RE: Wind Protection!

[Joe Gleason]

 
We ll be camping down in Florida.  And fortunate enough to get an ocean side site.  We camped there last year as well ... Fort Desoto - Awesome place...
 
 First thing I noticed before we set up was the " funnel"  effect...  The winds where calm but you could see the potential for substantial winds..
 
 So I was careful to point my bunks into the wind and off just a bit to shelter the canopy..   It paid off... Large winds came several times... Blowing the canopy of my neighbor up and over... and Blowing the other Tent (sleeping bags and all) down the road....
 
 I watched as my canopy bounced up and down a few times (used bungies to give it some flex and dump the big winds)... Could have used " flap dampeners" ..
 
 Question:
 What else do people do to protect against the wind?
 
 What AAR s how much can they withstand?  More / Less then a canopy? - I would think more, as the wind doesn t get under them...
 
 My " insights"  come from painful experience... I ve since used the quote... " It s hard to respect Mother Nature, until you ve been at her Mercy" ... Trust me, when your time comes,  all you have is what you planned for!
 

[fivegonefishing]

 Joe Gleason
Our very first trip last season, we were right on a lake and the wind was contant and unrelenting!  If you look at these pics of the trip, you can see the flaps going http://fivegonefishing.tripod.com/abc.html  
 
 The AAR has privacy panels was the best thing that weekend, once you stepped behind the panel, it was like stepping behind a wall.  Because the AAR is secured to the awning and the ground, it is very secure.  The wind didn t effect our cooking or comfort that weekend thanks to the AAR!
 
 Tammy

[Giffster]

 Joe Gleason
My last trip I went through a pretty rough little storm front.  Since I knew it was coming, I did leave my awning up, but took precautions.  Not only used the regular ropes staked in, but added a tie-down strap to one end and double staked it.  The awning was facing into the wind, but it didn t budge.  Found out in the morning that a tornado hit 10 miles east of the cg.  
 
 I also use 2 ponchos (from my Air Force days) as wind blockers.  Works quite well.
 
 Cheers

[tlhdoc]

 Joe Gleason
We always use our AAR when we camp at the beach.  We have been in 40 mph winds and the AAR helped to keep the awning in place.  I also double stake the awning when the wind gets blowing.  Where we camp at Assateague the sites are paved.  I put soda 12 packs and our 3 six gallon water cans on the edges of the AAR to keep the sides down.  I think pool pillows or sand bags would have worked better.[]