com
- Date: Tue, 31 Aug 2010 15:15:46 EDT
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This is third hand from Geoff in the boatyard at Virgin Gorda Yacht Harbour
- all boats are miraculously still standing in the yard. Geoff thinks the
winds "only" reached about 80mph there.
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- more requests
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- By DearMissMermaid at aol.com
- Date: Tue, 31 Aug 2010 15:02:29 EDT
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MORE REQUESTS:
Thanks so much for your efforts keeping us informed during this storm. It
looks like we will be joining you at Penns Landing at the end of this year.
Right now our boat “Moby” is in the VGYH yard. Have you heard any news from that
area about the boats in the yard etc?
Thanks again,
Jim
SV Moby
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Does anyone have any work from Spanish Town, Virgin Gorda?
Thank you for all of your help.
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- Anegada OhMyGada and more info from the BVI
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- By DearMissMermaid at aol.com
- Date: Tue, 31 Aug 2010 14:55:13 EDT
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Rec'd via text at 10:54 am"No one injured on
island.
Heavy damage on Anegada.Worst storm since Donna(1960). Setting
Point has
large boats washed ashore.All docks gone except govt.
dock.Power poles down.
Desal plant down."
Water was out to main cement road between Neptunes and Setting Point.No
injuries reported. Damage at Cow Wreck, some roof damage at restaurant, small
shed blown away.Large boats washed ashore at Setting Point.Neptunes lost a lot
of palms.
200 PM AST TUE AUG 31 2010
...AIRCRAFT REACHES THE CENTER OF
FIONA...
SUMMARY OF 200 PM AST...1800
UTC...INFORMATION
----------------------------------------------
LOCATION...16.3N
56.8W
ABOUT 335 MI...540 KM E OF THE LEEWARD ISLANDS
MAXIMUM SUSTAINED
WINDS...40 MPH...65 KM/HR
PRESENT MOVEMENT...WNW OR 285 DEGREES AT 24
MPH...39 KM/HR
MINIMUM CENTRAL PRESSURE...1006 MB...29.71 INCHES
No warnings or watches are in effect for the
BVI, but BEWARE, Fiona could be another sneaky one!
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Thanks so much for your updates through the
hurricane, your news was the only word we could get as to what was happening in
the islands. If you have any recent news as to how Walter and Penn's Landing
fared would be much appreciated.
Once again Thanks, great job. Best wishes from
Ontario Canada
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Walter is fine and the boats mostly survived at
Penn's Landing, though I believe some on anchor broke loose.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
MORE pictures from Cane Garden Bay:
MORE QUESTIONS...
Hi: you are doing a terrific service for those of us who want info from
Tortola!! Any reports from Long Bay on damage ? With thanks in advance from here
in Connecticut
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- Video from Virgin Gorda
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- By DearMissMermaid at aol.com
- Date: Tue, 31 Aug 2010 14:45:49 EDT
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Hello,
I came across your website and thought you mike like the video
I
created of hurricane Earl.
All is well on Virgin
Gorda.
Sincerely,
Erin
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
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- Officicial Nanny Cay Resort Statement
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- By DearMissMermaid at aol.com
- Date: Tue, 31 Aug 2010 13:29:15 EDT
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Hi
and thanks for the updates. You are “The Mermaid Trooper”!
Here
is a statement from the Nanny Cay Resort website which may belay concern for
boats on the hard:
Tuesday,
August 31, 2010 at 8:46AM
After
the passage of Hurricane Earl, all yachts are still standing in the boatyard,
and all yachts are afloat in the marina. Some of the docks are damaged and
Nanny Cay, like the rest of Tortola, has lost a lot of
foliage.
The
eye of Hurricane Earl passed north of the BVI late afternoon yesterday as a
Category 4 hurricane with sustained wind speeds of 135 miles per hour and higher
gusts. Anegada, North Sound (Virgin Gorda), and the north side of Tortola,
bore the brunt of the hurricane.
As
Earl moved away late afternoon and evening heavy (probably hurricane force 1/2
but to be confirmed) winds and surge battered the south shores of
Tortola.
Good
job and be safe-----
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- Pictures From West End, Sopers Hole
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- By DearMissMermaid at aol.com
- Date: Tue, 31 Aug 2010 13:20:43 EDT
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Older reports from the BVI have been moved to another page.
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Is Fiona Really Coming?
