Wind problems

50-mile an hour winds tore into the National Sports Centre on Saturday and Sunday and caused damage to the large tents and ancillary equipment causing the Bermuda Rugby Classic to be cancelled for two nights.

There is a very unorganised non-tropical low pressure weather system located about 400 miles southwest of here pushing thunderstorms and powerful winds into Bermuda. Strong winds caused some yachtsmen to be rescued taking part in a race as well as delays to the arrival of cruise ships.

There has also been sporadic power outages across the island and we were woken at around 2am on Sunday morning to our alarm re-setting itself after the power went out earlier. At least I could physically go around the house putting the clocks back an hour!

There were many disappointed people knocking around today with no rugby to go to tonight and no doubt Hamilton will be busy as people (and players) find alternative activities to occupy themselves, which in Bermuda in the rain normally means the Aquarium (which closes at 5pm) or drinking.

The Rugby Classic is now set to begin tomorrow evening (Tuesday), although fresh equipment has to be flown in and work can’t start until the winds die down (see above). The plan now is to use the rest days and still finish on Saturday. Friday was planned to be a rest day but they will now need to play. The only problem is that the Bermudian national football team take on Barbados in a World Cup qualifier in the afternoon next door at the stadium. Organisation doesn’t always come easy to Bermuda, and I’d like to see how that is going to work!

By the way, talking of Bermuda’s World Cup exploits, to save costs they will play Barbados in a home double header Friday and Monday to finish of the group matches. Remember both teams can’t qualify and Leon Cort’s Guyana will make it into the next phase from Bermuda’s group if they beat Trinidad & Tobago at home on Friday.