Stanmore Bay boat owner Gerard Russell is grateful to the Manly community who came to his aid after his 24-foot yacht Crumbs got into trouble off the Whangaparāoa coast. High winds caused by Cyclone Dovi overnight on February 12 broke the boat’s mooring at Tindalls Bay and she ended up coming aground at the western end of Manly Beach. The local community rallied, with dozens of people helping dig it out and refloat it. Main photo, Gilbert Peterson
A Stanmore Bay boat owner says refloating his yacht after it came aground on Manly Beach would have been an even more major headache had it not been for Manly residents who came to his aid.
Gerard Russell’s 24-foot yacht Crumbs was moored at Tindalls Bay. He has only had the boat since October.
The high winds of Cyclone Dovi caused the mooring to break overnight on February 12 and carried the yacht up onto the western end of Manly Beach.
Gerard Russell was woken at 7.30am on Sunday, February 13 by the call any boat owner dreads, from the harbourmaster.
However, Gerard had cause to be thankful too – the boat had missed the rocks by mere metres, and with only a little damage to the keel, she was not taking on water. The main problem was how to refloat her.
The issue attracted wide interest among a crowd that gathered on the beach.
Gerard says there were a lot of helpful ideas given, plans were drawn up in the sand, and then tractors, spades and wheelbarrows were brought in, with dozens of people keen to assist.
At high tide, a channel was dug in the sand under the boat, and a tractor was used to turn her around.
She was then refloated using people power, with a group pushing and even more (around 20) pulling her out with a rope.
Gerard then sailed her to an emergency mooring back at Tindalls.
“Even after she was turned around, I was not confident of getting her refloated,” Gerard says. “I’m in awe at the sheer effort and sweat that people put into the job. Some were there all afternoon. The Manly community really came through. Thanks to everyone who helped.”
