Hurricane Irma puts a hold on our sailing

[Aldebaran_III]

The category 5+ we had in St. Maarten did a huge amount of damage. Our HC survived (not many boats did)  but unfortunately the power boat in the next lift was not properly secured. We lost the boom gallows, one mainsheet attachment and sustained a split in the side deck close to the rubrail. All repairable but the priority is getting repairs to the house, we lost the roof over two rooms and there may be structural damage.
It's going to be an uphill struggle, but we'll get out on the water again some day. The price of living in paradise??
Enjoy every day, you never know what's around the corner.
Cheers, Derek

[Tom L.]

Derek, I am sorry for your loss and hope you can recover sooner rather than later. This years Hurricanes have been brutal. I live in central Florida and even though Irma passed nearly right over us it had deteriorated so the weather service only recorded 110 mph winds. I think around us it was more like 80 to 90s. We didn't suffer hardly any damage.
Good luck getting your home back together.

Tom L.

[rbh1515]

Derek,
Good news!  You will be sailing again!!
Rob

[Craig]

Good to hear from you Derek! Have been worried about how you fared in Irma! Sorry to hear about the damage to house and boat. So glad that you both are safe! Kailani is on the hard at the brokers since we have made the hard decision to sell her. We pulled her the week prior to Irma (sailors clairvoyance perhaps?). Please keep us posted on your progress there.
Craig

[Aldebaran_III]

We made it, we're finally back on the water! It's just so good to be sailing again. We really missed it. Of course the priority was fixing the house and car etc.,but since January we've been able to devote more and more time to Aldebaran III. Little by little and eventually we got there. We've been out 3 times now and everything works and no leaks.
Now if only the present period of strong winds would moderate!
Thanks for all the messages of support.
Cheers Derek and Marilyn

[Tim Gardner]

Good news, Derek!