2nd April - Cyclone Debbie meets 2XS

Sunday 2^nd April 2017

A cheery photo taken in North Hobart this week - we were taking our minds off Debbie and
found a sign which amused us a lot

Sailing 2XS has been taking a sabbatical after many years of constant posting.  And poor 2XS has been copping a battering, along with a large swathe of coastal Queensland and New South Wales.

Debbie!

Last week Cyclone Debbie came slowly and surely towards Queensland, aiming with awful deliberation straight at the Whitsundays.  2XS was peacefully tied up in the marina on Hamilton Island… For the first day or so the marina sent out reassuring and business like emails. And then the emails stopped; all communication stopped.  We spent a day or so glued to TV news of various denominations trying to get glimpse of Hamilton Island. There were hardy reporters everywhere, standing in the rain and the wind, but unfortunately nobody had been stationed on any of the Whitsunday islands.

Wild Debbie winds

This was nobody’s fault.  The cyclone was devastating in its intensity.  All power and all means of communication were down and out.  But eventually Debbie moved on to wreak havoc on the coast further south.  The floods are expected in Rockhampton next; it is not yet over.

The marina is battered

But Hamilton Island is now free of wind and rain and they are restoring some sort of power systems so we have received news.  And, amazingly, all is well!  Peter Frappell had been the last person on board, a month or so ago, with his family.  He had tied off all of the ropes and had secured as much as could be secured.  And he did a splendid job – he is very relieved…

The damage is minimal, on 2XS.  Luck of the draw – the catamaran adjacent was very badly smashed.  

Ouch!!

Pete spoke to Ben, who had been employed to keep an eye on 2XS, yesterday.  Apparently the mattresses are all dry, the power is working.  The solar panels are intact; the dinghy is still dangling jauntily from the davits, outboard motor in place.  We are delighted and astonished!!

The headsail is shredded

We are due to fly in to Hamilton Island on the 12^th.  There are many rumours that the island is closed for business and will be inaccessible for many months but Ben seems quietly confident that all will be well…

Beautiful Hamilton Island denuded...