High Wind in Guam, January 24, 2000

Strong winds caused by a surge in the winter monsoon moved across Guam. These strong winds caused several power outages across the island. Residents of Apra Harbor and the Bear Rock area were without power after a power pole being worked on by contractors blew down. a downed power line cut power in Agat, and a blown lightning arrestor cut power to Merizo. Several power outages were reported in the Cabras Island area because of salt-spray on insulators.A windsurfer also got caught in the high winds and seas. The windsurfer was pulled from the water near the Piti bomb holes. Makoto Suzuki, 34, was pulled out of rough waters at around 1530. He received cuts and bruises during the incident. Suzuki was 300 yards outside the reef line when sudden strong winds that were mixed with the rain moved into the area. A fellow wind surfer, Jerry Bender, spent 30 minutes looking for Suzuki. Bender called 911 at 1500. Guam fire and police, as well as a Navy HC-5 helicopter combed the waters for the wind surfer. Suzuki was lying on his wind surfing board when rescued. He was in good condition when he was brought to the Hagatna Boat Basin.An Australian sailboat, the Mariposa, got caught in the high wind and seas. At 337 the CoastT Guard received a distress call from the vessel, which had lost its main sail while on route to Chuuk from Guam. The boat did have a small motor, but was unable to make headway because of the rough seas. The Coast Guard cutter Sassafras met up with the sailboat and towed it to Guam. They reached the Agat Marina at 928. The sailboat had a GPS locator and was able to guide the cutter to its location.