Wind Storm Destroys and Grounds Sailboats Off Kits Beach

A wood hulled boat grounded high up on the beach near the Maritime Museum.

A storm early in the morning on April 8th hit English Bay. Storm force winds were recorded blowing in from the West. Hit particularly hard were the "live-aboard" transients anchoured off Kits Beach. In total three were washed ashore and one wrecked on the beach.

All of the boats were in various states of disrepair and none appeared overly seaworthy. The City has restricted those who want to live full time in the protected waters in False Creek resulting in the growing number of "live-aboards" off the exposed Kitsalano Beach. This leaves these vessel's exposed to such storms; however the responsibility lies with the skippers to protect their vessels. Weather warnings were issued and the boats should have taken refuge in False Creek or taken additional steps taken to improve their holding power.

I really want to see Vancouver become a more boat friendly city it can be hard to battle public perception that boats are nuisance is reinforced by incidents like these. No one wants a derelict boat wrecked on their park beach. Failing to take responsibility for your vessel impacts the larger boating community. That being said it appears that these individuals are quite marginalized so it is sad to see those without much lose what was their homes.

Sadly only one of the skippers had made any effort to refloat his boat as of this afternoon. The boat had a kedge about 60' out. Personally I would have rowed out as much road as I had and set the anchour as far out as possible. I overheard the skipper saying he was going to motor out. Good luck with that.

While the hull appears in okay shape this boat has been heavily neglected.

Even though it has been through a lot it is sad to think that in any condition someone was living in this boat.

More neglect.

From further up the dog beach looking at the grounded boat. No kedge or evident action was taken to refloat the boat or protect it.

With a modest kedge out and a plan to "motor off" this boat will be common fixture on the beach for the next little while.

There appeared to be a little damage around the rudder.

The skipper talking with the public.

Light fades on the grounded craft.

This derelict trimaran lay in pieces on the shore close to the pool on Kit's Beach.

Again I found it sad that someone was living in this thing.

Lines only a mother could love.

Umm... Is this bit important?

This tender has seen better days.

How much do you want to bet it is uninsured?

Probably the nicest one out of the bunch; but no signs that the skipper was going to attempt to refloat it off the beach.

The boat has been neglected but appears more or less intact.

Closer shots of the wood hull.

May want to row that anchour out and set it...

Even with the tide being the same height as the night before there is little chance this thing is moving as the surf must have pushed it up past the highwater mark.