Following hurricane Ivan’s recent devastation as it swept over Grenada, a web-site has been set up for those concerned about the fate of yachts and or crew. The site provides information about yachts situated in Grenada with information on the extent of damage caused. The list is updated regularly. The site also has an e-mail forum for those who wish to put out urgent messages. To date, many alerts from owners requiring information about boats or crew have successfully been responded to.

Hurricane Ivan is one of the strongest storms on record with wind gusts of up to 200 miles per hour. Destroying homes and causing many fatalities, hurricane Ivan unexpectedly passed over Grenada causing widespread destruction on the paradise island.

It has been an anxious time for yachtsmen who keep boats in Grenada. The once Idyllic Spice Island Marina in particular resembles a cemetery where the skeletons of many yachts now lie. Severe damage has been caused both ashore and at sea. Hundreds of yachts have been badly holed or have gone aground and a number have sunk, some with crew onboard.

Destruction caused in Grenada has been immense. Over 90% of houses have been destroyed, trees uprooted and the local prison has been hit – subsequently all the prisoners have absconded. Around 45 deaths have been reported to date. Some emergency relief shipments have arrived and aid has been flown in from the Geneva-based International Federation of the Red Cross. However, many families on the Island have yet to see aid. Street robbery and theft are rife and the Island is in total chaos. Many yachts have been victims to looting and some crew have been trapped onboard their boats in desperate need of supplies and too scared to move for fear of looters.

For more information, visit: www.reservationsbvi.com/Grenada/#ALPHABETICAL

Don’t miss YM’s November issue for Yachtsmen’s eyewitness accounts of the hurricane and the devastation it caused.