Hurricane Beryl has wreaked devastation across northern Grenadian islands and St Vincent and the Grenadines. Besides the destruction on land, hundreds of yachts have been damaged, some sunk.Hurricane Beryl has wreaked devastation across northern Grenadian islands and St Vincent and the Grenadines, with four deaths reported.
\nHurricane Beryl became the earliest recorded storm to develop into a Category 5 hurricane yesterday, Tuesday 2 July, peaking with sustained winds of 165 mph (270 kph) before weakening slightly to a violently destructive Category 4.
\nUS military research aircraft that flew through the eye of the hurricane on recon flights recorded winds of 182mph.
\nThe worst hit areas so far seem to be the Grenadian islands of Carriacou and Petit Martinque, which were devastated when Beryl made landfall on July 1 with winds of 150mph. The islands took what the US National Hurricane Center described as a direct hit of Beryl\u2019s \u201cextremely dangerous eyewall\u201d.
\n\u201cIn half an hour, Carriacou was flattened,\u201d reported Grenada Prime Minister Dickon Mitchell.<\/p>\n
Almost every building on the islands appears to have been hit, with officials reporting that 98% of the buildings on the islands, including homes for 6,000 people, have been damaged or destroyed. Carriacou\u2019s Princess Royal Hospital, airport and marinas have also been severely impacted. Vegetation was stripped from the hillsides and crops wiped out.
\nThe marine infrastructure has been severely hit. Drone footage flown over the disaster zone shows yachts severely damaged in Tyrell Bay and across both islands, affecting yachts on the hard and the many vessels that sought shelter in mangrove anchorages at the northern end of Tyrell Bay, known as Carnash or the oyster beds.
\nImages shared on Facebook by Pierrick Qu\u00e9dinet\u00a0show the devastation in Carriacou, Grenada after Hurricane Beryl.<\/p>\n
Union Island in St Vincent and the Grenadines (SVG) has also been severely hit. SVG Prime Minister, Ralph Gonsalves, said that Beryl had \u201cleft in its wake immense destruction\u201d.
\nOn Union Island, which has around 3,000 inhabitants, he said: \u201cThe reports that I have received indicate that 90% of the houses have been severely damaged or destroyed.\u201d
\nIt\u2019s not yet been possible to ascertain how badly some of the smaller islands in SVG have been impacted, as communicatons in the area are severely limited. Mobile phone towers have also been blown down or severely damaged, so Starlink has become a key method of sharing images of the devastation.
\nHundreds of yachts have suffered damage ranging from being beached, dismasted, tipped over on the hard, with some sunk and multihulls capsized. Many local fishing vessels and ferries have also been driven ashore, sunk or severely damaged.<\/p>\n
John Cangialosi, Senior Hurricane Specialist at the US National Hurricane Center in Miami, inspects a satellite image of Hurricane Beryl. On Monday 1 July, 2024, the storm became the strongest hurricane this early in the season in this area of the Atlantic. Photo: Joe Raedle\/Getty Images
\nCruisers help victims of Hurricane Beryl
\nIn addition to the efforts of local authorities, many volunteer groups have been raising funds and supplies for Grenada and the affected communities. Chris Doyle of Doyle Guides has compiled a list of relief efforts and fundraising platforms (these are unverified, anyone considering donating should use their own judgement).
\nCruisers in the area are also forming their own relief efforts, including sailing to islands such as Mayreau. A small flotilla of catamarans is expected to depart Trinidad with supplies for the region today: up to 300 yachts are thought to have evacuated south from SVG and Grenada to Trinidad as Beryl intensified last weekend.
\nSteven Fairbrother, owner of a charter tour operator in St Vincent and the Grenadines, told the Trinidad and Tobago Guardian: \u201cWhat we\u2019re looking to try and do now is build up a stockpile of supplies, first aid equipment, generators, anything that we can get hold of that\u2019s going to be useful back up in Canouan, and load the boats up with as much as possible for when we head back up north.
\n\u201cThe information we\u2019re getting is that there are boats that have broken moorings and are drifting out to sea. We\u2019ve got people without power, without communications, without first aid and food supplies, so we\u2019re looking to get as much of what they need.\u201d
\nClarkes Court boatyard in Grenada reported no serious damage following Hurricane Beryl. Photo Clarkes Court via Facebook
\nFortunately southern Grenada, which is usually considered below the hurricane belt, was less affected and many of the yachts which remained in the south of the island were unscathed. Clarkes Court Boatyard in St George\u2019s reported: \u201cPreliminary assessment reveals that there has been no significant damage sustained by vessels at the docks or in the boatyard during the passage of Hurricane Beryl.\u201d
\nHurricane Beryl is currently tracking towards Jamaica. We\u2019ll update more news as we have it.
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\nThe post WATCH: Hurricane Beryl causes devastation in Grenada, yachts destroyed appeared first on Yachting World.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Hurricane Beryl has wreaked devastation across northern Grenadian islands and St Vincent and the Grenadines. Besides the destruction on land, hundreds of yachts have been damaged, some sunk.Hurricane Beryl has wreaked devastation across northern Grenadian islands and St Vincent and … <\/p>\n