GCCM’s Unmatched Marina Protection During Cyclone Alfred

GCCM’s satisfied customers post Cyclone Alfred

With the threat of Cyclone Alfred approaching the coastline, the team at GCCM swung into action to protect the most important piece of the marina – our customers.

Tex and Lucy

Navigating Tropical Cyclone Alfred: How GCCM Protected Every Vessel

When Tropical Cyclone Alfred approached the Gold Coast in early 2025, it brought fierce winds, relentless rain, and heightened concern for boat owners across the region. As an announced Category 2 cyclone, Alfred posed a serious threat to marine assets. However, at Gold Coast City Marina & Shipyard, thorough preparation and decades of expertise ensured that every vessel remained safe throughout the storm.

“Our approach to extreme weather events is both strategic and thorough,” says GCCM’s Chief Operations Officer. “We have established protocols covering every aspect of our operations, from securing vessels in the water to safeguarding equipment and ensuring the safety of everyone on-site.”

Read more about GCCM’s response to Cyclone Alfred here.

Preparation was key for the GCCM Hardstand

Preparing a marina hardstand for a cyclone requires a strategic and disciplined approach to safeguard vessels and infrastructure. The team at GCCM began the process by securing all boats on the hardstand using sturdy tie-down points, additional chocking, and, where possible, positioning them in a way that reduces wind exposure. Communication was key for the team, with staff and vessel owners informed of safety procedures and emergency contacts well in advance. By implementing a comprehensive cyclone preparedness plan, the GCCM team minimised risks and ensured a swift recovery once Alfred has passed.

Let’s here from customers that went through it either in the marina or on the hardstand.

Tom & Tony – SY Driftwood – 50T Hardstand customers

Tom and Tony from Driftwood on the Sunshine Coast praised the management of cyclone Alfred at GCCM, highlighting the effective preparations and support they received. The marina’s team ensured residents were well-prepared, providing necessary supplies like concrete blocks for security. They also commended the efforts of Andrew and ‘Super Quinny’ for their frequent checks on vessels during the storm, which provided reassurance. Overall, they were impressed with the proactive measures and constant support during the cyclone.

“Hi, we’re Tom and Tony on sailing yacht Driftwood from the Sunshine Coast originally, and we survived cyclone Alfred here at GCCM.

The crew were fantastic. Everyone here from pulling out just before the cyclone on Tuesday to making sure we had large concrete blocks to secure, down to anything that we could possibly need, was not too much of a drama. And basically they allowed us to do whatever we felt we needed to be secure and safe here. You constantly saw the guys going around throughout the day, checking, making sure you didn’t need anything, if there was anything they could do to help. It was fantastic. We saw Andrew and “Super Quinny”, getting around quite often, checking on vessels and making sure everything was safe. So, it was good to in between the breaks of showers and wind, get out and about and actually see some other people.”

Tom and Tony

A Testament to Marina Experience

After three intense days of powerful winds, torrential rain, and rising water levels, Cyclone Alfred finally moved away from the Gold Coast. The results at GCCM spoke for themselves: every vessel remained secure, and the facility sustained only minimal damage. All the customers residing at the GCCM marina felt the support of the team throughout the experience.

Shaun – SY Fete Accomplie – Marina customer

“I’ve been in marinas all over my life, all over the world for game fishing or sailing, and I’ve never experienced the concern and what these people did. They went above and beyond what was required.

No one would have put out that much concern anywhere else in the world apart from here. I mean that. Other marinas are about business, GCCM is a family. The concern from these people, is unbelievable, beautiful”.

Shaun

Pat & Lorie – MY Resolutions – Marina customers

Pat from Geelong, Victoria, praised the management and staff of the marina for their effective handling of Tropical Cyclone Alfred, highlighting their proactive measures such as securing items on decks, tying ropes, and setting up a support community with experienced individuals. They appreciated the overnight checks and post-event follow-ups, as well as the thorough communication sent to boat owners. However, they suggested that the marina could improve by informing boat owners about the need to turn off power during cyclones and by having a clear evacuation procedure, especially considering the rarity of such events in the area. Overall, they were impressed with the preparation and support provided.

“I’m Pat, and I’m Lorie. We’re from Geelong, Victoria, and we survived tropical cyclone, Alfred.”

What I thought they did really well was Chloe, all the management and staff were going around checking everybody’ set up, making sure that we didn’t have things on the deck, that our ropes were tied sufficiently, etc.

I found the support in terms of the preparation really good. But also found what was really good was that there were some other people on this particular arm that had already gone through cyclones, and they also helped us out with some of the setup and and support.

We actually established our own support community here as well. What I thought was also good was that there were several crew here overnight. They came and checked to make sure that we were okay, and that provided us with some extra confidence and support with the with what was happening or about to happen.

Following that, a few of them came and checked on us after the event to make sure that we were okay. that was excellent. We saw bins and pot plants disappearing, and anything that could have moved in the wind was put away. And I thought, wow, that’s really good.

The communication that was sent out to boat owners in terms of communication, was very thorough and very informative. We were very happy with the support that we got while we were here.

Pat & Lorie

Safeguarding Superyachts

Preparing the superyacht basin for Cyclone Alfred required meticulous planning and execution to protect high-value vessels and infrastructure from the extreme weather conditions. Communication between marina staff, yacht crews, and emergency services proved to be critical, ensuring coordinated action before, during, and after the storm. By following a well-structured cyclone preparedness plan, the team at GCCM enhanced safety, minimised damage, and facilitated a swift return to normal operations post-storm.

The aftermath of Cyclone Alfred

As the skies cleared, the team swiftly transitioned to recovery operations, returning vessels to the water and resuming normal business activities. This rapid response underscored another key advantage of GCCM’s comprehensive approach—the ability to minimise disruption and quickly restore operations after severe weather.

“The success of our response to Cyclone Alfred reaffirms the value of our preparation strategy,” reflects GCCM’s management. “By investing time and resources into proactive planning, we were able to protect hundreds of vessels worth millions of dollars.”

Want to watch more from our customers who weathered Cyclone Alfred? Click here.

Want to learn more about how GCCM can help with your vessel? Drop us a line here 07 5502 5888 or fill out this form.