Belle Haven Boaters Prep for Hurricane Sandy

Hurricane Sandy is coming, and boaters across Northern Virginia are preparing for the worst. At the Belle Haven Marina along the George Washington Memorial Parkway, dozens of boaters cast off for Tantallon Marina, which is near Fort Washington, Md.

It is anticipated that the storm, which will likely hit Northern Virginia on Monday and Tuesday, will bring wind gusts of up to 75 miles per hour. 

"We're not worried about the flooding. It should not be an issue," said Chip Johnston, dock master at the Belle Haven Marina.

"Have you been to Tantallon before?" said Alexandria boater Tony Asterita. "It's pretty protected in there, and if the wind is coming in from the northwest, we should be fine." 

Strong northwest winds don't have the boaters worried of flooding. "If the wind comes from the northwest, you'll be able to walk across the Potomac, because there won't be any water left. It's the wind that we have to worry about," said one boater who spoke anonymously. "The whole sandbar will be exposed. The wind will blow all the water down in the Potomac to the Chesapeake Bay."

It's a windy 45-minute ride across the Potomac to Tantallon Marina. There, Patch found about 100 boats docked and prepped for the storm.

"Normally we've got about 65 boats here, but this is a protective cove, and we have floating docks. Everyone's tied down, everything's tied up, and we have good security," said marina manager Rhonda Hunziker. "But I always get nervous with these storms. You never really know what they're going to do."

Asterita was relieved at the end of his voyage. "It's all secure and my mind is finally at ease," he said, adding that he would return for his 25-foot sailboat "Claire" after the storm clears by Wednesday.

Click here for complete coverage of Hurricane Sandy and its effects on Huntington, Belle Haven and the surrounding neighborhoods.