Hurricane Gloria - 1985
During her 29 September – 4 October 1985 crossing QE2 “endured one of the worst gales that she has ever encountered in her sailing history” which were generated by Hurricane Gloria which also caused havoc along the American Eastern Seaboard.
QE2 was in a major depression for two days (the storm lasted for four days) with upwards of Force 10 conditions. There was some major hull damage, including additional superstructure damage, and the foghorn, some ventilation shafts, a lifeboat and part of her funnel were ripped away. Pipes burst throughout the ship and the Magrodome was damaged. All of this resulted in high levels of passenger discomfort.
QE2’s arrival in New York was delayed by eight hours and it was hoped to turn the ship around in record time in order to maintain the integrity of the itinerary but an electrical cable fault on the centre main generator failed just prior to departure which delayed her sailing time to 0315 hours – 11 hours behind the revised last departure target. The electrical fault also affected the power output of QE2 which resulted in the reduced air-conditioning.
Repairs were made to the heavy weather damage during the return eastbound crossing (5 – 10 October) but the failure of a bearing on the electric motor drive of a boiler forced draught fan delayed her arrival in Southampton by two hours.
