Severe weather: Several yachts have sunk – storm wreaks havoc on ports in the US

The storm in Marblehead hit many boat owners with full force. On Sunday, yachts were driven against rocks and onto the beach. According to harbour master Mark Souza, as reported by the Marblehead Current, around seven boats had run aground by Monday (28 September). At least one sailing yacht is reported to have sunk. The images in the gallery are reminiscent of the storm surge that occurred in October three years ago.

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Sailing boats at the quay wall

According to various media reports, Riverhead Beach and Glover’s Landing were the areas most severely affected. The Marblehead Independent described the situation on Sunday morning: at Riverhead, a sailing boat was lying on the beach, and three smaller motorboats had also broken free. At the sea wall at Glover’s Landing, two sailing boats were lying close to the rocks. According to the report, other boats capsized but remained at their moorings. No information is yet available regarding the costs incurred by the affected owners.

The Nor’easter, a storm with strong winds from the north-east, brought heavy swells to the coast. According to the National Weather Service, a coastal flood warning was in place on Sunday for parts of the Massachusetts coast. In Marblehead, the persistent bad weather on Monday made it even more difficult to carry out assessments from the water. Harbour Master Souza described the event as the worst storm to hit the harbour since 2018.

What this case shows for owners

This incident illustrates the consequences that can arise if a boat breaks free from its mooring during a storm. It is therefore worth checking your mooring lines before the next spell of strong winds. For boats moored at the jetty, our article on Securing the yacht in harbour during a storm, the stresses acting on mooring lines and fittings. The practical article on Proper mooring during storms and high water.

What experiences have you had with strong winds at your mooring?