Pete et al. we have just had our first serious storm experience and we weren't two miles from our home port on the Tennessee River, at mile 488. We were anchored in a familiar cove this Memorial Day, after a wonderful dinner to celebrate my brothers 50th birthday and a day swimming and relaxing we turned in with the hatches open to a gentle breeze. About 2:30 AM we noticed a light rain coming in the hatches, and in a few minutes both couples were up and closing things down. I turned on NOAA just to see if there was any serious weather in the area. The first thing I heard was a tornado warning for three counties, including the one we were in. I had never heard NOAA so detailed to our specific cruising area. Since we were all awake and it appeared as if we were in for a lot of nasty stuff, it was decided to head back to the marina, which was only about a 40 minute run. Halfway there the radio was even more specific about what was coming, where it was and when it would hit. I knew we were headed straight for it. My brother and I saw it at the same time. We were on the bridge, with life jackets on, listening to the radio telling us what was going to happen. Winds were estimated at 60 to 80 MPH. We looked into the night and saw the funnel develop over land and head straight for us. In an eye blink it hit us like a bomb. There was no build up of wind or rain, it just happened all at once, the entire top left immediately, we were knocked to the deck, glasses and hats blown off instantly and a complete immersion in rain. We were wetter than if we had jumped in the river and the noise was deafening. Everything went completely black. Our wives in the salon said it sounded as if we had been hit hard by something, they thought the forward windows were going to blow out and all they could see from any window was water. We were immediately disoriented but fortunately in deep water and in sight of the lighted marker showing the entrance to the creek leading to our marina. I circled the marker until the thing passed over, which seemed like an hour, but in reality was about 20 minutes. We then made it to port about 4:00 AM and back to sleep. In the morning the damage was assessed; antennas snapped, deck furniture jammed in railings, top supports twisted and ripped out of the teak rails and anything loose gone for good. The most dramatic evidence however was the US Flag that was at half mast at the stern in recognition of Memorial Day. Our son, who is in Baghdad, had specifically requested that we fly it that way out of respect. We really should have lowered it at sundown because it was shredded into thirteen strips of red and white. I think I'll frame it for my brother who just wanted to celebrate his fiftieth with a quite day on the water. So, even though you are on a calm river a thousand miles from the ocean, you must treat the weather with respect. Our 1976 Marine Trader held firm in the face of what we have found out was 90-100 MPH winds, only giving up the uppermost canvas and listing tolerably when I turned beam to the wind. But, an earlier decision to head back to port or perhaps a decision to stay on the hook could have been judicious. Ah, hindsight. Hal and Cheryl Baker Mas Bueno Soddy Daisy, TN

Hal, Tell me about it. We were about 110 miles from you, as the crow flies, in Decatur, AL when we decided that the NOAA reports were saying to us "go home". We were anchored in a wide but very shallow if you're out of the channel creek attending the Alabama Jubilee hot air balloon festival at Point Mallard. Our problem was we were 5-6 hours from our home port at Guntersville. I told the wife at about 1000 Sunday that we would make a decision that afternoon depending on the NOAA report at that time. Since the forecast was for the storm to reach Decatur/Huntsville around midnight we needed to head home no later than around 1600 in case we got delayed at the Guntersville lock. We left our anchorage right at 1600 and after a wait shortly before 2100 for the Delta Queen to descend the Guntersville lock, we were in our slip by 2200 and around midnight a-thirty very glad for it. It was quite a blow in G'ville but no rotation that I know of. I'm thankful yo'all are none the worse for the experience. Maybe we'll see you on the river someday. Hope to be around the Chatt/Knoxville area this fall. Bill & Gwen Cooke M/V All The Marbles RWB41104B585 ---- Original Message ----- From: <Hal50@aol.com> > Pete et al. we have just had our first serious storm experience and we > weren't two miles from our home port on the Tennessee River,