Tuesday 21 April 2015

The elements trump spirit

Sydney is the grip of heavy showers and powerful winds. The second day of this weather today sees winds the equivalent of a Category 2 cyclone. There has been considerable damage across the state and tens of thousands of households have lost power. Last night we had to abort our attempt to get to the Bridge club after becoming stalled in traffic gridlock which later I learnt was a consequence of collapsed scaffolding near my home.

Extraordinary to my mind, the tourist ship Carnival Spirit is stuck out to sea, unable to enter Sydney Harbour, so turbulent are the waters. I don't recall hearing of a large vessel being prevented by weather conditions from entering the harbour previously although I imagine that may have happened previously.

Carnival Spirit on a previous calmer visit to Sydney

Carnival Spirit is by no means a small vessel. It is 85,900 gross tonnage and can carry 2,124 passengers and 961 crew.

3 comments:

  1. I've just been reading about your storm on the SMH. It sounds nasty. Stay well and safe.

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    1. Don't worry Craig, Victor is quite safe in his eyrie, observing what is happening on the harbour.

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    2. Andrew, that balcony we sat on recently is covered in water, the only time I have seen it in that condition apart from when it is being cleaned. As you predicted we are safe here, unlike others without power or worse still whose homes have been damaged if not totally destroyed.

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