Airlie Chaos Pics and story by Bob Fenney

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Airlie Chaos By Bob Fenney The night of February 11th and the morning of the 12th will be fixed in the minds of many a boatie who call Airlie Beach home. . I was sort of enjoying the rock and roll of a not too gentle 20knt northerly, thinking, this'll be here for a few days, but, hey, I don't need to go ashore for a while, I've got plenty of tucker, beer and smokes. There are a few books I haven't read onboard, plus I need to be in Mobile phone range as I had a few business things going on. So I'll just put up with a couple of days of discomfort. I don't know what made me put the VHF to scan at about 4pm….but I did, although I rarely have done so previously. "All of our vessels MUST make way to Nara Inlet, you will stay there 'till further notice as a 90 kph storm is heading our way, and due to hit this area in 4/5 hours" demanded a bare boat yacht charter radio operator. There would be no arguments from the tone of his urgent voice. He then contacted each of their boats and repeated his demands. There were no arguments as this was serious stuff! My initial thoughts were "bugger me I'd better get out of here" I then consulted the charts, although I already knew I wouldn't be able to make it to Nara in 5 hours in these conditions, when the storm was predicted to hit, plus it'd be dark when I got there…not a good idea when you're single handed. I reckon I then made my best decision in recent times. I contacted Abel Point Marina and asked for a berth. They came back a short time later with a berth allocation and I threw off my mooring line, pushed the throttle of "Elcho" my 37'gaff rigged cutter forward, and headed off in a beam sea towards the safe haven of the Marina. Stuff fell from places I didn't even know I had. Hell, stuff can't fall any further, bugger it, leave it on the floor! It was a mouth-drying trip, if I'd had a deckie, I'd have demanded a beer, or several. My short trip was more than worthwhile. Before long, there was one of Abel Point Marina's staff talking my lines. I was safe, "Elcho" was safe. The airwaves were abuzz with stressed calls for help, and a few Mayday calls. The predicted 90kph wind from the North was due to hit the normally peaceful seaside village around 9pm. I listened to my VHF all night, a May Day, several urgent calls for help, reports of boats adrift hitting other boats, A big commercial tourist boat with 37 passengers and crew on the rocks at Hook Island. VMR and the Water Police trying to battle horrendous seas to help sailors, tourists, and anyone else who needed help, The Hayman Island Resort Vessel having to abort its gallant effort to help those 37 shipwrecked souls because of dangerous seas. And in between all this, a Father and his Daughter on his Yacht that'd broken it's mooring, sending out a May Day, as they were sure they were doomed. They'd hit several boats, done untold damage to their cherished craft, and were fearful of their lives. VMR were unable to help, too many other calls, not enough resources. In the early hours of the morning, a motor with a sort of urgent pitch made itself heard to me through the torrential wind and rain. As you would, I raced out, grabbed lines from the relieved Skipper and his Daughter and secured the crippled Yacht to the safety of a marina berth, as by the way did another bloke in the pouring rain. They were safe, plenty of damage to their yacht, but they were safe. Dawn saw a scene of horrific proportions. Yachts on the rocks, on the beaches, in the mangroves, smashing, being pumbled, becoming yachts no more! People's dreams being crushed by the power of the angry seas. Crying, putting on a brave face, saying, "it could have been worse" People having lost their homes and all they owned, did so with dignity. The big charter yacht "Romance" with all those holiday makers onboard, was still on the rocks, but 2 rescue helicopters were winching them off and taking to the safety of the luxury Resort Hayman Island. Sitting onboard "Elcho" in the comfort and safety of Abel Point Marina writing this piece, the mind wanders, and I can't help thinking "what if"? It was, I'm told, Australia's worst civilian maritime disaster, around 50 vessels sunk or badly damaged, vessels ranging from luxury charter Catamarans, blue water Yachts, Motor Cruisers, Fishing Charter Boats, to small racing yachts. The storm knew no distinction. Any vessel in its way was fair game for destruction. The following days told of amazing and sad stories. An 86 year old Man, living on his steel yacht, rode it all the way to the rocks, where she was smashed. Several blokes from the Whitsunday Sailing Club noticed an old and wrinkly hand reaching out of a hatch trying to get attention. They managed to rescue him, but his main concern was for his pet parrot still onboard, unfortunately it was beyond reach. The following day he was distressed because his eye glasses, hearing aids and false teeth were still on the wrecked Yacht, talk about losing everything? A Family lost their vintage Yacht, it had been their home, they, and their 4 children were taken in by a luxury Resort and given shelter, while the local community rallied to find them clothes, and more permanent accommodation. It'll be months before the mess is cleared up, months before insurance companies settle, and perhaps years before some people feel safe when they hear of a severe wind warning.