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shipwrecked1

KAVENGA got wrecked by typhoon Bolaven on August 28th in Sogwipo Harbor, Korea. She had been on the dry for a few weeks with the mast down, as I assumed that would be the savest way to keep her during the typhoon season. I had tied her down to the concrete floor with 6 lines of 14mm Nylon which all broke plus a 8mm chain which broke as well. Waves inside the harbor must have been so big that they came on the pier, broke her lines and swept her 300 meters across the pier into the lightpost where I found her at daybreak.
The waves at sea where over 10 meters high, windspeeds were around 100knots, and the air pressure was as low as 945hPa. This was the biggest typhoon that hit Jeju Island in the 17 years I have lived here. The damage to the very well built harbor`s breakwater is severe. I would have never believed that such a thing is possible.

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Comment by Zee Nagual on October 16, 2012 at 5:51pm: So sorry ,your wonderful boat is inspiration to me , you have done all to try to save it . The rest is act of nature . Sure Kavenga can be rebuilt .... Have good luck with your fine boat in the future .

Comment by WaveDancer & Bella on October 17, 2012 at 1:26am: I think she's repairable, but a hell of a job.... and at some costs.

Comment by Arthur Little on October 17, 2012 at 8:16am: This is very sad Ralf. I'm so sorry for your loss.

Comment by Hans Hammig on October 17, 2012 at 2:32pm: Hi Ralf. So sorry and feeling with you. How severe is the damage? We all hope that you get through this and get her sailing again.

Comment by Hans Hammig on October 18, 2012 at 1:16pm: So sorry to see these pictures. Now I understand why some people bury there boats as for away from the sea as possible when a typhoon is expected. I hope that you find new energy to get her back onto the water.

Comment by Rogerio Martin on October 18, 2012 at 7:04pm: This is very very very sad, Ralf. I know the work you have in this boat. I hope you will have money and energy to do again. Hull, rudder, keel , new glass, paint. Could be worse, if you were at sea, you do the right thing. You're alive and the Gods are charging you more work. Forces friend.

Comment by Brandon Gamble on October 19, 2012 at 12:52am: Heartbreaking! I nearly cried and threw up at the same time... I'm so sorry for the damage to your beautiful boat. The pictures are truly painful to look at. I couldn't imagine the depth of your despair when you found her this way. I second Ann and Nev's advice in rebuilding the lower hulls. Good luck!

Comment by Ann and Neville Clement on October 19, 2012 at 7:33pm: Ralf,

For the past couple of days, I have been helping John James fiberglass his lower hull. He has suspended the completed hull, which has been fully furnished and decked over, by ropes from the top of his boat building shed with a bit of weight taken by two saw horses so the boat would sit stable while we worked on it. We keep talking about your boat and wishing you well and hoping your boat will live again. I wrote a special Save Kavenga discussion and hope you will consider my suggestion. Nev and I had a heartbreaking disaster when building Peace and had to rebuild our lower hulls too when the high priced Lloyd's approved marine grade ply was discovered to be manufactured improperly so everything we had done up to that point had to be cut up and burned. Totally worthless. We both cried and felt sick. I look at your photo and feel that same devastation all over again. But I do think my suggestion would work. If you want details of my ideas, please feel free to write. Perhaps others would have an idea better than mine.

Much Love, Ann and Nev

shipwrecked1

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