Local Doesn't Let Cyclone Dampen Spirits

Four years ago, seasoned sailor Wayne Hawkins purchased his boat in Airlie Beach, he poured hundreds of thousands and countless hours into restoring it with plans to finally set off cruising the Whitsundays and beyond. But Ex-Tropical Cyclone Koji halted this plan. In just two-to-three weeks sailor Wayne Hawkins and wife Elsa, were about to embark on a trip, six months at sea after a lifetime of adventure. When the weather system moved in, the decision was made to shelter upriver, believing it would be safer than riding it out at sea. Triple mooring lines were set. The forecast warned of rain more than wind, but the conditions escalated rapidly. “It was horrendous,” he said. “Absolutely horrendous.” Winds reached an estimated 60 to 70 knots, shifting direction suddenly and violently. A three to four metre swell rolled through for hours. Despite experience that included sailing halfway around the world there was no preparing for what followed. “In two minutes it was all over,” he said. “The lines snapped, everything went. I couldn’t even get to the dingy. That was it.” Fear quickly gave way to frustration. “I wasn’t scared so much, I was angry,” Wayne said. “Angry at the gods.” In the days since, the response from the Airlie Beach community has been overwhelming. Friends, locals and even strangers have turned up to help with recovery efforts, offering time, labour, and moving of debris. “People just showed up - that’s the part that gets you.” One volunteer helping out said they had no work, a friend showed them people were helping, so he simply went along to help. With the vessel now beyond repair, Wayne and Elsa are facing the reality of starting again from scratch. Despite the loss, he remains grounded, acknowledging others have suffered far worse in recent disasters. “Someone always cops it - this time, it was us.”