Porthpean Sailing Club  

The Storm
October 27th & 28th 2004

For several days in advance, the weathermen had been warning of an intense low approaching the south west, eventually predicting that it would arrive on Wednesday 27th. Sure enough on the appointed day the winds came sweeping in from the south east at speeds measured in excess of 60 MPH. To compound matters the tidal system was on spring tides. The combination of spring tides and storm force winds produced some of the largest and most ferocious seas to pound Porthpean for over 25 years. The storm peaked on Wednesday evening, but was still gale force on Thursday. This meant that we endured 4 high tides with terrific seas running. Inevitably there was quite a bit of damage to the shore frontage. Railings and capping stones were pulled from the their foundations. The south west water pumping station had it’s roof badly damaged and the adjoining ground was gouged out by the rampant sea. The beach immediately below the slipway was denuded of sand and the slipway itself was undermined in places. There was some further erosion of the cliffs also. Fortunately all the dinghies in the yard were spared damage, they were well sheltered by the boundary wall. The quality of Colin Wainwright’s building expertise showed its mettle, as the roof of the extension held in place. Below are a selection of pictures taken on Wednesday around 17.00 taken by David James who was down here on holiday at the time. I took the after storms shots on the following Sunday, when there was not a breath of wind. Click on any picture for an enlargement.

the slipway
the slipway
the slipway
the slipway
the slipway
the slipway

the slipway
the slipway
the slipway
the slipway
the slipway
the slipway

the slipway
the slipway
the slipway
the slipway
the slipway
the slipway

the slipway
the slipway
the slipway
the slipway steps
toilet wall
toilet wall

the cafe
the cafe
railings
railings washed away
missing beach
missing beach


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