[C320-list] Tsunami report/Mexico

[Allan S. Field]

Thanks for the update.  Linda and I were wondering about you.

-----Original Message-----
From: c320-list-bounces at lists.catalina320.com
[mailto:c320-list-bounces at lists.catalina320.com] On Behalf Of
lrich320 at yahoo.com
Sent: Sunday, March 13, 2011 6:17 PM
To: Cat320List
Subject: [C320-list] Tsunami report/Mexico

Thought you might like to hear about our tsunami experience here in Mexico.
This was Banderas Bay race week in Puerto Vallarta(PV) so there were many
boats in the 4 PV marinas esp Paradise Marina the site of the regatta. Much
confusion Fri morning as cruisers wanted to head out to deeper water because
Harbormaster said on the morning net that the port was closed and we could
not leave. Port captain clarified that recreational boats could and should
leave.  We left at 11:15 (12:30 was the estimate of waves arrival) It was a
beautiful day on the bay with a steady stream of boats heading out in the
bay . VHF channel 22 the local hailing channel was constant chatter. We went
to about 150 ft of water and had a pleasant day of sailing. At 1PM vhf
reports began from folks in the marinas of the surging waters. First report
was water rising and falling 2 ft.  Only one marina at La Cruz had an
"official" person reporting. The waters continued to surge all day - 2 ft,
then 3 ft, then 6 ft ultimately the highest we heard was 9 ft at La Cruz.
The only damage was 2 fingers of two docks at La Cruz. They were able to
move boats during the slack water off those docks.  At 5 PM people were
getting anxious at the lack of info. Paradise harbormaster lost his cool,
said to start thinking about where to anchor for the night, screaming on vhf
at a boat trying to come in and ultimately had a Mexican Navy boat come at 6
pm to blockade the entrance.
The local net weather guru tried to compile factual info and informed us to
anchor out at the La Cruz anchorage or prepare to sail through the night. At
6:30 La Cruz marina attempted to re-open but after a few boats the surge
resumed and they halted. About 7:45 we heard a vhf rpt from a friend that
the Navy had departed and told a boat it was allright to enter Paradise
marina. We motored back asap and entered the marina about 8:30. Friends
caught our lines at our dock and we were fine. 

Most boats returned Saturday AM 
The Paradise harbormaster even chastised the boats that left on the Sat.
morning net saying that the boats with professional captains stayed in the
marina and there was no damage at Paradise marina. This really angered the
cruisers who did leave. Interestingly currents still flowed and swirled in
the marina into the following day. Racing did resume on Saturday.  

This was our second tsunami exp as last year all boats departed an anchorage
we were in after the Chilean eathquake. 

Orlando & Linda Duran
cuba libre 3
Catalina Morgan 440 #36
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