Adventures of the Yacht White Pepper: Hurricane Zeta

Sunday, November 15, 2020

Hurricane Zeta

We could not proceed. The Industrial Lock (Inner Harbor) was closed for two or more months for repairs closing off the Gulf ICW inland route. There was no will to go offshore around the boot of Louisiana with the onset of hurricane season. Indeed tropical storm Cristobal rolled right over New Orleans only 5 days after we left her docked at the New Orleans Municipal Yacht Harbor. That was the day after Memorial Day 2020.

We assessed that White Pepper was safer at the NOMYH than in Corpus Christi. There was 360 protection from waves and sturdy floating docks. We did not know that 4 tropical systems would threaten her and two would make direct hits.

TS Cristobal visited in early June but made only minimal impact with 35 mph winds and high water.

Jan points out the high water mark of Cristobal

Hurricanes Laura and Beta struck Louisiana near Lake Charles causing only gusty winds and some high water in New Orleans.

View of Lake Charles from I-10. Most of the roofs have blue tarps after hurricanes Laura and Beta.

However, hurricane Zeta was a different matter. It scored a direct hit on the harbor. There is an official NOAA weather station at New Canal which is about 500 yards from White Pepper. It recorded 65 knots winds from the east gusting to 85 knots. Then there was an eye that lasted about 20 minutes, followed by 50 knots winds from the west. The water rose 2 feet in 15 minutes and then dropped the same amount in another 15 minutes, according to locals that stayed on their boats during the storm.

Wind data from the New Canal Station

White Pepper suffered damage to two starboard side stanchions and a bent toe rail, but otherwise did very well. A stern line was nearly severed. Another few hours of west wind would have probably finished it.