I always thought that sailing to a lake 300 miles from the coast was the perfect insurance against getting caught in a hurricane. I never expected to get trapped here but that's the case.
We wanted to go to the Chesapeake rendezvous but we'll still be here on Lake Champlain indefinitely (hopefully no more than a week or two). Damage to the canals, locks and dams south of us is extensive. They had a double hit. Tropical Storm Irene then Tropical Storm Lee a week later.
We heard that the federal dam and lock in Troy, NY are clogged with sunken boats. Numerous boats were washed over the dam, including an 80 footer. Many of those boats had fled to that location from the lower Hudson in advance of Hurricane Irene, hoping to find a safe refuge.
The debris must be cleared and the red/green channel markers located and put back in place before the canal can reopen.
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Above, lock 9 in Rotterdam NY last Friday. The lock chamber is under the water under the collapsed bridge. The white buildings are the second story of the lock's electrical equipment buildings.
We are fortunate to have come through all of this without damage. Now, if the canal reopens before the lake freezes we will escape.
There is an alternate route. We could go 1500 miles north to Nova Scotia on the Saint Lawrence. But that would put is in the North Atlantic in October; Perfect Storm neighborhood in the perfect storm month. Satori proved that a Westsail 32 can handle it, but I don't think my wife and I are seaworthy enough for that.
