We’ve kept our boat at Whiskey Island Marina for a number of years. We love Whiskey Island, all the great people we call neighbors and the beautiful Wendy Park that’s been our playground when we’re not out sailing. This beautiful little gem in the heart of Cleveland was struck by massive waves and winds that were the product of Superstorm Sandy on October 30th, 2012.
Fortunately, our boat was already on the hard, tucked away far from the waves. However, for many of our neighbors there will be no need for fall decommissioning this year. There will only be the arduous and very sad task of salvaging and picking up the pieces.
Waves broke through a section of break wall that protects the marina and its floating residents. Fierce weather can spring up on Lake Erie in a matter of minutes, and this break wall is a secondary structure that protects the marina. There is a first defense, main break wall that took the brunt of the storm’s fury. It is a 4-mile long concrete fill wall that protects the Cleveland shoreline and inner harbor. That structure was not damaged.
These photos were taken on Wednesday, October 31st and shows just how much damage was done to the marina and boats. It’s a very sad gallery of pictures, but it’s one that should remind us all of just how powerful Mother Nature can be.
This is taken at the shoreline and shows a pile-up of boats and debris. The upper left quadrant shows the mast of a sailboat standing out of the water.
The left section of the break wall was breached. This section had been repaired at least twice in the last year. At the horizon line you see the main break wall that protects the Cleveland inner harbor. Lord only knows what would have happened if that had been damaged.
Pieces of docks and finger piers are just sort of floating adrift. Some boats are tied to docks that remained intact.
Many boats broke their lines and drifted around the marina, ramming into one another and smashing up against the rock shoreline.
This dock lost it’s supports and partially sank. The black cubes are the buoyant supports that hold up the floating docks. the boat on the left was tied up to it, and now it looks like it’s the only thing holding the dock above water.
This dock-box was ripped from the dock and thrown up onto the bank by the force of the waves and winds.
Many folks had put off moving their boats to the hard or making other arrangements for them. Normally, boats are out of the marina by November 1st. What a difference a couple of days can make.
The sight of this mast is all that’s left of someone’s beloved sailboat.
Another sailboat that will probably never sail again.
The wind was blowing in from Canada, pushing the boats toward the rocky bank of the marina. The docks lie in rows, parallel to the wind, so as the wind blew in from the North, it pushed the boats into each other and up onto the shoreline.
Finger docks sank and snapped the lines of boats moored to them, freeing them to bob around the marina.
This shoreline is loose rock. I’m afraid some of these boats may not be salvageable.
The owner of this boat was able to secure lines to the shore, so at least he doesn’t have a total loss.
Outrageous, our 42′ Catalina, is safely tucked in the back of the yard, near the railroad tracks. Our neighbor’s big old steel sailboat is protecting her from the worst of the winds. Our wet weather has only given her a good scrubbing, and she’s all ready for a cozy winter slumber.
Glad to see your boat was ok. I took mine home to restore and re-build. Would have been in the dry rack otherwise. I was down there taking a video about 2 hours before the wall let loose. It was amazing yet scary seeing the force of nature. Here’s to a great spring and summer 2013. I can’t wait.