Boaters prepare ahead of stormy weekend on Central Coast
With high winds expected this weekend, many along the coastal harbors on the Central Coast are getting ready for the rougher seas.
“So we’re going to make sure all the lines are secured,” said Maggie Huckabay, a Hollister resident who owns a boat at the Monterey Harbor. “Of course, most boats or some boats have leaks, so we’re going to set up utensils to catch any water that tries to go in the boat.”
Huckabay says several times a year, she has to come down to the Monterey Harbor to make sure stormy seas will not damage her boat.
“When there’s one with a lot of wind force coming or a lot of current like we had huge waves a couple weeks ago and that made a difference too to how much the lines are working,” she said.
“So over the weekend, the winds and seas will pick up. Up to 45 knots in some places,” said Robert Hopkins, a Coast Guard petty officer.
Hopkins works at the Coast Guard’s Monterey station. He says not a lot of people would go out in a storm like this, but some do.
“We just ask if they’re going to be out for sailing, that they have life jackets for every person on board, that their throwable personal floatation devices are readily available,” he said.
Hopkins does not recommend people go out sailing in windy conditions like this weekend. Radios and cell phones help the Coast Guard locate anyone in trouble.
The Monterey Bay has a rocky coastline and surf zones that can be dangerous. But Hopkins says their station is fully prepared for emergencies, staffing and equipment-wise.
“That allow us to operate in heavier winds and heavier seas to provide rescue to individuals in danger,” he said.
For now, it is all about preparation.
“It’s beautiful. It’s a good night to get into your little dinghy and row out a bit,” said Huckabay. “It’s warm and it’s clear and it’s calm, so we’ll see what (Saturday) brings.”
The Coast Guardsmen are still coming to work without pay due to the partial government shutdown. They will be ready to respond to any SOS over the weekend.
