Hurricane threatens sailing venue

WITH just over a week before the first Olympic yachting event starts on Wassaw Sound off Savannah, Georgia, a grade three hurricane is threatening to sweep over the area today causing officials to activate emergency plans. As four people died in the United States Virgin Islands to the south, mandatory evacuations were taking place yesterday at exposed coastal locations as far north as Virginia.

Throughout the day, forecasters were maintaining that Hurricane Bertha would be turned off its north-westerly track and away from the east coast by a low pressure trough moving south eastwards from the land. However, the turn had yet to take place by lunchtime yesterday and was still threatening the coasts of Florida and into Georgia where the Olympic sailing is based.

Already seas at the venue had built to nearly three metres causing officials to ban all athletes from the day marina yesterday afternoon, with all keelboats removed further inshore to the relative shelter of the main Olympic base at the Sheraton hotel site. However, even this area will be closed today and possibly tomorrow as well until the path of the hurricane is known.

The possibility for respite comes from the belief that slack steering winds above the eye of the hurricane will cause the storm and its 115 mile per hour winds to stall before swinging away from land and out to sea. However, other experts were also suggesting that "Bertha" may strengthen when it reaches the Gulfstream, north of the Bahamas, early this morning.

Precautions at Savannah involve lashing the Laser, 470 and Mistral sailboards to the decks of a specially built day marina just inside Williamson Island beside the open sea race area. However, this facility, which resembles a scene from Waterworld, is protected by an island that is little more than a sand bank which is certain to disappear when the Atlantic surges as the Hurricane approaches.

In spite of the threat to the competition, the crisis represents an opportunity for local organisers to swing into action with emergency plans. An event that has 436 athletes is serviced by more than 3,000 volunteers from the Savannah area. Every last detail and eventuality has been anticipated, including adverse weather, in a massive logistical operation.

Security is of paramount importance, reflecting the perceived threat to the Games. Although 300 miles from the main venue at Atlanta, the sailors are closely guarded from the moment they register. Extremes are common and frequently surpassed the swimming pool at the sailing base is inviting after a hard day training at sea - sorry only accredited swimming athletes are allowed use it.

The Olympic village is based at the Marriott Hotel in downtown Savannah where full catering and entertainment is available; access is restricted to athletes and accredited team officials only. The 14-person Irish party is based on the FBI-guarded penthouse floor of the village along with two other "high security risk" teams - the United Kingdom and Israel - and special keys are needed for the elevators.

To reach the main Olympic sailing base 15 miles away, crews are transported by coach escorted by five squad cars that shut down the highway ahead of a convoy that could be taken from the O J Simpson chase. But it doesn't end there. Upon reaching the Sheraton Hotel riverside compound, the sailors take a river boat journey to the dav marina base.

This 30-knot voyage, a mini-epic in its own right as it is the equivalent of travelling from Malahide to Dun Laoghaire to reach your boat, is escorted by six police boats, again with lights and sirens blaring. The route is also lined by dozens more law enforcement craft that stop all other vessels to check identities. Sky patrols also make regular checks of the area in the all out effort to protect the athletes.

In spite of the security presence, Savannah has been especially welcoming for the Irish sailors. The city hosts what is reputed to be the world's second largest St. Patrick's day parade and the local Irish American community has been a model of support for Ireland's largest ever sailing contingent.