Defying the Odds,Reaping the Benefits

Story by Mark Wilson; background photo by Michelle van Wyk

WHILE I sit here contemplating the 2022 Durban SkiBoat Club Festival,I am struck by the harsh fact that the last time I wrote an article for SKI-BOAT magazine it was on the selfsame festival for the July/August 2019 issue,and was titled “Victory Through Adversity”.

Little did any of us know what adversity we as South Africans and offshore fishing- and boating fanatics would face between then and now.

Covid ravaging our nation and effectively shutting it down,riots causing havoc in KwaZulu-Natal and,most recently,the floods just for good measure.It was a lot!

Fortunately we are a resilient,stubborn and determined bunch,and our passion for this sport will always win through.I was happy to witness this personally once again at this year’s DSBC Festival.

Of course Durban Ski-Boat Club had also been facing their own logistical challenges in the last two years,including having to move the club — lock, stock and barrel — to the new premises.This was no small task as they share premises with Durban Undersea Club, collectively forming the Point Water Sports Club.

This year’s festival took place from 29 April to 1 May 2022.Festivities started on the Friday evening with registration,and the club was a hive of activity. Over 200 boats were registered this year,clearly an indication that anglers have desperately missed this event over the last two years.

The Saturday and Sunday were dedicated to fishing,with the weigh-station closing after 2pm on both days.

Early (very early) comms with Hilton Kidger on the Saturday confirmed that the launch was a go despite the westerly and the sponsors’boat was ready and waiting for me to board.

I was eager to witness the 200-plus boats blasting off in different directions seeking the croc’cuda that would secure them the main prize.The 640 anglers were all vying for the Seacat 520 on trailer,sporting two 60hp 4stroke Yamaha outboard motors worth R500000,sponsored by Yamaha Marine South Africa.

Being on the water and witnessing this armada setting off is always impressive,and also provided a sense of relief knowing the 2022 Festival was officially underway with no hiccups.

On a personal note the best memory of this year’s festival for me will be standing on the beach surrounded by the noise of tractors and Nissan Navara vehicles sponsored by the CMH group. As they positioned the boats to launch that first morning,the air was filled with the banter and good wishes being exchanged between captains and crews wanting desperately to get their props wet.The excitement was tangible.

All the boats were launched without incident and in record time,which is par for the course for this festival,and all those involved in the planning and execution must be commended for a job well done.

In the three weeks before the festival many of the estuaries along our coast had released a mass of muddied water into the sea.No doubt that accounts for the overall low number of gamefish that were recorded at this year’s weigh-in.Despite that,12 ’cuda still featured in the prizes,along with a few tuna,snoek,dorado,bonnie and barracuda.

Alain Khan managed a great ’cuda on Saturday and set the benchmark for the rest to chase at 20.14kg.

Two anglers accepted the challenge, with Storm Dalton weighing in a solid 23.28kg ’cuda on Sunday.He was left nervously holding the leading spot, hoping to not be eclipsed.

Later that day,Francois Toerien was seen carrying a worthy contender up the beach and to the weigh-in. Onlookers swamped the area and eventually spontaneous applause erupted.

On closer inspection,Francois had a certified 25.52kg ’cuda and had won this year’s Durban Ski Boat Club Festival.

Asked to comment on the event, Hilton Kidger,convener of the festival, said,“From an organisers’point of view the challenge was making this happen in our new beachfront facility.This involved different ways of creating something new,and my thanks go to Alan Goveia (co-convener) and his team and incredible staff that all stepped up to the plate.”

“We also needed a lot of support from our city officials and beach management,and this was in abundance. Thank you Afika Ndima, Sugan Venketraju,Zola Ndlovu,Michelle Belram,Capt.Adams,the NSRI and others.The other element that’s vital for such an event is support sponsorship, and even in such hard economic times our stalwarts once again put up their hands and were more than generous,” Hilton commented.

The DSBC Festival has proudly maintained the title of the richest offshore festival in Southern Africa,with a total value of prizes and sponsorship of R1.5million.This is an indication of the value that sponsors see in this particular event.What makes this achievement even more remarkable is the fact that the Festival was forced to cancel two years in a row.

Please pause at the end of this article to look at the sponsors thank you page and take note of who is investing in the passion you so enjoy.I encourage you to support them in return.

Congratulations to all those at Durban Ski Boat Club who were in any way involved in making this year’s festival the success we have to come to expect.Whatever the obstacles thrown your way,you continue to defy the odds and reap the benefits and accolades you so richly deserve. The dates for the 2023 festival are 28 April to 1 May, so mark your diary now.