savageseadog
Well-known member
I'm hearing of massive damage at Holyhead Marina in last night's storm................
Holyhead Marina
- Thread starter savageseadog
- Start date
FullCircle
Well-known member
From RNLI-
[h=3]'Considerable damage' to marina[/h]
Holyhead Marina has taken a bit of a battering during last night's weather.
The RNLI says it had to move its all weather lifeboat to a safer berth in the inner harbour area.
"There is considerable damage and disruption at the marina, so for now we will stay berthed within the inner harbour, ready to respond (slower than usual, but able) to a shout," a spokesman said.
[h=3]'Considerable damage' to marina[/h]
Holyhead Marina has taken a bit of a battering during last night's weather.
The RNLI says it had to move its all weather lifeboat to a safer berth in the inner harbour area.
"There is considerable damage and disruption at the marina, so for now we will stay berthed within the inner harbour, ready to respond (slower than usual, but able) to a shout," a spokesman said.
Yellow Ballad
Well-known member
There is a Video on facebook showing not a nice scene...
https://www.facebook.com/groups/sailingandcruisingwales/permalink/1954201141260635/
The AWL has been moved off it's berth into the inner harbour.
EDIT just saw the RNLI post above.
https://www.facebook.com/groups/sailingandcruisingwales/permalink/1954201141260635/
The AWL has been moved off it's berth into the inner harbour.
EDIT just saw the RNLI post above.
Skylark
Well-known member
That's not good to hear. Hope its not too serious for those affected. HH is well protected from all winds except easterlies, as I'm sure you know. My wife has got off the boat, walked along the snaking pontoons and slept in the car on more than one occasion when an easterly is blowing. Our last boat sustained damage in an easterly when the pontoon finger tried to climb the top sides. Goodwill from the marina, they repaired the grp without quibble. One forumite, now migrated south, was famously stranded aboard his boat for 36 hours, sailing club moorings, when even the launch would not put to sea. I've just tried to call Geoff but it went into answerphone. Please post if you or others have an additional info.
Yellow Ballad
Well-known member
Taken from
https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=10155653370698423&set=pcb.10155653370788423&type=3
Must be very upsetting for the owners and locals
savageseadog
Well-known member
The owner and manager won't be available, I understand they' might be in Hospital. If your boat's in there it's a gonner.
Skylark
Well-known member
Bloody hell. I've just seen a video clip taken a couple of hours ago and it resembles the recent Caribbean hurricane damage. Recognised a few boats, too. Dreadful news for all. Selfishly, I've just called Penryn and they were not affected by the easterly. My boat is too beamy for the HH travelhoist so I have to winter elsewhere.
Please keep posting if you hear any more about Geoff, Ed and others' welfare. Terrible news.
savageseadog
Well-known member
Taken from
https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=10155653370698423&set=pcb.10155653370788423&type=3
Must be very upsetting for the owners and locals
The triple spreader rig belongs to a new (I think) Farr 45, new to the owner at least who has only had the boat a few months
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Yellow Ballad
Well-known member
Holyhead sailing club have posted this on their facebook page
wully1
Well-known member
That's awful
The boats can be replaced - I hope the staff are OK.
The boats can be replaced - I hope the staff are OK.
pvb
Well-known member
More pics and video here - https://www.dailypost.co.uk/news/north-wales-news/live-emergency-holyhead-marina-storm-14359073
Looks like total destruction.
Looks like total destruction.
Laysula
Well-known member
This is very sad to see. We spent several years at Holyhead on both the marina and the moorings aboard Blue note 2. And yes we did spend 36 hours aboard during a storm on one of the moorings. Fortunately the wind was from the West so we were a lot more protected. We did turn up one Saturday morning in t it could have been very different, if anyone had been staying aboard the decision to abandon ship and sleep in the car could have come too late. I just hope that Ed and Geoff can resurrect the marina and get it all operational in the not too distant future.
Saraband
New member
Agreed that this is very sad and just fortunate that no-one hurt.
I know the continued interest in having a marina at Holyhead but as many of the harbour users know, whilst the harbour is an important place of refuge, that should not be confused with being a place without big waves or swells! When there were just moorings it wasn't uncommon to be able to get onto a mooring but then to be stranded on the boat for a day or two afterwards until safe to come ashore. Easterly gales, as last night, were the worst but very lumpy nights not unknown from other directions. Replacing moorings with anchored pontoons doesn't change that issue!
Whilst recognising that people's livelihoods are linked to the marina, I hope serious consideration is given to what can be done to reduce the impact of waves on the pontoons before there is any decision just to replicate what has just failed.
I know the continued interest in having a marina at Holyhead but as many of the harbour users know, whilst the harbour is an important place of refuge, that should not be confused with being a place without big waves or swells! When there were just moorings it wasn't uncommon to be able to get onto a mooring but then to be stranded on the boat for a day or two afterwards until safe to come ashore. Easterly gales, as last night, were the worst but very lumpy nights not unknown from other directions. Replacing moorings with anchored pontoons doesn't change that issue!
Whilst recognising that people's livelihoods are linked to the marina, I hope serious consideration is given to what can be done to reduce the impact of waves on the pontoons before there is any decision just to replicate what has just failed.
mainsail1
Well-known member
It appears to me that many marinas around the UK think they are safe without a solid breakwater.
This again proves the point that pontoons without full protection are an accident waiting to happen. Perhaps insurers need to insist on the right protection.
This again proves the point that pontoons without full protection are an accident waiting to happen. Perhaps insurers need to insist on the right protection.
TSB240
Well-known member
It certainly was wild last night and I was glad our boat was tucked away at Port Dinorwic. Holyhead is due for a development that should provide more protection from an easterly wind. My heart goes out to those that have suffered a loss. Thankfully no loss of life but a loss of personal proportions can feel the same for some time.
A friend has just reported in on Facebook..
https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=10156048481783954&set=pcb.10156048483338954&type=3&theater
Steve
A friend has just reported in on Facebook..
https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=10156048481783954&set=pcb.10156048483338954&type=3&theater
Steve
TSB240
Well-known member
Holyhead is pretty well protected from most directions by a solid breakwater but a force 12 from the east is exceptional. The harbour is more open in that direction and quite a big fetch can result.
There are plans for a new marina which would effectively shorten the potential fetch and give more protection.
I only hope that the report of the marina manager and assistant being in hospital is not bad news. They used to offer a great service to all visitors and I hope the operation can recover for the new season. I know our club and other local organisations will try to do as much as possible to support them if and when they get everything back in place for visitors.
[3889]
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+1
I visited Holyhead for the first time in a decade last year and felt there was a lot of effort being made in making visitors feel welcome. I hope this sad event catalyses the marina's development.
mainsail1
Well-known member
I hope the money can be found to provide a few thousand tons of rock, dumped in the right place, to protect it. If not it is only a matter of time before this accident occurs again.
Skylark
Well-known member
Hi Steve,
Geoff is quoted as saying “luckily no one has been hurt but this one has absolutely destroyed us”
Ref northwaleschronicle.co.uk “staff risking life and limb as Storm Emma sinks boats in HH marina”. I don’t know how to post a link from an iPhone. Worth a read, though.
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pvb
Well-known member
Well, it's northwaleschronicle if anyone wants to look for it, but here's one pic from their report...
