Writing about the weather is usually kind of drab and boring unless it comes with chaos. March has not let me down. March is, thus far, much more dramatic than the pacifist February.

Since the second month of the year was so gorgeous, a few blokes here decided to leave the security of the docks for the great seas (the bay) when March rolled in. Why pay for moorage when one could just as easily live on the hook for free, and dinghy into shore while the winter sun is shining? So out the boys went. Since I do not have a heater, nor an adequate natural power supply in the form of panels or wind generators, I decided to stay in my slip. When it comes down to it, it’s just money, and not worth living out in the freezing cold and running my generator a few hours a day. No thanks.

As soon as the boys dropped anchors, I knew they’d bring the bad weather. Is it Murphy’s Law? I’m not sure, but it seems that the gods of weather love to mess with us mortals—it’s their favorite pastime. The boys asked me when I was going “out there” and I replied with “when I have to.” When the port kicks me out, cuts my lines, threatens me with grenades and rocket launchers. That’s when. No sooner than I have to. Me likey my abundant power, warmth, and easy land access. I can afford to say here, therefore I will. I don’t need to prove myself.

And so the chaos began. It started with one of the boys falling into the water in high winds, as he was trying to get into his rowing dinghy. The rest of us have inflatables with outboards, and we have those for a reason: stability. In nasty winds, none of us want to deal with rowing or the rocking of a light, gliding dink. It’s all about the revving power and hard-to-flip boats. He fell in after putting his dog inside the boat, and stepping in it himself. Had another liveaboard not spotted him and gotten into his own dinghy to rescue him, he may have drowned. After that, the rescued sailor has not only raised important awareness about wearing life vests, but has also brought his boat in for the remainder of winter. He’s doing fine, but is weary of the stormy seas, as we all should be.

High winds have pounded us almost the entire time since March began. Though I’m a reluctant member of the BTC (blue tarp club) most of the month I’ve had the tarp rolled up, as it only acts as a sail, pushing the boat over, flapping, chafing, and doing no good. As the wind howls in, I look out to the bay to see if any boats are coming loose. So far only one boat has lost its grip on our muddy bottom, but it’s not a surprise. The same boat has come loose I’m guessing at least six times since I’ve lived aboard (the owners need to learn how to properly set an anchor!), finding its way into the north side of the bay, stuck in the mud.

Over the weekend, when NOAA was calling for apocalyptic winds, the boys of the bay decided to come in to the docks, and I know they were all thankful. NOAA accurately predicted treacherous winds blowing in the early morning, which were so loud and forceful they woke me from my dreamless sleep. Though my tarp was stowed, the boat was still blown at quite an angle, and I was immensely thankful for my dock lines!

The month has been cold, windy, and miserable. February lured many into the belief that winter was coming to a swift and strange close, but that has not been the case. I remember my mom saying “March comes in like a lion and out like a lamb,” but I’m not sure what kind of lamb she’s talking about. I’ve never known March to end peacefully. If it goes out like a lamb, it’s a lamb from the imagination of someone like Stephen King.

But spring is “coming,” I’m just not sure when, nor is anyone else. March’s swift coming has reminded me that my “winter” is running out, and I’ve accomplished very little of my winter projects. I’d planned on learning navigation, taking care of boat maintenance, and even some superficial boat beauty projects for the interior. Yet most of my time has been spent doing anything but those said projects! Ahhhh!!!! I’m running out of time, and I need to get some things done around this boat.

What about you? How have you handled this treacherous March? Any stories of chaos?