Heavy weather plans and prep

We have been tracking a nasty front as it marches toward the east coast for a few days and decided to hang out in Newport for it rather than head to Long Island Sound. With that decision made we had to decide—anchor or get a mooring? We started out in the anchorage, but when a boat came and ended up on our bow with very little scope out, we took advantage of a fresh opening elsewhere in the field. With good holding and room all around, we could relax and continue to consider whether we wanted to move or not. 

Well, the forecast has gotten worse, with winds in the 30kt range and gusts in the high 50’s. Another boat came yesterday and ended up about a boat length in front of us with the forecast winds. Not horrible, but not awesome. At least the wind event is mostly during daylight! After chatting with our new neighbors and trading details on our ground tackle, we’ve decided to stay in the anchorage. 

We dropped 30 more feet of chain to give a little more breathing room (and chain does us no good in the locker!), brought the snubbers all the way back to the midship cleats (more cushion for the gusts), charged the batteries, took down the bimini and connector, added some sound dampening to the halyards, wrapped the genoa sheets super tight around the sail, and will clear the cockpit of anything that can take flight after we run into town for a walk. We will be up, ready to power into the wind, fend, cut, whatever if we need to. We see all of our neighbors preparing, too, so we are in good company! Tomorrow morning should be a wild ride!