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Hurricane Dorian Relief; Green Turtle Cay & Marsh Harbor

Discussion in 'General Yachting Discussion' started by Irish Wake, Sep 3, 2019.

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  1. Irish Wake

    Irish Wake Member

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    The tragedy unfolding in the Northern Bahamas is so sad. So many there don't have much to start with and now this. As someone who has cruised there for years I'd like to help and I suspect many others from the yacht community would feel the same way. Does anyone know if the yacht community has any coordinated effort to help ? If not shouldn't we ?

  2. discokachina

    discokachina Senior Member

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    If you google "yachts relief supplies for bahamas dorian" you will find an article in the Sun-Sentinel newspaper detailing ways you can participate in helping out the Bahamas.
  3. Irish Wake

    Irish Wake Member

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    Thank you
  4. Pascal

    Pascal Senior Member

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    At this point the Bahamas Government is demanding that everything be brought to NAS for distribution thru NEMA or a handful of approved charities. They refuse to allow private relief efforts by boat for the Abacos It will take a while for things to reach those in need.
  5. Oscarvan

    Oscarvan Senior Member

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    I'm not familiar with the Bahamian government, but if they are as efficient and ethical as most other governments then those poor people are going to get screwed twice.
  6. CTdave

    CTdave Senior Member

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    The only negative I can think of is if one was to pack a private boat full of supplies and find somewhere to dock, people will be more and more desperate as time goes on and I'd fear being overrun or even worse, hijacked by people wanting to leave.
    Get the freighters, barges, ships packed quickly and have them deal with the government to distribute. I'd happily be in the first wave of private boats but something is making me think twice.
  7. Ken Bracewell

    Ken Bracewell Senior Member

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    There is a big effort by the yachting community in general. If anyone wants to help, I can personally vouch for Yacht Aid Global, and would recommend donating cash. www.yachtaidglobal.org

    They have boots on the ground already, and the first support yacht (Loon) is underway already.
  8. Pascal

    Pascal Senior Member

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    I a perfect world RBDF and USCG would secure an area where aid could be unloaded by public and private vessels and distribution would be handled by community leaders. Would be safe and much more efficient than routing all aid thru corrupt Nassau
  9. Ken Bracewell

    Ken Bracewell Senior Member

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    From M/Y Loon today:
    We departed Nassau at 0600 this morning loaded to the brim with supplies and DART team of 12 to keep the vessel secure and to secure the port in Marsh Harbour.
    Conditions are tolerable with approx 15’ following seas and 20-25kts of wind directly behind us.
    We hope to be in the Abacos tonight and begin tender runs ashore with the most vital supplies as soon as possible.
    There is still tons of supplies and donations needed. Please keep on your network asking people to donate to YachtAid Global
  10. Oscarvan

    Oscarvan Senior Member

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  11. Pascal

    Pascal Senior Member

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    There is no doubt that many precaution must be taken and I doubt anybody is going to go before next week. Weather has to settle as well as the dust. Or rather the debris and silt

    That said, charity is big business and organization like the Red Cross, and others have a history of massive payroll, exec perks and waste causing only a fraction of the aid actually going to the victims. It fully expect their employees past or present to advocate for them

    Let s not forget the Clinton Foundation disaster in Haiti.

    Problem with Dorian is that sending aid to NAS for the government to send to the Abacos and Grand Bahama is going to cause massive delays.

    NEMA (the Bahamian fema) held a press conference today reversing course saying they were going to allow private vessels to bring aid for 30 days as long as as they register. So far though no fine print
  12. bayoubud

    bayoubud Senior Member

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    Agree with this. When Katrina badly damaged Biloxi a couple of us got together and sent a truck load of much needed bottled water there. Was supposed to go to a local charity store, they supposedly sent it to a church and we were never able to verify what happened to the shipment. So, verify who you are sending funds are supplies to before jumping in. Good organizations will get established there, probably too early now.
  13. Pascal

    Pascal Senior Member

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    This is why we re trying to bring the shipment to smaller isolated Cays, like Green Turtle. These places are isolated with no ferry service since they were all sunk.

    We (the owner of the boat and his associates) want to make sure the help makes a difference to these smaller settlements. Not sitting in a warehouse in NAS

    Not their first dance with hurricane relief either
  14. bayoubud

    bayoubud Senior Member

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    Do you have boats available to ship in to the Cays? With no ferry service can only imagine how bad the situation on those small Cays. The Abaco sound is probably loaded with debris and boats, knowing you will be careful. Had a friend we helped that was carrying gasoline (huge shortage) in bladder tanks to Panama city after Michael, they needed it to run generators and chain saws, water and food was being handle by FEMA. Water , food, and temporary housing is going to take a huge effort at the Cays, having to bring all in by boat. Good on you and the owner for jumping in, locals will forever appreciate you guys.
  15. Hatterized

    Hatterized Member

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    Hello to all.....

    Long time lurker here, and do appreciate the wealth of knowledge conveyed & shared on the YF pages, but with the catastrophic aftermath of Dorian i felt compelled to share this.....

    i am really not computer savvy but here is a legit Dorian relief group, made up of many marine & yacht industry professionals that is already securing ships and aircraft to provide for the Abacos

    their FB page is Abaco Relief Alliance

    check it out and you will see some big players in the industry and how organized they are with many drop off sites all around Florida

    God Bless the Abaconians and all still in harms way

    Scott
  16. Oscarvan

    Oscarvan Senior Member

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  17. olderboater

    olderboater Senior Member

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    I wouldn't personally donate to any GoFundMe account set up by an individual I didn't personally know and didn't know he was the one to do it. He may be the most honorable man in the world, but how am I to be sure?
  18. Oscarvan

    Oscarvan Senior Member

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    Your concern is valid, and you're never sure, which is why a little vetting goes a long way.

    For what it's worth they are involved with Intervol a genuine 501(3)-(c) from the same town as he is (Rochester NY). I called Intervol and asked some questions. Sounded like a real organization. So are the websites of the Sands Foundation and Constellation brands. (From Victor NY next to Rochster). So these all appear to be family/community ties.

    Everything I read adds up. No flags. The language is correct. I'm a pretty suspicious person myself with a half century of spotting scheisters and I'm satisfied that this is in fact a group of people that have real ties to the island and are genuinely helping.

    Or this is a Bernie Madoff quality ruse. Seems like a lot of work for a half a million. And it's "out there" enough that someone who knows all these people would ring the bell.

    YMMV.
    Last edited: Sep 5, 2019
  19. rtrafford

    rtrafford Senior Member

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    Big hands into all pockets. NEMA, it's up to you to go set up tents at available docks if you want these boats to "properly register". Want this to be rebuilt fast? Get the heck out of the way and allow private efforts to flow.

    Let's see...I want to help. I can be in Abaco with a load of materials in 10 hours. Or, I can pass through Customs in Bimini and be to Abaco in nearly three times the time. I don't believe the rescue need cares whether or not I properly register and pay duty. They want me there now.
  20. bayoubud

    bayoubud Senior Member

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    Right on! It would help if the Bahamian gov would put up a list of items initially needed and where on an Official Site so individuals willing to bring them can co-ordinate and not waste time.There are necessities the survivors need now. Nothing wrong with inspecting and verifying shipments declared by those delivering, but don't take all day, duty free....Like the idea of individuals bringing needed supplies, just need some co-ordination to flow well.