Drop sails, stow all things that will catch the wind, tie down the things not stowable, set a drogue to keep the bow turned into the wind, hope that you are far out to sea well away from land, negotiate with whichever gods one associates with, and make damned sure that the call to the Coasties was received and acknowledged. Then get ready for a roller coaster ride that you will not forget, if you and the boat survive. And put on some appropriate music. Riding the Storm Out Riders on the Storm That being said, I am a small sailboat sailor and have never been out in a hurricane on a boat, sail or power. The biggest weather I have seen was on a dive trip on an 80 foot boat where the seas were running 30 feet and the wind was blowing 40 knots or more. When one is 20 something, it is an adventure. For more information, let me refer yout to The Annapolis Book of Seamanship.

Difficult, yes. But if we took that attitude more often, the world would be a better place. Good quote for the first day of Advent.

I just have to say I love the pictures. It has now become a ritual for my grandson to see all the pictures from the site.He says "theres some more people, or theres a cat or theres some more water" I just love showing all you all share...Deb

lydia, this was my first time to raise the monarchs. You need to plant a butterfly weed or milkweed plant. That is the only plant they eat and lay their eggs ons. This is the first year that I noticed the monarch cats on mine and they were covered with it. So I put them in this little container with butterfly weeds leaves. You must put new leaves in every day, they eat like little piggys. After about 10 days, they spin a cocoon, then in around 7-10 days they turn into a butterfly. It takes them several hours to dry their wings before they can be released. Its a thrill and I am sure glad that I tried it.