Rowing will go on in post-cyclone Vanuatu

Fortunately for the newly-established Port Vila Rowing Club – where the Vanuatu Rowing Association is based – the cyclone left the boat house comparatively in-tact. This, says coach Roland Warren, was partly due to having a well-built boat house and securing all of the equipment before the cyclone hit. The boat house, however, was flooded by the storm surge and heavy rain leaving the power, ergometers, coaching boat engines and gym equipment damaged.

One of the rowing club’s masters rowers, Neil Hamilton is back on the water and using his regular rows as a release from the stress caused by the cyclone. Hamilton described what it was like during the most intense part of Cyclone Pam: “The worst period was between 10pm and 1am. Those three hours I will never forget.  The noise outside was indescribable. Perhaps the closest thing would be if you can imagine yourself standing beside a runway when a B 747 takes off. The significant difference however is that the intense noise continued nonstop for approximately 12 hours.”

A post-cyclone clean-up of the boat house saw the rowers back on the water three days after Cyclone Pam and with Vanuatu Rowing aiming to qualify for the Rio 2016 Olympic Games, time is of the essence.

Many of the rowers have been volunteering for the Red Cross to help distribute food, water and tarpaulins around the island for those less fortunate.

“The process of rebuilding began that morning (straight after the cyclone),” says Warren, “with the salvaging of timber, tin and nails from the wrecked buildings. The problem now will be no fresh food because of the destruction of gardens. The vast majority of the population grow their own food and that food is gone.”

Last year the Vanuatu Rowing Federation established a masters regatta designed to attract masters rowers to have an active holiday and also act as a fundraiser for local rowing. The success saw a second edition planned for 2015. Despite the cyclone the regatta, Masters in Paradise will go ahead on 7 – 8 June 2015. This will help fund a school rowing programme and national team projects.

Contact: mastersinparadise@vanuaturowing.com
Website: http://mastersinparadise.com/

Vanuatu Rowing Association has also established a gofundme account at: http://www.gofundme.com/vanuaturowing