Boaties to count cost of cyclone

This boat was washed up on the bank near the Bucasia Boat Ramp.

Tony Martin

Photos

Cyclone Ului - in pictures

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Further information

Local weather forecast

Bureau of Meteorology warnings

CYCLONE Ului washed ashore boats, damaged homes and cut power to 60,000 properties.

About a dozen boats, including a former Sydney to Hobart contender, have been washed onto rocks by Cyclone Ului at Airlie Beach.

Vessels that had been moored at the Whitsundays Sailing Club did not fare well.

About a dozen are on the shore, grating against rocks, including the 26-metre Anaconda II, a former racing maxi that has sailed around the world and competed in the Sydney to Hobart race.

It’s now used to take backpackers on sailing trips.

Most appear to be private vessels but all are of a substantial size and displacement.

There is one fishing trawler among those washed ashore.

Wild weather ensured boats in Bundaberg’s fishing fleet were moored, with one trawler operator estimating he has lost about $200,000 alone in earnings this month because of the bad weather and big seas.

Volunteer Marine Rescue Gladstone (VMRG) reported no incidents.

On Saturday a number of people checked conditions and secured boats to their moorings.

“The weekend has been very quiet with everyone preparing and acting responsibly in the conditions,” the spokesperson said.

VMRG’s area of responsibility is from Cape Capricorn in the north to Bustard Head in the south, and seaward to reef islands, but limited to 50 nautical miles offshore.