To be clear, we were NOT there during Marty.

Having said that, when we got there we talked to many people who were there, on their boats and some who managed to get off their boats just as the dock exploded under them. Also some who tried to get underway and out of the marina during the calm at the passing of the eye. And were very good friends of one boat who was able to exit the marina during the calm.

I also have the advantage of having a full 3 hours of video taken by a couple of people that day. The short video I posted is just part I put together for a hurricane prep seminar for a Bay Fest there in La Paz.

During our 3 preps for a hurricane (2 at anchor and one in Marina de La Paz) we removed ALL we could from our decks. ANY item on deck increases the load on your anchor (or dock) system. So, all of the sails/biminies/dodgers and the like still on the boats greatly increased the loads on the dock system, not just the boats dock lines.

When we were in the San Francisco Bay area, during a big wind day (50 or 60) knot at the marina we were in (NOT a storm), a RF broke free. I can tell you that NO ONE could safely get even close to the boat to get it under control! It took 5 of us, with boat hooks to get the situation calmed down. Some damage to the RF, the boat, AND the boats next to it suffered damage.

Also, to add my thoughts, Marina de La Paz got a bad rap on this one. From the extended videos I saw, the next marina up from them had the first docks to break free and blow down on Marina de La Paz! With all of the gear on deck on the boats, AND other outside docks with boats tied to them blowing down on them, there was no way that they could have survived!

Even with the above situation, the first few fingers of each dock, close to shore, were NOT damaged!

Since then, Marina de La Paz has added sea walls and piles between them and the other marina. I jokingly call the piles between them “boat shredders” to make sure no BIG chunks can blow in.

Just my views.

Greg