- Dec 29, 2008
- 806
UPDATE 9/21/17
Maria was a Cat 5 hurricane when the eye wall crossed the western tip of St. Croix. My understanding is that the western part of the island suffered severe damage. I spoke with a fellow sailor, Bob, who said their house on the southwest beach was "gone". I ran into him while surveying the damage at Green Cay Marina where both our boats were docked for the storm season.
The marina came through the storm in relatively good shape. At least two boats are sunk, and many suffered varying degrees if damage. One ketch lost its main mast. Several concrete finger piers were gone, and several pilings were down. Most damage was the result of boats scraping against the corner of the finger pier. Many cleats literally broke off from the concrete docks - as opposed to pulling out or breaking the concrete as I had feared.
One such cleat, one holding us away from our finger pier, broke off and allowed us to rub against the pier on our stbd side. The boat next to us broke its single old port stern line and was banging agains our port side, doing considerable damage to his gel coat and rubrail, lightly scuffing our finish, and bending a steel ladder rung below the waterline. Aside from a damp mattress in our aft cabin, we came through otherwise unscathed.
The home where we stayed with friends was I damaged, though there was extensive damage to trees and of course power lines. In the short drive from there to the marina, around downed tries and utility poles and wires, I saw at least three homes with missing or partially damaged roofs.
There is no power or internet, and cell service is sporadic at best. Sometimes I am able to get a signal standing in the middle of a nearby open field. I find that I can sometimes receive texts, but for whatever reason I cannot send them. I am typing this out in advance to copy and past to my post. Don't know if it will send it not. If this posts, it is a fluke!
Our thanks to all for the well wishes, support and prayers. Between Irma and Maria, St. Croix was very fortunate!
Maria was a Cat 5 hurricane when the eye wall crossed the western tip of St. Croix. My understanding is that the western part of the island suffered severe damage. I spoke with a fellow sailor, Bob, who said their house on the southwest beach was "gone". I ran into him while surveying the damage at Green Cay Marina where both our boats were docked for the storm season.
The marina came through the storm in relatively good shape. At least two boats are sunk, and many suffered varying degrees if damage. One ketch lost its main mast. Several concrete finger piers were gone, and several pilings were down. Most damage was the result of boats scraping against the corner of the finger pier. Many cleats literally broke off from the concrete docks - as opposed to pulling out or breaking the concrete as I had feared.
One such cleat, one holding us away from our finger pier, broke off and allowed us to rub against the pier on our stbd side. The boat next to us broke its single old port stern line and was banging agains our port side, doing considerable damage to his gel coat and rubrail, lightly scuffing our finish, and bending a steel ladder rung below the waterline. Aside from a damp mattress in our aft cabin, we came through otherwise unscathed.
The home where we stayed with friends was I damaged, though there was extensive damage to trees and of course power lines. In the short drive from there to the marina, around downed tries and utility poles and wires, I saw at least three homes with missing or partially damaged roofs.
There is no power or internet, and cell service is sporadic at best. Sometimes I am able to get a signal standing in the middle of a nearby open field. I find that I can sometimes receive texts, but for whatever reason I cannot send them. I am typing this out in advance to copy and past to my post. Don't know if it will send it not. If this posts, it is a fluke!
Our thanks to all for the well wishes, support and prayers. Between Irma and Maria, St. Croix was very fortunate!
