White Rock businesses left wondering what’s next after storm destroys boats
Posted December 22, 2018 10:40 am.
This article is more than 5 years old.
WHITE ROCK (NEWS 1130) — Members of a White Rock sailing group are now facing the reality of having lost all seven of their boats, which were moored at the pier.
Susan Manz with the Lower Mainland Yacht Co-operative says three of their boats ended up on the shore and are write-offs, while the other four broke apart and sunk.
“It’s just a tragedy for all of us, we’re very upset and of course, the private owners that have lost their boats, it’s a tragedy for them as well,” Manz says. “Who would’ve thought this would ever happen in White Rock, it’s just amazing. It’s looks like a hurricane hit.”
RELATED: Cost to repair White Rock pier torn by windstorm in the millions: city
Meantime, the owner of at least one business that relies on the pier is figuring out his next steps. Andrew Newman with White Rock Sea Tours and Whale Watching explains while neither of his boats were damaged, the pier is where passengers are picked up and dropped off.
“So, this is going to hurt us until there is a replacement,” Newman says. “That’s our base of operations, where we pick up and drop off our passengers”
Newman says he’ll have to troubleshoot and find an alternative. He’s helping with the recovery at the pier, noting salvage crews have been working diligently to clean up the wreckage.
