Boats damaged as Eunice batters the UK
Over the course of one week in mid February, three named storms – Dudley, Eunice and Franklin – caused disruption and damage to boats and marinas in parts of the UK.
At the Needles Old Battery on the Isle of Wight, Storm Eunice brought wind speeds of 122mph (106 knots) on 18 February, the highest gust of wind ever recorded at a low-level site in England, according to The Met Office.
Rare Red Weather Warnings were also issued for Wales, the South West, plus the south and east coast of England. Extreme gusts left a boat sunk in Swansea Marina.
Other boats on the hard were blown over in the conditions. There were reports of vessels damaged at Mudeford Harbour in Dorset, Plymouth Yacht Haven and Hythe Marina. At Netley Cliff Sailing Club on Southampton Water, one bilge keel 20-footer had a punctured hull after it came off its trailer, and a Hurley 27 fell on the sterns of three other boats, which suffered minor cosmetic damage. The Hurley 27’s pulpit was torn from the deck.
Many marinas warned boat owners to prepare for the storms, but several yachts suffered sail and canopy damage. Marina staff were also out in force checking mooring lines and boats when it was safe to do so.
At Sennen Cove in Cornwall, the wind tore the metal roof off the RNLI lifeboat station. The station was evacuated and nobody was injured, and the lifeboat was put on restricted service. The charity aims to raise £100,000 towards the cost of repairing the roof.
During Storm Franklin on 21 February, Bembridge RNLI launched in westerly Force 8 gales to assist the crew of a 12m sailing yacht which had run aground on Ryde Sands. Ryde Inshore Rescue and the Coastguard helicopter Rescue 175 were also tasked. The yacht re-floated on the incoming tide and was escorted by the RNLI crew to Gosport.
Insurance costs of Storm Eunice have been initially estimated to be between £200m to £350m nationally, according to PWC.
Marine insurers, Haven Knoxjohnson said it has received 76 claims in relation to Storm Eunice. Six claims were registered as a result of Storm Franklin and two claims due to Storm Dudley.