Yachts Photo Album Above
AN EXCAVATOR and a crane combined today at Phuket's Kata beach to lift two expensive yachts free from their sandy graveyard.
The yachts, Sea Bees Diving and Ichi Ban, had their keels removed before being harnessed and swung clear of the Phuket sand that has gripped them since Saturday.
Three more yachts were expected to be lifted free either before or after nighfall tonight. One of them, dismasted and damaged worse than the others, may never be rebuilt.
The yachts were among a dozen boats swept ashore in a ferocious Phuket storm that struck the Phuket King's Cup Regatta fleet at anchor off Kata beach.
The final day of racing and a sailing salute to honor HM The King had to be cancelled because of the extreme weather.
Graveyard Photo Special One yacht surfs free from a graveyard for expensive boats on Kata beach. But for others valued at 30 million baht, the prospect of sailing again seems an unlikely dream.
Phuket Yacht Breaks Free by Surfing 'Graveyard'
Stranded Phuket Fleet Faces More Pounding
Latest Several classy yachts had to be left where they lay on Phuket's Kata beach as darkness descended on a day of destruction that will long be remembered in King's Cup Regatta folklore.
Stranded Phuket Fleet Faces More Pounding
Fleet Beached on Phuket: Regatta Photo Special
Photo Special Crews struggled in roaring surf to try to right valuable yachts that had been beached as a wild Phuket storm struck the King's Cup Regatta fleet of more than 100 at anchor off Kata.
Fleet Beached on Phuket: Regatta Photo Special
Phuket Storm Rips Regatta Fleet: Yachts Beached, Sail Past, Racing Cancelled
Breaking News A savage storm rips the Phuket King's Cup Regatta fleet, sweeping many boats onto Kata beach and forcing cancellation of the sail past and today's innovative racing.
Phuket Storm Rips Regatta Fleet: Yachts Beached, Sail Past, Racing Cancelled
Russian Woman Drowns at Phuket's Deadly Beach
UPDATE Another Russian holidaymaker swims to her death at Phuket's notorious Karon beach, where drownings continue to create the impression that Phuket is far from ideal for a beach holiday.
Russian Woman Drowns at Phuket's Deadly Beach
What a sad end to a great event. My heart goes out to those who lost a boat, they may have been saving for all their life to build and sail on.
Somehow the assumption is that boat owners are wealthy but almost all that I know have worked hard to one day achieve their dream of sailing the world.
It can take decades of hard work and sacrifice, but can all be swept away in an instant.
Posted by Chris on December 13, 2010 18:13