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Rick Kral, owner of the Greenwich Water Club, was overseeing the removal of a large boat at Beacon Point Marine on Friday afternoon. He said that it was just the start of what promises to be a busy weekend.
“The phone has been ringing since yesterday,” Kral said. “We’re trying to get the boats that weren’t in the schedule into the schedule, so it’s a challenge. We’ll be working all day Saturday and all day Sunday, doing all that we can to help everybody out."
With so many boat owners trying to secure their property ahead of the storm, Kral said removing the boats becomes a juggling act and a race against time. “Now space becomes an issue because we’ve already got boats out for storage season,” he said. “So we don’t have a lot of room for the boats that are coming out that aren’t storing with us.”
The town of Greenwich updated its website Friday evening, encouraging boat owners of possible damage from Hurricane Sandy. “Please take every precaution to prevent damage to your vessel, your neighbor’s vessel, and other property,” a statement on the Greenwich website said. “If your vessel is trailerable, the best action is to haul your vessel.”
Town launch ramps will be available to any resident who wishes to haul out, the town said. Boat owners may use the town’s parking and storage lots within the marine facilities to store their vessels. Boat owners are encouraged to contact a town employee or a dock master on location before leaving a vessel.
After the boats are tended to, Kral said his team then has to secure the docks and the facilities. Then they get equipment ready to respond to any potential damage.
“You always prepare for the worst and hope for the best. Irene was bad, but it wasn’t brutal, with not much damage,” Kral said. “We’ll do our best, because it’s going to be a busy next 48 hours, no doubt.”
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