Recovering from Katrina
on Tuesday November 1, 2005 10:33AM
BACK ON THE WATER
While South Florida was scrambling to prepare for Hurricane Wilma, and then
to recover from the hit, the hard working sailors of the Gulf Coast were
getting themselves back on the water in the wake of Hurricane Katrina. In
some cases, they've been sailing for weeks, and in all cases, they are
sailing in spite of huge challenges.
Mobile Yacht Club Commodore James Green reports that, six weeks on, the owners of boats that were scattered into the trees and up-bayou by Katrina now face costs of $150-200 per foot for recovery-with a crane and trailer, plus truck or barge- and that's before they face boatyard repair prices in a world where labor is scarce and up by 35-55 percent. It's no wonder that many beat-up but still-sound boats are not out sailing. But others are.
Southern Yacht Club, New Orleans, is one of several clubs that put racing fleets on the water last weekend. Mobile Yacht Club will be on the water (again) this weekend, and (again) they're not alone. The numbers are down but spirits are full.
I write this as a member of a club that once was destroyed in a devastating fire. Out of the difficult times that followed, life in our funky, temporary bar/restaurant facilities in a former sail-drying room is remembered vividly and fondly thanks to the spirit of a mission that lifted us. In many versions, I see that same spirit alive now on the Gulf Coast.
Read on for 1) A report on Southern YC's Closing Regatta; 2) A report on
Mobile YC's upcoming Closing Regatta, 3) a notice board for helping junior
sailors and junior programs damaged by the hurricanes, and 3) notes from
other clubs (and the Fish Class championship) plus a bottom-line commentary
from Pontchartrain Yacht Club's Staff/Vice Commodore, Jane Eshleman.
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Kimball Livingston, Sail magazine, full story:
http://sailmag.com/katrinarecovery/