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| The boat two days after the hurricane |
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| The morning after, The Marker and Powerboat that nearly hit us |
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| La Paz after Hurricane Odile |
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| Morning after Hurricane Odile, pics from the boat |
I really am not 100% sure how to write about this.. I know for myself and the people around me this is still very raw.
For the first time in my life, I was scared sh*tless. Like not just superficial fear, like fear of losing my life and in all honesty, we got off really lightly.
In short, we lost our whole anchor and chain, nearly drifted into a powerboat, managed to power around them but then as we were trying to set another anchor we ran aground. We spent the rest of the night sitting on a 45 degree angle. Every time we thought we were all good for a bit, something would happen. We had a couple of sailboats run into us, a powerboat come charging for us, as we watched through the companionway - luckily it hit the ground before us. We also had a red channel marker that mocked us even into the next day while recovering the anchor rope, we did get free racing stripes however.
In comparison to the boats with sailors still on them a week later - bailing out water and still on the beach, or the amazing chick Autumn that got thrown from her boat and spent the night in the mangroves, or the two boats that sunk with lives lost, we really have nothing to complain about.
I don't think anyone in the sailing community knew quite what was coming and I think if we did hurricane Odile would have been tackled differently.
I haven't seen Cabo, where the eye of the hurricane hit. But I keep hearing the word devastation as a common description of it. It is currently under Marshall Law. Riots have been happening as food and water has been scarce.
La Paz has been more peaceful. Without power and water, but shops have food in them. There are still places not accessible but for us as foreigner's we don't see them unless we look.
Hurricane Odile is said to have been the strongest storm on par with the 1967 Hurricane Olivia to hit the southern tip of Baja. Death toll according to media says 4, all of which are foreigner's. Seems uncanny that not a single Mexican has died in this Hurricane.
My heart goes out to the family of Gunther, long time resident of La Paz and the sailing community. Gunther and Fritz (the most amazing and charismatic Chihuahua) will be well missed.
The biggest shock to me is the sinking of Tobasco II. It shows me how ferocious the hurricane was to see this outcome for these so well equipped and knowledgeable sailors. Paul and Simone have played a massive role in a lot of people lives, whether it be offering advice or helping with the most difficult tasks, they were always happy to lend a hand.
The clean up and searching is still continuing. All we can do is continue to put more back into the community and help out where we can.
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