The crazy wind of Christmas Day, 2017, took a lot of people by surprise, and at least one boat. The 65-foot Navigator, owned by Northeast Maritime Institute, and docked at Union Wharf, broke loose in the wind around 9:30 a.m. The Fairhaven Fire Department, Harbormaster Department, and NMI owner Eric Dawicki and his son Morgan responded to get the boat tied up again. Christmas Day saw a variety of weather, including snow, wind, rain, and eventually sunshine in the afternoon. A wind gust of 64 miles per hour was recorded in Fairhaven just a few minutes before the call went out, according to ML Baron of the West Island Weather Station (www.westislandweather.com). The boat was stabilized around 10:15 a.m.
According to Fairhaven Harbormaster Tim Cox, the piling broke, causing the boat to break free. The piling is part of the new construction at the wharf. A new pilng has been ordered. Meanwhile, Navigator is tied up nearby, with access by a small floating dock. Navigator sustained some damage, dents and scratches, but nothing major, according to Mr. Cox.
Eric Dawicki, president of the Northeast Maritime Institute, which owns the 65-foot Navigator, attempts to push the boat off the corner of the wharf while his son Morgan Dawicki prepares to lower a bumper to protect the vessel (and the wharf) from being damaged in heavy winds on a snowy Christmas Day, 2017, which saw wind gusts of up to 65 MPH. Photo by James Mahaney
The Fairhaven Fire Department boat pushes the 65-foot Navigator away from the corner of Union Wharf in the heavy winds on a snowy Christmas Day, 2017, when wind gusts of 65 MPH were recorded. Photo by James Mahaney
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