Carolyn Shearlock has cruised hurricane-prone areas for 17 years. Since 2003, she has extensively studied why some boats survive hurricanes with minimal damage while others nearby are totaled. "Every storm teaches us new things to watch out for and reinforces the lessons of previous storms," says Carolyn. "Various people—including me—write about the new lessons or give 'Top 10' lists for hurricane prep, but I don't know of anyone else who provides an in-depth analysis of all the factors we need to consider. It's my experience that it's not just one thing that saves a boat; it's the sum total of everything that was done."

Her boats have taken direct hits from two hurricanes—Category 1 Marty in 2003 and Category 4 Irma in 2017—and have been within 50 miles of the eye of a dozen other storms. Remarkably, her boats have sustained less than $700 in damage over the years, most of which was due to storm surge from Irma destroying a dinghy motor (yes, she’ll tell you how to avoid that in her course).

Carolyn is a big proponent of making boat life easier by sharing information with others. Her website, The Boat Galley, focuses on all the "living on a boat" skills that aren't part of learning to sail or operate a boat yet play a significant role in the lives of new cruisers. Providing an in-depth approach to hurricane prep is one of her favorite ways to help other boaters. "Seeing a hurricane forecast for your area is downright scary," she says. "Having a solid plan already in place both removes a lot of the stress and makes it far more likely that you'll have a good result."