Banda and the Ferry Incident 2 - 3 August 2015

Tashi Delek
Mike & Carol Kefford
Mon 3 Aug 2015 08:26

04:31.43S 129:53.83E

 

The Ferry duly arrived around 1100 and was to say the least twice as big as we were expecting.  She passed within 100 feet of the front of the yachts as she slid up to the harbour wall.  Just as we thought all was well the ferry gunned both engines and sent a massive wall of turbulence through the water against the yachts.  Tulu was picked up and pushed backwards towards the wall and against Tashi Delek.  Our anchor dragged and our bows swung against Shakti.  At that moment our shore line snapped and Tulu hit the wall and rocks below.  We then pushed against Shakti  and although their anchor help the chain flew of the gypsy and she swung away into Bali Hai next door.  Bali Hai in turn was pushed round to 90 degrees and into Youyou and so on down the line.  The last yacht Alexes also dragged her anchor backwards.  Tulu was the only yacht which was damaged fortunately but the incident was very frightening as we were all completely out of control.  Tulu has slightly bent one of her props and has some superficial damage to one of her rudders.  A very lucky escape.  The ferry left at 1330 by which time Tulu had moved to the other side of the harbour and Mike with the help of a local guy and Julie from Windkist (a Mexican yacht) had re-laid the anchor and retied the ropes, including tying to Shakti to pull her off the other yachts.  As the ferry left Mike motored towards it and against the ropes and the anchor chain.  The ferry did not blast the engines this time but even so as she motored out we had a very difficult time holding all the yachts in place.  We think someone had spoken to the ferry captain.  The ferry is due here again on Friday and we will be somewhere else!

 

cid:image001.jpg@01D0CF51.82977910

That is big and very close

cid:image002.jpg@01D0CF51.82977910

Seconds before she gunned both engines and sent a tsunami against the yachts

 

cid:image003.jpg@01D0CF51.82977910

Tashi Delek’s 14mm mooring line which snapped under the combined weight of Tulu and Tashi Delek