http://www.boatinternational.com | April 2018he morning after Hurricane Irma hit the
British Virgin Islands, boats lay strewn
on the shore of Tortola like discarded
toys. There were reports that Irma, the
most powerful Atlantic storm ever
recorded, had picked catamarans clean
of the water, throwing them six metres
into the air and spinning them around
like playthings in relentless 185mph-plus winds that also
flattened 80 per cent of the island’s buildings. Many people
lost everything they owned; some even lost their lives.
“It was when we transited through the Virgin Islands and
saw there were no lights, that power was not yet restored, that
it made me realise how much people had lost. I was shocked
at the complete devastation,” says Captain Andy Burridge of
Grey Matters. The 46 metre yacht left Fort Lauderdale with
her decks full of supplies to aid those battered last September
by two back-to-back hurricanes. Nearly a week after Irma,
Hurricane Maria rolled in. Puerto Rico and Dominica were
particularly hard hit. The hurricanes impacted 40 million
people, and cruising grounds from St Barths to Barbuda were
left unrecognisable. They created a humanitarian crisis, one
that caused yacht owners, the yachting industry and the world
at large to sit up and take notice.
When a disaster of this scale happens, those watching from
afar often feel helpless – not knowing what to do or how to
help in a way that will make a meaningful impact. Where to
even start? This was a sentiment expressed by many yacht
owners, desperate to be of service in a real way.
The crisis became a tipping point. While there were
already organisations in place like YachtAid Global (YAG),
which jumped into action sending dozens of vessels ladenwith gear to the Caribbean, this double
whammy of storms triggered a new-found groundswell
of energy and attention. A centralised aid coalition was
formed, new ideas were birthed, and there was a fresh focus
on exploring how yachts could make a diference – not just
after a disaster strikes but also in the long term, in cruising
grounds all over the world.
The first 72 hours after a disaster are the most critical.
“If people can’t get the food, water, shelter and supplies they
need, that’s when the death toll climbs,” says Captain Tim
Forderer, previously of sailing yachtVivid, who is now
volunteering full-time with YAG.
The non-profit organisation has orchestrated yachts in
delivering disaster relief and development and conservation
aid to coastal communities since 2006. YAG arranges for
supplies to be collected and transported by yachts, and works
with local contacts and officials to cut through red tape.TheirgenerousresponsetotheCaribbeanhurricanessuggestssuperyacht
ownersareincreasinglypreparedtoprotecttheirfavouritecruisinggrounds–
and give something back, saysRisa Merl
THE
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PHOTOGRAPHY: GETTY IMAGES; JOHN FROST NEWSPAPERS