Clipper Race Around the World participants stuck in Airlie Beach ahead of Cyclone Kirrily

Boats have been grounded at marinas ahead of Cyclone Kirrily, while a group of 200 amateur sailors who were meant to continue a famous boat race around the world are now stuck on shore. See what’s involved in preparing.

As boat operators across the Whitsundays are stopped from leaving the marina ahead of Cyclone Kirrily, a group of 200 amateur sailors who were meant to continue their boat race to China are stuck in Airlie Beach.

As boat operators across the Whitsundays are stopped from leaving the marina ahead of Cyclone Kirrily, a group of 200 amateur sailors who were meant to continue their boat race to China are stuck in Airlie Beach.

Boat operators in the Whitsundays say they went on their last tour on Monday before starting preparations for Cyclone Kirrily, expected to make landfall late on Thursday or early Friday, before turning and making its way south and out to sea.

Frank Hobson, the owner of Hamilton Island based boat operator Ricochet Yachting said the breeze has “picked up enough” to start shutting down operations.

“Our vessel is only 15 meters long, so it’s among the smaller side of the fleet, so we’re the first for vessels that will stop operating,” Mr Hobson said.

“Larger vessels such as Cruise Whitsundays and other companies such as Explore may run today.”

Ricochet Yachting owner Frank Hobson talked about getting ready for a cyclone.

Cruise Whitsundays General Manager Renee Branton-Brown has confirmed that tours would be cancelled from Wednesday to Monday, however island connections would still be running for as long as possible.

“We will go off advice from Maritime Safety Queensland and the Harbour Master, and when necessary we will pause Resort Connections to ensure everyone’s safety,” Mr Branton-Brown said.

“Our Reservations team are contacting affected guests to try and ensure they are given as much notice as possible regarding their bookings.”

Mr Hobson said preparing ships for a cyclone entails adding extra lines to the vessel, storing all loose objects, ensuring the vessel is watertight, and monitoring other vessels around to ensure they are also tied up correctly.

“On Hamilton Island it is a team effort, something we’ve obviously experienced in the past numerous times,” he said, referring to cyclone Debbie in 2017 that destroyed the coast extensively.

Tropical Cyclone Kirrily is expected to make landfall sometime overnight on Thursday between Cardwell and Airlie Beach. Picture: BOM

Major boat race’s departure delayed

Clipper Race Around The World arrived in Airlie Beach last week, after completing race 6 of the 11 months race.

The 200 amateur sailors racing from country to country were supposed to leave the Coral Sea Marina on Monday, but had to delay their departure in light of the cyclone potentially landing very close to the Whitsunday coast.Head of Communications Karla Graves said “there was a small window” when participants could have left the marina ahead of the weather event, but that the itinerary had been moved around as race officials could only make immigration papers down in Mackay ahead of their arrival to their next stop in China.

“The decision was made over the weekend,” Ms Graves said.

“We looked at going early but that wasn’t possible because … logistically it’s quite difficult to do that, and we’ve got to go down to Mackay to do immigration.

“Staff are able to stay in the same accommodation, and crew will be doing the same, we can definitely stay in the Coral Sea Marina.”

Clipper race boats have been prepped for the potential coming cyclone.

Ms Graves said participants and boat skippers had made sure all measures were taken to secure the boats in the marina, adding extra lines on the boats and moving anything that might get damaged below deck.

Ms Graves said crew weren’t too worried about extensive damage to the boats as the Clipper-70 were built for heavy weather and that everything had been done to ensure any impact would be minimal.

Clipper race participants are getting a brief about preparation for cyclones today.

Participants should be on their way on Friday for Australia Day.

Clipper race boats have been prepped for the potential coming cyclone.

Hamilton Island has “natural” protection against weather events

Boat operator Frank Hobson said there was “no better place” than Hamilton Island to park a boat during a cyclone as the island has ‘natural’ protection against weather events.

“When someone asks me, how do you know if a marina is good for a cyclone, well my response is always, have a look at the amount of artificial walls,” Mr Hobson said.

“If you look at Hamilton Island, there are very small artificial walls, the rest of it is all natural.”

Boats left in front of houses, a “real problem”

Mr Hobson said the real risk was for those boats not safely secured in a marina or a boat shed, but rather left outside a house during cyclone season.

“If you have a drive around the Whitsundays, you can quickly find 50, 60 boats that are sitting outside people’s houses and front yards,” he said.

“While that’s fine when there’s not a cyclone, if there is a cyclone that ‘s a real problem.

“Having a three to six metre vessel outside you property in a cyclone, and have that damaged and possibly moved or blown into other assets, it’s not a good thing.”

Mr Hobson, who also owns Shute Harbour Boat Storage in Flametree, said the company was looking at extending their boat storage facility to increase their intake of short term tenants, to be able to cater more during coming cyclone seasons.