Yacht on the Rocks

[cat man do]

Originally Posted by Richard Woolfe

There were at least 10 boats in the confined channel after the WAGS race, including Black Jack Two. All the yachts were motoring slowly due to the low visibility from driving rain, and the fact that yachts at the head of the queue were manoeuvring into their berths. The gust came in at roughly 90 deg from the 30kt wind associated with the storm. All yachts in the channel lost control due to the suddenness of the gust, and absolute mayhem resulted. Our boat was driven into two concrete mooring piles, sustaining major damage to the deck forward of the port side shrouds. Another boat spun past us hitting a number of moored boats. I looked back to see Black Jack up on the sand near the north side break wall. A group of boys in sailing dingys fished themselves out of the water, boats damaged, mast snapped on at least one.

Sorry to hear of your damage Richard but I have to wonder why always the mad rush by many to get in amongst pylons and rocks as the front hits?

Having been through a few of these "Wednesday afternoon storms" over the years we usually just stayed out and motored around between Wellington Point and the leads keeping away from boats, rocks and pylons as the front usually only took a few minutes to blow through and you could motor head to wind and if control was lost there is plenty of bay and deep water to blow back into.