Coffs Harbour

We were very grateful that we had left Coffs Harbour when we did. Six days after leaving an amazing East coast low passed down the NSW coast and Coffs Harbour marina was all but destroyed. Our friends Cookie and Colin Sibly were sadly still there when it happened and they had the most terrifying of nights. They were moored on the same pontoon as we had been but a little further down. The finger to which they were attached broke free, flipped over and started to pound then like a barnacle covered battering ram. Miraculously, they saved their boat and were eventually towed to the fuel dock. The part of the pontoon where we had been, detached and sank and the whole walkway, including the marina office, was washed away. So, those lovely photos of the marina that I posted, taken on a bright sunny day, would look very different now. We feel very sorry for all those caught up in the storm. There are many people who live aboard their yachts in the marina and one usually assumes that one would be safe in such an apparently sheltered place. Several times now we have sheltered at Coffs and wonder just what will happen while they, hopefully, rebuild. Our thoughts are with all those who have been severely affected and with the lovely woman, Elise, and her staff who run the marina.