Hurricane Beryl devastated the islands between Grenada and St Vincent in July, and residents are facing a huge rebuilding operation. While governments and aid agencies are involved, there are still practical steps cruisers can make to help.
World Cruising Club is encouraging all ARC+ participants to go shopping for hand tools and small supplies that can help individual islanders. Port Louis marina manager Zara Tremlett is coordinating the call for supplies, and says that tool kits containing the following are most in demand:
- Screwdriver set – philips/cross and flat (or just large and small of each)
- Hammer
- Pliers
- Adjustable spanner
- Pipe wrench
- Thread tape
- Seizing wire
- Duct tape
- Bag/pot of nails
- Bag/pot of screws
Put each tool kit in a plastic box for ease of storage and distribution.
These items are cheaply and easily available in the ferreteria or hardware stores in Las Palmas, but are hard to find and very expensive in the Caribbean. There are a number of ferreteria within walking distance of Las Palmas Marina, all easily found on Google.
It should be easy for most boats to find space for an emergency Caribbean toolkit, or even for a smaller selection of individual tools or supplies. Carry them with you across the Atlantic and Port Louis Marina will collect and distribute the equipment on behalf of the fleet. Zara Tremlett said, "If only 50% of the fleet managed to help, that would make a great impact".
The Grenadine islands are much-loved cruising areas, and Carriacou, Union Island, Petit Martinique, Mayreau, Canouan and Bequia were in the path of the category four Hurricane Beryl. Tourism is vital for the islands' economies and an update on the practicalities of cruising north from Grenada will be provided as part of the arrival programme in Port Louis.
The GoFundMe appeal by the Marine & Yachting Association of Grenada (MAYAG) has so far raised over £61,000 and is still active - it is expected that rebuilding will take at least two years. If you'd like to contribute, click here or go to gofundme.com and search for Marine and Yachting Association of Grenada.