It was an absolutely perfect sailing day here in Panama City. I saw a bunch of sails out on the water on my way home from work. They made us work today and gave us Monday off in the case that the hurricane turns this way. So, I was in class all day thinking about how wonderful it would be to be on the water. I think the sails I saw were from a youth race today.

-Rob V.
Panama City
Nacra 5.2

The U.S. Youth Multihull Championship is going on in Panama City August 25-28.

Are the "huricans" the reason people move to the west coast????

But there you get earthquakes.

I'll take the huricanes over the earthquakes, mud slides, forrest fires, and gas prices anyday. At least we can predict huricanes.

-Rob V.
Panama City
Nacra 5.2

I will take the change in seasons and the snow in Michigan over storms and heat of Florida and the earthquakes and mud of CA.
Fresh water sailing, the only reason to wash the boat is to get the bugs off.

... but you right your cat a lot faster when you know that there are sharks in the water

What the hell do you guys do with your cats when there is a hurricane? Where do you live? What happens with your work? What about your income? And I would have thought that “hurricane insurance” would have been a “bitch” to get for a hurricane prone area?

Hi Darryl -

Boats get tied down or put in garages. I've weathered the last several storms in an 1960's brick house on high ground. Most businesses shut down in the first few days after a big storm, and slowly reopen as power comes back on. Some people make a living during this time moving debris, cutting trees, making repairs, etc. Kirk's entire beach crew converted themselves from jet-ski rental and parasail boat captains to a dock repair company, which is still thriving a year after the storm - no loss of income and plenty to do.

Insurance in Florida is now state and federally managed - it is more expensive than private insurance (and will be more so next year) but nobody is turned away. There are strict requirements - for example, if your older home is more than 50% damaged, it must be torn down and a new built-to-code house constructed. There is talk that Mississippi, Alabama and Louisiana will follow Florida's example now, as private insurance companies pull out of areas where the current profit margins can't be maintained.

I don't know where you get your information that nobody was turned away but my girlfriend made a small claim for the hurricanes last year and they dropped her claiming that it was accross the board and not just because she made a claim. She is having trouble getting new coverage.