Mini tornado rips through Bluewater Marina in Trinity Park

Residents of Trinity Park in Far North Queensland have reported a “mini tornado” ripping through a Cairns marina, pushing boats and pontoons around. Watch the videos.

The fishing vessel Mood Swings was torn from its boat cleats and thrown into the neighbouring vessel by a mini-tornado/water spout. Photo: Ryan Moody Fishing

Residents of Trinity Park in Far North Queensland have reported a “mini tornado” ripping through a Cairns marina, pushing boats and pontoons around. Watch the videos.

Ryan and Karen Moody who videoed a vessel sitting on the bottom of the Bluewater Marina in Trinity Beach on Wednesday, were about to return to their own vessel, Mood Swings, to prepare it for business once again.

That's when they got a call from their boat neighbour saying their vessel had broken free from its boat cleats — the part of a dock or pontoon that a boat is tied to — and ran into another vessel as a mini-tornado ripped through the marina.

The fishing vessel Mood Swings was torn from its boat cleats and thrown into the neighbouring vessel by a mini-tornado/water spout. Photo: Ryan Moody Fishing

“Our neighbour saw everything and said it was a mini-tornado or water spout that ripped through the marina and whipped our boat into the next one over,” Ms Moody said.

“It ran into the other boat and has left a perfect dent the shape of our bow in the railing of the other vessel.

The fishing vessel Mood Swings was torn from its boat cleats and thrown into the neighbouring vessel by a mini-tornado/water spout. The next door vessel was left with a nice dent in its railing shaped like Mood Swing's bow Photo: Ryan Moody Fishing

“We are lucky they were there and were able to get a hold of the vessel to stop it from drifting elsewhere.”

The Moodys then took a video of them following the trail of debris that the tornado ripped from trees and the marina and flung in the air.

The video showed downed trees and palm fronds strewn on the ground and a pontoon walkway thrown onto a nearby roof.

Ms Moody said there had been waters that water spouts could eventuate as the tail of Cyclone Jasper continues to cross the coast.

“We heard on weather IQ that these were possible but it’s not something you can prepare for, She said.

“Apparently it skidded over a couple houses and only effected a couple of the fingers of the marina.

“Thankfully the boat is pretty sturdy and had a weight advantage over the other but we will probably have to pay for their damage or wait and see what the marina says.

“She will be back on the open ocean on Sunday or Monday so we can put together more of our online fishing courses this time on coral trout.”

The Bureau of Meteorology was contacted for comment.

Originally published as Mini tornado rips through Bluewater Marina in Trinity Park