Richard Bransons Necker Belle Delivers Aid to Stricken Islanders

NECKER BELLE and YAG Volunteers

In the last major storm of an otherwise quite Caribbean summer, Hurricane Gonzalo raced through St. Maarten in mid October.

Islanders were expecting a tropical storm and with only 30 minutes notice prior to landfall learned the storm had grown into a Category 3 hurricane.

With very little preparation time, the island residents did not have proper protection in place as the storm swept over the island.

Now the superyacht Industry has rallied round to delivering supplies to the hurricane hit island

YachtAid Global coordinates the delivery of supplies and relief aid to such areas around the world using yachts and recruited Virgin Boss Sir Richard Branson asking him to donate the services of his sailing catamaran Necker Belle to carry cargo to the island as she moved south having attended the Fort Lauderdale Boat Show

The yachts Captain, Beez Evans was keen to assist and participate despite his vessel’s short turnaround time.

Relief aid supplies were solicited from local yachting industry firms including Yacht Chandlers, Medical Offshore Support Limited, MedAire and The Ditch Kit.

In St Maarten IGY Marinas has donated a slip for the offloading of the aid and supplies as well as an overnight stay for the crew.