8 Februar y 2015
waterfront
http://www.mysailing.com.auCyclones are enormously
damaging, not only in
the immediate wake of
destruction but in the
continuing aftermath as well.
The better we can
prepare our boats as well
as marinas and yacht clubs
the better.
In the weeks after the
US hurricane Sandy struck
Staten Island’s Great Kills
Harbor, orphaned boats
littering city streets blocked
traffic and interfered with
access by emergency vehicles
while sailboat masts snagged
in overhead wires delayed
the return of much-needed
electrical power.
As a result of such long-
term destruction the Boat
Owners Association of the
United States, (BoatUS)
an advocate body for
recreational boaters,
now offers boat owners,
public and private marina
operators, boat club and
community resiliency
managers free information
on preparing boats, marinas
and boat clubs. This
information is universal and
it is well worth Australian
boat owners taking
advantage of the offer.
Available online are
downloadable pdf tipsheets
including 'Protecting boats
in hurricanes'. A basic two-
page primer on hurricane
prep for all boaters in a
hurricane (or Australian
cyclone) state.
The BoatUS 'Boater’s
guide to preparing boats and
marinas for hurricanes' is the
boaters guide on hurricane
prep101 and has more details
on protecting your boat and
a marina.
Another pdf guide is
titled 'What works: a guide
to preparing marinas,
yacht clubs and boats
for hurricanes. A helpful
resource for community
resiliency managers, local
government, marina and
boat club staff that focuses
on facilities.
Local emergency managers,
marina or club fleet operators
can also download a
sampling of marina hurricane
preparation plans to see how
its local marinas compare,
learn about the value of
strapping down boats stored
ashore, and view features on
why some marinas fare better
than others.
Much of the information
provided comes from
BoatUS and its Marine
Insurance Catastrophe (CAT)
Team, a national leader in
hurricane preparedness that
has over 30 years of storm
salvage experience.Cyclone guides
available for free
Sixty 'vice commodores'
attended the passing of
monies from the Shag Islet
Cruising Yacht Club (SICYC)
fundraising at the Royal
Sydney Yacht Squadron.
A total of $74,750 was
donated to two medical
research bodies: $37,375.
each to the Prostate Cancer
Foundation of Australia
(PCFA) and the Wesley St
Andrews Medical Research
Institute. The money was
raised during the annual
Rendezvous at Queensland's
Shag Islet north of Airlie.
The cheques were received
for PCFA by David Sando
OAM, Chair of the PCFA
national committee and
for the Wesley St Andrews
Medical Research Institute
by Doctor Les Thompson, a
leading researcher in MRI
testing for prostate cancer.
Every member of the SICYC
automatically becomes a
vice commodore of their
own nominated region.
Attending vice commodores
at the squadron came fromAdelaide, Melbourne, NSW
Central Coast, Brisbane,
Qld Sunshine Coast and
the Whitsunday Region.
A fantastic effort to show
continued support for the
club and for prostate
cancer research.
Over the years funds
raised by the SICYC have
risen steadily, the bulk of it
donated to prostate cancer
awareness and research;
the first year 2009 raised
$280. Subsequent years
raised the following: 2010 -
$1,010; 2011 - $11,100; 2012- $32,000; 2013 - $43,000 and
this year's $74,750.
Sponsors also support
the SICYC including major
sponsors Abell Point Marina
at Airlie and the hosts of the
function, the RSYS, for which
the SICYC was grateful.
The aim of the not-for-
profit organisation is to
promote a social network for
cruising yachties.
SICYC current
membership is 3,521 from
14 countries.
Cancer research
funding boost
MAGE COURTESY NASA.Cyclone
Flavio. IDavid Sando OAM (left) receiving the cheque on behalf of PCFA from
Rhonda and Ken Thackeray.