Our floating classroom for Weather 101 Lindsay McRory July 8, 1996 Waiting for Bertha Early this morning, with Hurricane Bertha closing in, the kids and I took the dinghy into the mangrove swamp with our boat hook to use as a sounding pole. We found a nice spot with seven feet of water right up to the edge. We returned to Hakuna Matata and raised anchors. Denise was steering straight for our spot in the mangrove while I dropped a stern anchor 100 feet from the edge. The bow crashed right in to the mangroves so loud it sounded like a tree falling. We set four heavy lines deep into the swamp at different angles to the boat. All are tied near the bottom of very thick mangrove trees. Another stern anchor was set as well. After we were done we used the stern anchors to pull us away from the mangroves so we wouldn't be eaten alive by bugs. As the wind picks up we will ease the stern anchors and harden on our mangrove lines. By pulling ourselves hard into the mangroves we reduce Hakuna Matata's exposed surfaces and minimize our chances of getting damaged. The rest of the afternoon was spent putting everything possible below decks and lashing things down. The atmosphere is amazingly casual, although the preparations are serious and everyone is treating them that way. The worst of it is expected to pass fairly close to us by 2 p.m. tomorrow. Today was truly the calm before the storm. The usual 20-knot trade winds have died, replaced by a gentle breeze. The skies are clear and generally it looks like a nice day for a sail. But it is very good to be here, tucked into our bank of mangroves. Any place in the Bahamas or the Turks would be a nightmare. If we found ourselves stuck in those exposed anchorages, odds are we would probably be forced to anchor as best we could and grab a hotel. Here we will ride it out in the mangroves. We're now as prepared as we can be. Not much else to do but wait for Bertha. Tomorrow's science lesson for the kids is hurricanes.