Disastrous Waves Destroy Boats - Hawaii Hurricane Iniki - South Pacific Pt. 11

I think its great that you are posting so many of your old videos. It was a whole different era of technology and weather forecasting back in 92.

Until you've actually been in and heard winds of over 100mph in person you just can't understand what its like!

Being someone that dealt with hurricanes my whole life it just amazes me how much better forecasting actually is. I left town for Hurricane Andrew (CAT 5) in 1992 and our house didn't have power 3 weeks. It took almost a week to talk to my mother as there was no power or phone service. I left town with my girlfriend to go up the coast to surfing and then ended up in my sisters dorm at FSU for a couple as the destruction was so bad. My mom went to some friends house southwest as Andrew was forecasts to hit well north of where we live and Andrew changed coarse and went south at the last minute. Survived many others like Wilma that took most of the roof of our apartment creating many leaks and no power for two weeks.

Years back a few of my friends went out in the eye of one of the hurricanes while attending a hurricane party and ended up hiding out in someones carport for hours as the back side of the eye wall hit and they couldn't make it back to the party.

No matter how heavy your gear, we still have the problem of other boats dragging on to you.
At least in deeper water than the others you are less likely to have craft to windward of you.
Wow. 1/2" chain on a 38 footer - that is heavy gear for modern yachts! That is what I have in my 44' LOD smack in my avatar.
Fair winds.

Watching this brought back memories of my experience on Oahu during Iniki. I was scared to death - then it turned - seemingly at the last moment and clobbered Kauai.

SAD to see such destruction and so many being unprepared!

Holy crap!!! That's terrible.....why on Earth weren't they in a safe harbour?

Thank you for sharing all these wonderful videos. It was great meeting you in Kaneohe Bay. I wish you were not leaving so soon, I'm sure it would be wonderful to get to know you both better.
A hui hou,
David

The smallest craft I road a storm out on was 800' compliments of the USN, but I'm wondering would they have been better trying to run onto the beach, hull damage but may not snap the mast. I suppose either way it would equal a total loss.

That was truly heart breaking to see so many ships being throttled.

It looks like the biggest problem was that the wind was 90 degrees to the breaking waves, making all the anchored boats take the breakers abeam... the worst possible angle. You were smart to get in the deepest water possible, probably with a very long anchor rode. Thanks for sharing.

what is the worst storm you have ever sailed in? Ever felt you were in danger?

Would it ever be a good idea to head farther offshore under sail or power in deeper water so you're not affected by breaking waves and stay in deeper water until the storm passes rather than anchoring in shallower water? Did you folks stay aboard the boat during the storm or did you head to land? What was the depth where we see the boats?

Were you aboard as she passed?  I was a singlehaneder in Georgetown, Exuma when a hurricane went right over the Turks and Caicos.  I called my family the day before, my stepmother asked if I was planning on staying aboard.  It was the first moment the idea dawned on me that I should just leave her to ride it out (I had no motor, anyway,  swam up an engine block, set out heavy gear, and plenty of chaffing).  My boat made it through just fine and I helped out shuttering around town and shared free room at the Peace and Plenty.  In the Virgins, a few years later I saw the impact of "insurance" - untended boats on minimal gear left to drag ashore, endangering liveaboarders.  Screw rich yachtsmen with insurance and the thousands of gallons of diesel they motored down island on!...although it does make for great beach-combing for a few days!  

Wow that's crazy one year after 911 of 91  all most to hour that 911 happens in new York

I was amazed to see the trimaran flip over,

I anchored in 60' of water with 300' of chain and a 75lb. CQR. That did the trick. Trying to power into the steep seas, your prop would be out of the water most of the time and if you should get beam to it would be a disaster. Nice to hear from you again. Thanks for the comment and for watching.

that was scary I wonder if it was me there,would I moter out of it.

Luckily, no and we were able to continue our cruising which you can watch on youtube @Voyage of Emerald Steel. Thanks for the comment and for watching.

Incredible footage, thanks for sharing. I was on Oahu when Iniki hit, just a glancing blow. Was that Emerald on the beach at the end?

Actually we all watched Hurricane Iniki very closely as she was safely passing South of the Big Island of Hawaii on it's way westward. The problem was that she turned unexpectedly 160 degrees right after midnight back toward Kauai,200 miles from Maui, neither NOAA - Hurricane Center nor the boaters could have forecast that. Iniki was a very powerful, Cat 5, and fast moving Hurricane. Thanks for commenting and watching.

I can't belive ... nobody watch barometer??? nobody leave in time ????