Heartbroken couple keep dream alive

A couple have lost their home and had their dream of raising funds for cancer sufferers dashed after their yacht sank at Rockingham jetty on Sunday

Picture: Karin Mcguire and Grant Macdonald are unsure of their future after their home sank at Rockingham jetty.

But the heartbroken pair, both cancer survivors, have refused to give up hope of renovating the vessel so they can start a charity to help other cancer sufferers.

Grant Macdonald and Karen Mcguire are staying in short-term accommodation and received clothes from Rockingham Salvos, but nearly all their personal possessions and sentimental items were lost when their yacht, Living Waters, sank in the early hours of Sunday morning.

Strong winds battered the yacht against the jetty, which it was moored against, and it took on big amounts of water and sank.

The couple had just moved onto the yacht and had intended to renovate it to start a charity operation offering sailing trips to cancer sufferers.

Mr Macdonald said he felt comfortable mooring the boat in Rockingham, after forecasts indicated conditions were fine.

‘‘We got the boat to the jetty at 4pm and it was perfectly calm,’’ he said.

‘‘The wind started to pick up at about 6pm and we were getting concerned because it was hitting the jetty too hard so I radioed the emergency channel for Rockingham rescue but had no response.

‘‘I then tried phoning the water police but I couldn’t get through so I had to call 000 who put me through to the water police who said it wasn’t their problem and there’s nothing they could do.’’

Mr Macdonald said they could not afford to pay $20,000 to a salvage company to reclaim their yacht, as they are both on disability pensions.

‘‘We haven’t completely lost all hope of our dream, but if the boat is raised it may be salvageable. I doubt it, but maybe.’’

Rockingham Sea Rescue volunteers were on the scene throughout Saturday night but commander Peter Edwards said as no lives were at risk there was nothing the crew could do.

‘‘Our vessel is a fast-response rescue vessel, it’s not a salvage vessel, and because no lives were at risk it became a salvage job not a rescue,’’ he said.

‘‘At the time there was something like a 17 to 20-knot breeze, very strong east noreasterly breeze so you’re talking over 40ks an hour and that was pushing the boat into the jetty.’’

There was further chaos at the jetty on Monday afternoon when five boats broke their moorings.

Mr Edwards advised caution for all boat owners.

‘‘When there’s a storm forecast, yachties need to be aware that storms do develop quickly and they need to be vigilant,’’ he said.

‘‘They need to go down and check their moorings are secure.’’