Weather Watch: Hurricane Dorian

Hurricane Dorian hovered over the Bahamas, pummeling the islands © AP Photo / Tim Aylen

The Caribbean hurricane season runs through to the end of November; already this season, the region has experienced a category 5 hurricane, Dorian, which struck the northern Bahamas.

Many of you will have enjoyed cruising in the northern Bahamas in the past and have felt helpless watching as the slow, but incredibly powerful hurricane, passed thru the islands at the start of September, leaving a trail of devastation behind.

Cruisers who were in the Bahamas have commented that it was unlike "normal" hurricanes, with greater power and slower speed of travel. The people of Grand Bahama and Abaco can testify to this, all of whom have suffered extreme loss and for the majority evacuation away from their homes.

Cruisers eager to sail to the northern Bahamas to help are urged to proceed with caution and are - for the time being - asked to stay away, as the infrastructure does not exist to support visitors at this time. For now, financial aid is the best way in which you can help via one of the official aid organizations.

Remember too that the southeastern and central Bahamas were far less affected by the Dorian and these islands are still very much open for business. The Bahamas capital of Nassau and neighboring Paradise Island, as well as Eleuthera, Harbour Island and Andros, The Exumas, Cat Island, San Salvador, Rum Cay, Long Island, Acklins/Crooked Island, Ragged Island, Mayaguana and Inagua remain unaffected.

Spend your cruising season enjoying all that these islands have to offer and in turn you will be helping their sister islands in the north that were impacted by Hurricane Dorian.