I felt helpless watching the hurricane
unfold...
I tried my best to bus from San Juan Del Sur, Nicaragua to El Salvador
before the hurricane hit, so I could prepare Chickadee, but all
the buses in Managua were cancelled due to the storm. I could not
get back to the boat to set the storm tackle. I felt helpless watching
the hurricane unfold on TV from a hotel room in Managua.
As it turns out, the yachting community in Bahia Del Sol worked
around the clock to secure the fleet and prepare unattended boats.
Murray from SV Tarazed, Chris from SV Alaskason, Mike and crew from
SV Desiderata, Dana on S/V Paradiso and Bill and Doreen from S/V
Lanakai, teamed up to move Chickadee to a different part of the
anchorage where there would be more swinging room and better holding
ground.
A triage center was set up...
A triage center was set up in the hotel foyer in the event of injury.
A crew count was taken on all 59 visiting yachts. The fleet prepared
for the worst and prayed for the best.
3 boats were outside the bar trying to get in before the hurricane
hit. The swell was too large for them to cross. One boat went on
to Barillas Marina. Ed and Terry on S/V Kuay decided to risk the
sand bar and come across even though the pilot boat recommended
NOT to make the crossing.
...caught between a hurricane and a hard place!
SV Kuay loss control in the breakers, came sideways and broached
110 degrees. The boat came back up, but received considerable damage.
The boom snapped in half. Solar panels, outboard motor and a foresail
got torn from the deck and washed away. Terry’s hand got pinned
in a line and bruised and banged up. Ed says the boat sustained
about $8000. worth of damage. He feels bad for not taking the pilot
boats advice not to enter the estuary until after the tempest. Talk
about being caught between a hurricane and a hard place!
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