BREAKING NEWS: Super Typhoon Bopha Skirts Palau

Islands of The Philippines are currently taking a beating from Super Typhoon Bopha, which skirted Palau yesterday. We just learned that at least two West Coast sailors weathered that blow as it passed.

Richard and Leora Roll (66 and 65 repectively) left Seattle in 2010 aboard their Beneteau 45 Before on a five-year Pacific cruise. Thus far, the trip has taken them to many of the North Pacific’s prime scuba diving locations, including Hawaii, Kwajalein Atoll, Yap Island, and presently Palau, which is considered to have some of the most pristine coral reefs in the world.

Hopefully those reefs are still intact after yesterday’s blasting — along with the Rolls’ vessel. As explained in recent emails, they elected to leave Before in a well-protected spot on Rock Island. “We have laid out all four anchors — two on the bow, two astern,” wrote Richard yesterday. “We took four lines ashore above the tide line away from rocks, tied to trees at their base. Everything is stripped or lashed. When we learned this was to be a direct hit as a category three or four, I figured there was nothing we would be able to do, working on deck in 100-130 knots.”

So they loaded up their dinghy with essential documents, clothing and fuel, and make the 10-mile crossing back to Sam’s Tours, a dive operation in Malakal Harbor, in the town of Koror.

Having easily survived the blow at Koror, which only saw 50 to 60 knots, the couple now has to endure an uneasy wait until sea conditions subside enough to return to their boat. The nearby islands of Angaur and Peleliu experienced stronger winds and flooding in some of the coastal villages.

Back in the ‘80s, the Rolls did a previous Pacific circuit aboard their Catalina 30. After crossing from the West Coast to the Marquesas, they eventually circled north to Palau and Japan.