New Neighbor in the Typhoon Shelter

My new neighbor along side Watermark this morning, a brand new first-time-in-the-water Benateau sailing yacht. Welcome to the Typhoon Shelter! Aberdeen, Hong Kong Island.

A Summer's Day in the Typhoon Shelter

Wild Boar are Neighbors to the Typhoon Shelter

Typhoon Shelter Fisherman

Happy American Thanksgiving Day to the Typhoon Shelter fisherman outside my bedroom porthole window!  It is not considered at all unusual for fishermen to tie up directly along side Watermark's hull, where she shades both the fisherman and the fish.

Jumbo, My Neighbor in the Typhoon Shelter

Fire Boat 4

Hong Kong Fire Boat 4 patrolling the Aberdeen Typhoon Shelter.

Fire Boat 4 is berthed at Aberdeen Fireboat Station to provide fire and rescue cover to Aberdeen Harbour and southern waters. I've seen Fire Boat 4 in action once, fighting a fire at one of the shipyards that surround the Typhoon Shelter.

As my boat, Watermark, is a wooden boat, I am very happy to have Fire Boat 4 as a neighbor close by in Aberdeen.

First Typhoon in the Shelter

With Typhoon Nesat approaching Hong Kong, Typhoon Signal 8 is raised by the Hong Kong Observatory early in the morning of September 29.  Signal 8 is a warning of dangerous gale force winds, rain, and sea conditions.  All non essential businesses and services in the city shut down, and people are advised to stay indoors and take precautions for the safety of themselves and their property.

While neighbors in the Harbour take the opportunity to head for shore before the Typhoon strikes, the crew of Watermark (my wife, cats, and I) decide to stay aboard her in the refuge of the Typhoon Shelter.

Another clip shows the wind and rain as a neighboring boat tries to prepare:

Not the first Typhoon to be weathered by Watermark, but definitely an adventure for her crew.

Typhoon Shelter Neighbors include Boat Living Pets

My neighbors in the Shelter also include the few cats and dogs that live aboard boats full time.
For some of us, companionable pets are part of what makes living on a boat a home.

Eleanor is a calico cat who's home is a neighboring boat, but visits us on "Watermark" often.  She enjoys keeping us company on "anchor watch", sitting on the bow and watching the sunset.  She also earns her place, as many other seagoing cats throughout the ages have, by fiercely stalking any uninvited creatures that may try to board during the night.

Dogs passing by excitedly standing in the bow of small motor boats, enjoying the wind and the waves, are a regular sight, too.

For Teddy and Alfie,  kayaking is a weekend adventure.  I usually see them on the stern dive deck of their cruiser, brothers shoulder to shoulder with their tails wagging, watching the sampans passing by.

We brought our own cats from Singapore when we moved to the Typhoon Shelter.  They adapted quickly to life on the water, and even though a smaller space than the Singapore  shophouse and garden they were use to, seem to love the gentle rocking of "Watermark", the dozy sunlight through the windows, and exploring the different levels of the cabins.  We do keep them inside, as it can be hazardous for pets that are unaware that they may actually, as we all eventually do, fall over the side.

"Watermark" has a full crew.

see More Pets Aboard

Jumbo Floating Restaurant

Perhaps my most famous neighbor in the harbour is Jumbo, the floating restaurant, reachable only by small boat.

Jumbo's lights twinkle on as the sun sets, and are visible from all parts of the Aberdeen Southern Typhoon Shelter throughout the evening.

The typhoon shelter has a long tradition of dining on boats, and even a unique "typhoon shelter style" cuisine.  Most of this has moved to shore over the recent years.

Jumbo remains, as a landmark, an attraction for tourists, and as a home for popular restaurants offering both formal traditional Chinese and casual Western atmospheres.