NSRI Sea Rescue Autumn 2019 by The Publishing Partnership

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CO N T E N T S

SAVING LIVES. CHANGING LIVES. CREATING FUTURES.

AUTUMN 2 0 1 9 2

LETTERS

ABOVE AND BEYOND NSRI spokesman Craig Lambinon is honoured for his service to the seafaring community.

TOP OF HER GAME We chat to Hout Bay’s (Station 8) Carmen Long about becoming the first female Class 1 Coxswain in Sea Rescue.

PROUDLY NSRI Coxswain Roy Wienand on his journey – and learnings – at Station 5 (Durban).

THE VALUE OF WHAT WE DO Four schoolchildren remember CPR from a drowning-prevention workshop and save a life.

KIDS’ CLUB Everything you and your children need to know for a fun – and safe – day near the water.

24 IN THE NEWS Fundraising drives, events and station news. 30 LITTLE TOWN. BIG HEARTS Oyster Bay crew discover the fun in fundraising. 32 A LITTLE BIT OF HISTORY We uncover a few gems in Plettenberg Bay’s rich heritage.

IN DIRE STRAITS Steve Pike recounts the rescue of Odd Grim Persson at Sunset Beach, Dungeons, in Cape Town.

THE VALUE OF DRONES IN SEARCH AND RESCUE In the right hands, remote marine and air devices can be invaluable.

38 FROM THE SAME CLOTH We explore the intricate life of crabs and the extraordinary measures they take to protect their offspring from predation.

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40 STATION DIRECTORY

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FROM THE HELM

HIS MORNING I checked the AIS (Automatic Identification System) tracking on our two ORC vessels being delivered from France and located them just on the other side of the Suez Canal, on their way to Singapore before rerouting to Cape Town. Initiated in 2015, the ORC project (vessels for Durban, Alick Rennie, and Simon’s Town, Donna Nicholas), is finally bearing fruit and we wait in anticipation for their delivery to Cape Town in March or April. The vessels not only provide the physical resource to deliver offshore rescue capability, they also symbolically represent the aspirations and pride of an entire institute in service of our maritime nation. We can’t wait, one, to put Alick Rennie into operation and, two, get Donna Nicholas into the boatyard to take a mould off her before we complete her and send her to Simon’s Town! She will provide the mother mould for future ORCs built right here in Cape Town. We will share this experience, in some way, with you all! As the Department of Transport meets in Durban in February to discuss the draft Maritime Transport Strategy for 2030, we are cognisant of the risks to seafaring personnel and passengers, brought home to us every day as we respond to incidents up and down the coast as well as inland. The Occupational Health and Safety Act stops at the highwater mark and personnel working on vessels do not have the same regulatory protection as their land-based counterparts. Recent ships-pilot injuries and deaths have underlined the need for fall protection and regulation related to climbing pilot ladders. Mass Rescue Operations (MROs) like the Miroshga, Thandi and Lincoln raise serious questions about the wearing of appropriate life jackets at all times at sea, and the availability of mass evacuation systems from ferries in particular, and ships or vessels in general. There is simply no way a mixed crew of adults, children, elderly and infirm can reach life rafts, given that most are stored on a vessel’s roof and that there are no evacuation slides to reach them once deployed. Our experience is that, once deployed, life rafts are blown away in the wind and are useless to those who need them! We hope that the authorities will reflect and adjust policy towards safety. Sea Rescue is a flexible, agile and responsive service, by pure necessity, and so in 2019 we have taken the bold step of going cashless in accepting donations, which improves security for donors and provides the assurance that every cent ends up reaching its intended destination. We have adopted technology in a tap, snap and zap form (a reference to credit cards, SnapScan and Zapper), with facilities available through cellphones and banks, both ubiquitous in modern commerce and universally available in an evolving donor community. We are confident that this provides a more satisfying philanthropic experience, better security and a lasting relationship with our loyal donors, now almost numbering 100 000! (See News, page 28.) Thank you for being part of this huge life-saving effort and for your continuous feedback that shapes our decision making. Winter is here – buckle up that life jacket!

THE CREW THE PUBLISHING PARTNERSHIP MANAGING EDITOR Wendy Maritz ART DIRECTOR Ryan Manning ADVERTISING Nicholas Lumb EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR Mark Beare PRODUCTION DIRECTOR John Morkel EDITORIAL DIRECTOR Susan Newham-Blake ADDRESS PO Box 15054, Vlaeberg 8018 TEL +27 21 424 3517 FAX +27 21 424 3612 EMAIL wmaritz@tppsa.co.za

SEA RESCUE OFFICE +27 21 434 4011 WEB www.searescue.org.za PR/COMMUNICATIONS OFFICER Megan Hughes CELL 083 443 7319 EMAIL meganh@searescue.org.za / communications@searescue.org.za COMMUNICATIONS MANAGER Craig Lambinon CELL 082 380 3800 EMAIL lambinon@mweb.co.za PRODUCED FOR THE NSRI BY The Publishing Partnership (Pty) Ltd, PO Box 15054, Vlaeberg 8018. Copyright: The Publishing Partnership (Pty) Ltd 2018. All rights reserved. Reproduction in whole or in part is prohibited without the prior permission of the editor. Opinions expressed are those of the authors and not the NSRI. Offers are available while stocks last. PRINTING CTP Printers Cape Town

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CAPE TOWN: NSRI, 1 Glengariff Road, Three Anchor Bay 8001; PO Box 154, Green Point 8051 Tel: +27 21 434 4011 | Fax: +27 21 434 1661 Visit our website at www.searescue.org.za or email us at info@searescue.org.za www.facebook.com/SeaRescue

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LETTERS SEA RESCUE R14.95 | AUTUMN 2019

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BOUT HALF a century ago (it is so weird to be old enough to say that!), my father used to launch his fishing boat from the shore into the waves at Mdumbi Point, along the former Transkei’s Wild Coast. Just where this is, location-wise, I do not know. I never did come to terms with north or south, only left and right… I do remember that it was just off the mouth of the Mdumbi River, and not far (as the crow flies) from the Umtata (Mthatha) River. I also know that Hole in the Wall was not far either. Anyway, launching involved loading up tackle and bait, having the fishermen stand in the water, holding the boat ready to jump on, and my dad scanning the waves and planning his move. There would be a flurry of action and, with outboard motors gunned, they would shoot out into the oncoming waves. The outboard motors of choice were Evinrude and Johnson – Yamaha had not hit the scene yet! If the run was not timed correctly, it meant a quick about-turn and a race to the shore, getting there a split second ahead of the wave as it petered out close to land. One day, this usually successful plan was not… The ski boat overturned, the tackle went into the sea and the fishermen, too, but fortunately close to the shore, no further out than we would swim in the waves.

Fortunately, too, no one was hurt, despite the boat being tossed onto the beach – and it was within carrying distance of the boathouse at the launch point. Much of the tackle was recovered, the outboard motors were duly dried out and serviced as necessary, and within a week or two, they were trying again! On another occasion a friend’s boat was tossed onto the rocks and broken, but repaired (I think). There were mild injuries and all the tackle was lost, along with an outboard motor. There was no NSRI at hand at this time, I am not even sure whether they existed 50 years ago? This was a perfectly normal thing to do, for my father, who had been in the navy during the war and maintained that he knew the sea. Do we ever really know the sea, with its constant changing and mood swings? I do not believe that we should take the sea for granted. We should respect it at all times and ask to be safely on it or in it, not arrogantly expect the sea to bow to our wishes. I accepted this way of launching as right, too, since I knew no better as a child and had no other frame of reference. Now, however, I cringe at the thought. Would that there had been an awareness drive as there is now. Would that we had known more, and not worked on ‘ignorance is bliss’. To be sure, it was, and in retrospect we were very lucky, but I do like the feeling of being more knowledgeable now. Thank you, NSRI, for your sustained efforts to teach people so as to lessen the risk of tragedy in their lives. Thank you, too, you brave (if crazy) men and women who put yourselves at risk, for no remuneration other than satisfaction and gratitude. Denise Kerr

MELKBOS NIGHT MANOEUVRES It’s 03h30. We just left the base a few minutes ago after a night training session. Nothing new... but tonight, something hit me more than it ever has before, as we were exiting Murray’s Bay Harbour (Robben Island) after doing some close-quarter manoeuvring, heading to Granger Bay for a crew change. There we were, in complete darkness. Six of us, all with nothing but smiles on our faces. Making way through some interesting swell, I looked up at the stars for a brief second and felt so small in such a big ocean, yet so grateful to be able to experience the things we do. Soaking wet with the taste of salty water, the refreshing spray blasting over the bow every now and then. I took a moment and realised that I wouldn’t rather be anywhere else on earth than right there, at that moment, with those people – my family. For someone who has an immense passion for the ocean, what a blessing

to be able to train to save lives on South African waters. To all my NSRI family – only we will truly know. Marc de la Porte, Coxswain, Station 18, Melkbosstrand Some of us are tied to the sea by rusty, uncomfortable chains that keep us grounded, humble, uneasy. Yet it is exactly in that space where we live, truly breathe – more so than anywhere sheltered and warm. It is said that boats are safe when in harbour... but that is not what boats were made for. We go out when others would rather be coming in. This is a brotherhood few will be privileged to experience or understand. Our only reward is a sense of life far beyond the comfort of our own boundaries, a place where everything matters. Thanks for reminding me of that place, for taking me home. Pierre Reeves, Coxswain, Station 18, Melkbosstrand

ART INSPIRING ART I am a subscriber and really enjoy reading Sea Rescue from cover to cover. The cover of the Autumn 2018 magazine especially caught my eye. I just loved the aloe painted on the surfboard and decided to paint it on a canvas. I run fun QuickArt & Cocktails art sessions, but sometimes I love just to paint something for myself. I’m not sure who the artist was, but I just wanted to say thanks for the inspiration. Mary Dallas, East London

LETTERS gend nie en die teenwoordigheid van die NSRI het die dag net soveel meer aangenaam gemaak. Dit is baie gerusstellend om die paraatheid van so ’n diens in aksie te sien. Nogmaals baie dankie en voorspoed. Jimmy van der Merwe, Fanie en Thys Pienaar, Mike de Beer

WE KNOW HER! Regarding the photograph on page 38 of the Summer 2018 magazine: the lady handing the trophy to Ryk Neethling is Joan Pepler (87), widow of the late Dr John Pepler of Bloemfontein. Joan is now an East London resident. (She was at our home for tea recently and is still very active.) Peter McLeod, Fish Hoek DANKIE, WITSAND! Aan die span van Stasie 33 by Witsand, baie dankie vir die professionele diens tydens die visvangkompetisie op 29 Desember 2018. Dit was voorwaar gerusstellend om twee bystandvaartuie van die NSRI by die bedrieglike Breederiviermond te sien terwyl bote op pad see toe is. Die see was nie baie kalm vanog-

PEACE OF MIND I want to take the opportunity to thank the Port Edward team for their absolute vigilance in ensuring that everyone felt safe during this festive season. Their presence and the swiftest reaction to situations that could have turned dire were out of this world. Every other day in December, my family and I went to Port Edward beach and on numerous occasions saw the team rushing to the water to save lives of not-so-good swimmers who are just there to have fun but get caught by the waves in the process. Even on 1 January, when it was so overcrowded, the team, together with SAPS, was on top of its game. I know sometimes this may be a thankless job but I want to say kudos. It’s been like this for a few years but it seems to improve every year. Thank you and congratulations on a job well done. Vuyani Ntshentshe, Lurholweni, Mzamba

WRITE TO US AND WIN! The writer of the winning letter published in the Winter 2019 issue of Sea Rescue will receive a Sea Rescue commemorative hoodie and a copy of Beachcombing in South Africa by Rudy van der Elst. For anyone who loves strolling along our beautiful coastline or who is simply fascinated by the seashore, Beachcombing in South Africa is a must. Short chapters on finds like sea beans, sponges, eggs, and other ‘floaters and drifters’ help beachcombers to identify and interpret various specimens, and the possible acitivities linked to them (like bird-tagging). The author, Rudy van der Elst, was the director of the Oceanographic Research Institute at uShaka Marine World, and is a leading autority on marine fish in Southern Africa. Email your letters to info@searescue.org.za or post them to Sea Rescue magazine, PO Box 15054, Vlaeberg 8018. (Letters may be shortened, and the winning letter is chosen at the editor’s discretion.) 6 |

S E A R E S C U E AU T U M N 2 0 1 9

FROM A NEW CREW MEMBER Thank you so much to Station 6 (Port Elizabeth) for welcoming me into their incredible family. The work they do is amazing and I am so impressed with the nature of the people I have met. It has been a lifelong dream of mine to join Sea Rescue since I was a young boy doing life-saving duties on the beaches of Cape Town. I would see them come by and always looked on with envy. Dumile Sukati RESCUE AT ROBBERG On 9 November 2018 your Plettenberg Bay crew rescued me after I injured my knee in Robberg Nature Reserve. I have since received surgery and am now recovering. My wife and I are both deeply grateful for the work of your crew, whose joint effort was carried out in such a friendly and patient way. Money can’t buy what you did for us. Jurgen Weiss and Astrid Weiss-Matysik

A MEMORABLE VISIT TO THE AUSTRALIAN VOLUNTEER COAST GUARD IN ST KILDA, MELBOURNE So, what does a Sea Rescue volunteer do on a weekend when away on business in a foreign land? I’m glad that you should ask, because some weeks ago I was faced with having to choose between spending a weekend in either Singapore or Melbourne when planning a business trip to both cities. In the end, the deciding factor was the presence of no less than eight Australian Volunteer Coast Guard stations in Port Phillip Bay, south of Melbourne. There are also a further two stations around French Island and Phillip Island in the bay to the east, notwithstanding that the area is called ‘Western’ Port. And so it was then simply a matter of determining the closest station to my hotel and making contact. St Kilda Station (CG2) is situated in the St Kilda Marina, a few minutes’ tram ride from the CBD, where I was staying. I therefore found myself on a Saturday morning setting off to meet with one Adam O’Neill, a vice-captain of Search and Rescue Operations for the Victoria Squadron. I had also been advised that, coincidentally, an ex-South African would be on duty that day. Once I had met the duty crew for the day and been introduced to Commander Maurice Dobia, who had

The vessel CG 10, from Werribee (west of St Kilda and closer to Geelong), was also out on patrol in Port Phillip.

Handing over of the certificate of gratitude and copies of Into the Raging Sea.

come down to meet me, we were off to sea for training. For me this largely involved basic orientation, as I became immediately aware of the extent of the Port Phillip Bay area and its proximity to the city of Melbourne. When I asked about a visitor such as me participating in an operation, they simply said, ‘You’re not a visitor, mate, you’re one of us.’ I was very humbled by that response and it made me realise that volunteers in general – not only those involved in maritime rescue services – are the same the world over. Head Office had very kindly provided me with a certificate of gratitude and recognition to St Kilda (CG2) for receiving me, as well as a few copies of Into A Raging Sea by Tony Weaver and Andrew Ingram, the book about great South African rescues. I presented these all to the station while the crew changed for the afternoon session. The afternoon shift was planned to

focus on patrolling the CG2 operational zone of Port Phillip but commenced with a stop in Williamstown Harbour for fish and chips. After lunch we inspected the water-police vessels in the harbour before heading out on patrol. Some fishing boats had to be reprimanded for fishing in the Melbourne VTS. The trainees were then given helm time en route to Sandringham Harbour, where the Coast Guard Control Centre is located. After mooring, we walked up a hill to a triple-storey building where I was introduced to the duty controller. The Control Centre is manned 24/7, also with volunteers. They make use of SafeTrx, MarineTraffic and the AVCG Pilot Map systems. The ex-South African I referred to turned out to be a seriously seasoned maritime rescuer who had served at two NSRI stations before moving to Melbourne in 1982. Raoul Shemer shared many of his stories with me throughout the day and undertook to uncover his old photo albums and send me pictures of some of his experiences with Station 6 in Port Elizabeth as well the old Station 3 when it was located at Three Anchor Bay. I now have new friends in distant places and a bank of great memories. I have extended an open invitation to all of those I met to come out with me if they venture to our shores. I’m sure, too, that others throughout our institute would similarly welcome all volunteers and rescuers in the same fashion that I was received. What a privilege it has been to be part of this greater family. Gavin Kode, Hout Bay (Station 8) S E A R E S C U E AU T U M N 2 0 1 9

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nsri honoured

ABOVE AND BEYOND On 19 November 2018, NSRI spokesman Craig Lambinon was nominated Chevalier de l’Ordre du Mérite Maritime (Knight in the Order of Maritime Merit) in recognition of his services to the seafaring community. Murray Williams chatted to him about his early years at Sea Rescue and how his role in the organisation evolved. 8 |

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‘I

t was in ’93 when, one Sunday, my then housemate, Ian Klopper, who was an NSRI volunteer crewman, invited me out for a meal. We were supposed to go to the Sports Café in the V&A Waterfront,’ Craig recalls. But halfway there Ian changed his mind and, instead, convinced Craig to join him at the Hout Bay rescue base where he took him out to sea. ‘Ian was the coxswain on duty, and we launched their small craft into the bay. While we were out at sea, a yacht capsized in Hout Bay. Ian said, “We don’t have time to get a qualified crewman. You’re going to have to help.” I was from Craighall Park in Johannesburg, but I could swim, from all those galas as a kid.’

There were three yacht crew members in the water in distress, one of whom was under the yacht. ‘So I swam underwater and pulled him out,’ Craig explains. The following weekend, Ian took Craig on a second adventure, this time as an ambulance crewman. ‘And then I was properly hooked. From that moment on, on weekends I was either on duty for Sea Rescue or in the ambulances as a volunteer. That became my life.’ Craig undertook a basic ambulance course – coincidentally led by Dr Cleeve Robertson, now the NSRI CEO – and progressively began skilling himself as a rescue professional. The next step of his journey was into the sky, with the famed John Rolfe rescue

LEFT: NSRI spokesman Craig Lambinon with (from left) Emma Klopper, Kelly-Ann Evada Irving and Dave Smith of Station 26 (Kommetjie). RIGHT: Craig Lambinon with the French Embassy Military and Defence Attaché, Colonel Olivier Ducret, and His Excellency Mr Christophe Farnaud, Ambassador of France to South Africa.

helicopter. ‘There were three coordinators for the chopper: Ian Klopper, Phil Ress and myself,’ he says. His employers were supportive and Craig was always available for callouts, ‘which the company permitted, because we were Sea Rescue’. The chopper was available for any kind of emergency call-out, so the team soon found itself in the hot seat of the rescue fraternity – and, even more so, the epicentre of rescue information. ‘Everyone started coming to us for information, including the media. I was the only guy who wasn’t married and didn’t have kids, so I was always available. That’s how it eventually became an official post,’ Craig remembers. He took on the role of contact person for families calling and asking for news during a search and rescue. In 2008, a German man drowned in South Africa and the family contacted Craig, asking for information about the tragedy. This incident moved Craig to set up an NSRI consular network together with the Department of International Relations and Cooperation (DIRCO) and the Media Department of the South African Police Service to ensure that foreign families received the same updates and communication. ‘When a foreign national is involved, it’s essential to notify the consulates and to give their families support – whether in South Africa or internationally – in collaboration with DIRCO and the tourism authorities,’ Craig says. Later he took his information skills further into the operational realm by activating his vast network of partner agencies during Sea Rescue emergencies. ‘This is super-valuable, as it frees up the rescuers so they can get on with

launching boats and activating crew, while I’m helping out with activating ambulances, dive units, fire, private ambulances and so on,’ he explains. During his tenure Craig has served at Station 8 (Hout Bay) and at Station 2 (Bakoven) as a volunteer crewman, and at Station 29 (Air Sea Rescue unit) as a volunteer rescue swimmer. He was awarded the NSRI Directors’ Letter of Thanks for his role in the rescue of a Japanese solo sailor in 2001. The casualty’s yacht was being swept ashore at Olifantsbospunt, near Cape Point. The CHC Sikorsky 61 rescue helicopter was dispatched while NSRI Hout Bay launched sea rescue craft. As a rescue swimmer, Craig was deployed into the surf from the helicopter. He boarded the yacht and was able to

cast the anchor away. Assisted by the yachtsman, a tow-line was rigged from the NSRI Hout Bay sea rescue craft only minutes before waves would have swept the yacht onto rocks. Thus the yacht and a life were saved. In 2012 Craig was appointed as NSRI national spokesman. In addition to keeping the media updated during search and rescue operations, he provides support to crew and the families awaiting news. Craig spends hours on the phone providing a comforting voice as the events unfold. This communication often continues for weeks and months after the event, as families come to terms with tragedy. When casualties are visitors to our country, Craig is the primary liaison with the foreign consulates involved. S e a R e s c u e AU T U M N 2 0 1 9

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nsri honoured

WHAT’S NEXT? Craig is working with Brett Ayres and Ben McCune of NSRI Head Office to establish an NSRI Emergency Point of Contact Operational Support Centre that will effectively ensure that the knowledge and the network do not remain in Craig’s head and heart only. He will help to develop systems and train a team to do exactly what he has been doing. But Craig is going nowhere: he is still very much involved but will now have a team to share the load. ABOUT THE AWARD In the presence of His Excellency Mr Christophe Farnaud, Ambassador of France to South Africa, by decision rendered by the French Prime Minister, NSRI Spokesman Craig Lambinon 10 |

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PORT OF CALL OF THE

FRIGATE FLORÉAL

FROM 19 TO 23 NOVEMBER 2018

Craig receiving his Long Service Award (25 years) from NSRI chairman Ronnie Stein.

has been nominated Chevalier de l’Ordre du Mérite Maritime (Knight in the Order of Maritime Merit). Established in 1930 in France at the instigation of Louis Rollin, Minister of the Merchant Navy, the Order of the Maritime Merit is intended to reward the professional value of seafarers and the merit of citizens who have distinguished themselves by their services for the development and influence of maritime activities. This nomination comes in recognition of Craig’s remarkable work at the National Sea Rescue Institute since 1993. It lauds, in particular, the active role he has played in the welfare of many French citizens who have been rescued and assisted while visiting South Africa, as well as his commitment towards water safety and the prevention of accidents at sea. The French ambassador bestowed this insignia on Craig on 19 November 2018 at a function hosted by the French Consulate aboard the French Surveillance Frigate Floréal.

As part of a patrol mission in the French Southern and Antarctic Lands (TAAF), the Floréal surveillance frigate, based in Reunion, made a routine stopover at Cape Town Harbour from 19 to 23 November last year. The French surveillance frigates are designed essentially to enforce the sovereignty of the state over maritime areas far from the metropolis and to intervene on the high seas where France has interests. During Floréal’s last visit to South Africa, in October 2017 in Durban, she was the victim of a marine mishap. The frigate was struck by a container carrier during a violent storm while it was in the port. The damage forced the vessel to undergo heavy repairs in Reunion and Mauritius, before being able to return to sea. The Cape Town stop last year offered an opportunity to strengthen co-operation between the French forces stationed in the southern Indian Ocean (FAZOI) and the South African armed forces by organising joint maritime exercises. The new commander on board, Commander Edouard Carrard, also took the opportunity to introduce himself to the local authorities. At the same time, on-board visits were organised for the French community and the South African Navy to show them the frigate and its missions.

Photographs: supplied

Personally, I can confirm that if you woke me from the deepest sleep with a bucket of water and gave me three seconds to tell you Craig Lambinon’s number, I’d crack it every time: 082. Three-Eighty. Three-Eighty. 0. Why? Because Craig is always, always there. Faithful, without fail. He is a rare practitioner of servant leadership from dawn to dusk and every minute in between. Being honoured as a recipient of the Chevalier de l’Ordre du Mérite Maritime, Craig believes it is not about him. ‘This award is a reflection on the NSRI as a whole – not one individual,’ he says. ‘We have more than 1 000 volunteers around the country who have dedicated their lives to this cause. We’re very grateful for the recognition of the French government has given us. It’s a great responsibility, and one the NSRI carry with distinction,’ Craig says. ‘Craig is a unique individual who manages to balance his technical knowledge and efficiency with sincere compassion. He frequently works on multiple rescues at any one time and he never seems to sleep. Craig is a deserving recipient of this honour,’ said the NSRI’s Acting CEO, Mark Hughes.

c r e w s to r i e s

top of

her game B

ecoming a Class 1 Coxswain* in Sea Rescue requires a certain aptitude, not only in terms of seamanship but also in terms of being a commander. During an operation they are ultimately the ones making the final decisions and being responsible for everyone involved. This is why there is such a rigorous training programme within NSRI before Class 1 Coxswains can qualify. They have to have a detailed working knowledge of their Class 1 vessel, hold a valid Class 1 navigation certificate, a first-aid and a firefighting certificate, have completed the life-raft course and, most importantly, have logged the required number of hours. To progress to the level of a Class 1 Coxswain, individuals need to have logged a minimum of 150 hours as crew, 20 hours in rescue operations, 30 night hours, and 100 hours as a trainee Class 1 Coxswain. They are required to have attended the Class 1 Coxswain development course and passed the assessment course, which includes written theory exams, several scenario practicals and a gruelling three-hour oral exam. Now imagine achieving all of this, having had no previous sea-going or boat-handling experience prior to

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joining Sea Rescue, and having to study in your second language. Since joining in September 2011, Carmen Long has clocked up more than 690 sea-going hours, 110 of which have been as a Class 1 trainee coxswain. She has more than 180 operational hours and more than 513 training hours logged. But none of this really tells you why Carmen is setting a precedent. Carmen immigrated to South Africa from Chile in 1999 with her husband, Rodney, when her daughter was only three years old. Now in her early 20s, Antonia is busy with her fourth-year veterinary studies at Onderstepoort, and her younger brother, Sebastian, is in Grade 11 at SACS. Carmen’s gregarious Latina personality and her love of adventure are evident the minute you meet her. But what many people don’t realise is that behind the beauty and charm is a keenly intelligent mind and fierce determination. She doesn’t quit, and she’s nobody’s bokkie. Station 8 (Hout Bay) station commander Lyall Pringle recognised this early on, identifying her as a strong candidate for coxswain training. In 2014, Carmen, along with four other candidates, completed the Station 8 helmsman training for Class 3 vessels. It’s an intensive course

involving two to three hours’ theory and the equivalent in practical training every Saturday for eight months. Just a few weeks into the course, while pulling a fellow crew member onto the boat, Carmen tore a ligament in her calf muscle. She was unable to walk, so it seemed unlikely that she would continue with the course. However, Carmen made it very clear that she wasn’t giving up, no matter what it took. She would be there every Saturday, crutches and all. While her physical ability to participate was limited, there was no reason she couldn’t continue to learn. This has been her attitude since first joining Sea Rescue, when she realised just how much there was to learn. She believed that it was up to her to take the initiative, so she would continually ask questions of senior crew and coxswains. She also committed to participating in two crews rather than one in order to expand her learning experience and gain extra sea time. On her first navigation course, all her calculations were in Spanish because she found it challenging to have to think and calculate in English. The terminology was foreign to her and she struggled initially, but her hard work paid off

*A Sea Rescue Class 1 Coxswain is the ‘captain’ of our biggest search-and-rescue vessels. These rescue vessels are all over nine metres but under 25 gross tons.

Photograph: SPENCER OLDHAM

Carmen Long’s fierce determination has earned her the distinction of being the first female Class 1 Coxswain in Sea Rescue. Cherelle Leong discovers just what it takes to achieve this milestone.

Photograph: SPENCER OLDHAM

when she scored a 98% pass in the final exam. When the opportunity arose in 2017 to start Class 1 Coxswain training, Carmen realised straight away that engineering was an area where she hadnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t had much exposure, and thus set about learning about the twin Volvo engines that power the current Class 1 Breede fleet. Armed with an engine manual (a mission in itself to source), Carmen went down into the engine room. Sitting cross-legged on her own, she started from the first page, carefully working through each diagram to identify each part of the engine. She then spent hours with fellow crew and coxswains who have a strong engineering background, going through different aspects of the vesselâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s engineering systems. Attending the Class 1 assessment course in September 2018, Carmen felt the pressure to prove, not only to herself but also to everyone else, that she had the knowledge and skills necessary to become a more-than-competent Class 1 Coxswain. She excelled in the written navigation, collision regulations and seamanship exams on day one, and endured long hours of practical and oral examinations over the following three days. She passed all modules successfully, except for the engineering oral, where she fell short by one percentage point and even had to endure a few digs about female drivers while helming the boat. But a few weeks later she redid the threehour engineering oral, passing and completing her qualifications. Carmen is the first female Class 1 Coxswain in Sea Rescue, and this is indeed a milestone to be celebrated. Yet at Station 8 it was never about her gender but rather about her having the skills, the knowledge and the attitude of always wanting to learn.

Carmen is the first female Class 1 Coxswain in Sea Rescue, and this is indeed a milestone to be celebrated.

S e a Resc u e AUTU M N 2 0 1 9

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PROUDLY

NSRI M

Y EARLIEST MEMORY of NSRI was way back in the early 1970s when I put a few cents into a tin held by a person on a street corner raising funds. That must have sown a seed, and many years later in 2010, after diving and boating most of my life, I contacted Station 5 (Durban) to offer my time. I assumed I would make coffee, man radios and wash boats. Paul Bevis asked me why I wasn’t interested in active crew. I laughed and said, ‘At my age?’ I won’t repeat his exact response, but a week later I was doing the formal induction at 7am on a Sunday morning. I managed the 1km jog down Durban Harbour’s North Pier, the swim back to the beach and 15 minutes of treading water comfortably, so I was signed on as a trainee. Thus my first thanks go to Paul for getting me started. I received excellent training from all the coxswains at Station 5 (Clifford, Andre, the two Pauls, LT, Wendy, 14 |

S E A R E S C U E AU T U M N 2 0 1 9

Brett, Sean and Brian) and was very proud to receive my crew badge in under six months and win Trainee of the Year in 2010. Now I could relax a bit and just serve NSRI as a full crew member whenever needed. Four years passed and, with a few challenging call-outs in my log book, station commander Clifford Ireland asked me why I wasn’t considering going for Class 3 Coxswain. For the second time in my

PAUL BEVIS ASKED ME WHY I WASN’T INTERESTED IN ACTIVE CREW. I LAUGHED AND SAID, ‘AT MY AGE?’ NSRI ‘career’, I laughed and asked ‘At my age?’ He used slightly more diplomatic words than Paul had a few years earlier but convinced me to do the development course at HQ. Coming from Durban, I had never felt such cold water as when Graeme Harding and Daniel Heimann gave us capsize

ABOVE: Station 5 (Durban) station commander Andre Fletcher (right) congratulates Roy on becoming a Class 1 Coxswain.

training in Hout Bay. I also could not believe the extremely high standard of the lecturers, or of the exams we had to pass with 80%. The last exams I had written were decades earlier at university and the pass mark was only 50%! I survived the courses and was extremely proud when I was issued my SAMSA Class 3 at the ‘mature’ age of 55 in 2015. So my second thanks go to Clifford for his support and encouragement. After that I got stuck into training new recruits and crew members at Station 5, and also upped my game on all the technical issues and maintenance needed to keep an NSRI station fully active. I even learnt Management Information Systems. By now you can guess the next chapter. In 2017 Clifford asked whether I was interested in trying for Class 1. As I was approaching the age limit for the rubber ducks I said I was happy to try but knew the standard would be

PHOTOGRAPHS: SUPPLIED

Coxswain Roy Wienand takes us through the paces – from his ‘notso-young’ rookie days at Station 5 (Durban) to achieving his Class 1 badge.

c r e w s to r i e s at Sea], flags and general seamanship) before the course, I thankfully passed the exams, and the practical tests at the three big boat stations in the Cape were tough but strangely enjoyable and very rewarding. The final challenge was to get together the extensive volume of paperwork and submit it via Graham at HQ to SAMSA. It is with considerable pride that I have now achieved Class 1 Coxswain. I have to pinch myself to believe I’m not just making coffee and manning radios. In a few months Station 5 will receive the first 14m ORC in the NSRI fleet, so it will be time to start at square one again, as it were, and ‘learn’ the new boat so I can continue to serve NSRI with pride for a few years more. Thank you for everything NSRI has done for me over the past eight years. Roy Wienand, Station 5 (Durban)

ABOVE: Roy with his wife, Helen.

Photographs: SUPPLIED

even higher. Again Graham and Daniel put us under pressure on the Class 1 development course, but this time in the much warmer waters of Richards Bay in October 2017. I even missed riding my favourite cycling event, the Amashova, in order to attend the course. The standards were very high and many of us on the course missed the 80% pass marks in some of the exams, but by then I was determined to raise my game and asked to be considered for Class 1 assessment in 2018. The assessment course was as tough as expected but an outstanding experience. My sincere thanks go to Graeme Harding, Brett Ayres and Mark Hughes, who tested us to our limits yet also encouraged us to aim high and see ourselves as the next ‘teachers’ and mentors in NSRI. Having put in a lot of time and effort (learning the COLREGs [International Regulations for Preventing Collisions

Se a Re s c ue AU T U M N 2 0 1 9

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THE VALUE OF

WHAT

WE DO Thanks to the quickthinking actions of four Ceres pupils who had attended a WaterWise water-safety workshop, a litte girl’s life was saved. By Andrew Ingram

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Ceres is also a town of contrasts. In summer it is common for the temperatures in the valley to hit 40˚C. Sometimes, in January and February, the mercury even nudges towards the 50˚C mark. This stifling heat is what drives children to water to cool off. And because most of the children cannot swim, there have been so many drownings over the years that farmers ban swimming in their dams outright. The last Friday in October 2018 was one of those perfect days in the farmlands. It was nice and hot – but not too hot. When the final bell went

ABOVE: Wesley Storm (10) from Ezelfontein Primary, one of the boys who performed CPR on Donnalee Oerson (8), here with headmistress Mrs De Wee and Donnalee.

at Ezelfontein NGK Primary, a farm school about 20 minutes from Ceres, the children poured out of the gates and made their way home. Later the high-school children joined them at the workers’ cottages and a conversation started about going for a swim… The children’s parents, most of whom are farm labourers on the surrounding farms, were still working in the orchards.

Photographs: Eoudia Erasmus

eres is a farming town that lies in a fertile valley about two hours from Cape Town. The tiny town with a population of just over 41 000 is famous for Ceres fruit juice and, of course, some of the world’s best fruit. For those who live in the Cape, the mountains surrounding the town are what springs to mind when the name Ceres is mentioned. Every winter, Capetonians wait patiently for the magical snowfalls that happen on these mountaintops during very cold spells. When word gets out that snow is falling on the Bo-Swaarmoed Pass, the Mother City empties out and the traffic jams in and around Ceres are legendary.

d r ow n i n g p r e v e n t i o n

Photographs: Eoudia Erasmus

FROM LEFT: Waylen Malan, Gabriel Filander and Keanen Jansen, along with Wesley, saved Donnalee’s life.

Knowing they would be in big trouble if they were caught was not enough to keep the youngsters away from the dam. And they were pretty sure that they would not be caught. When they got to the dam, the older children from the nearby workers’ cottages went to the deeper section at the dam wall, whereas the younger kids, including Donnalee Oerson (8), went to the opposite side, which had a gentle slope into deeper water. Suddenly Donnalee stepped into a deeper channel. While playing, she had moved across to an inlet ditch that could not be seen under the surface. The tiny girl could no longer stand. One second she was there and the next she was under. Her horrified friends saw what had happened and, being taller than her, were able to stand where she could not. Feeling around under the water, they grabbed hold of her, pulled her to the surface and started screaming. Some children ran for their homes, about 500m away, to call for help. Across the dam, Waylen Malan (16), Gabriel Filander (13), Keanen Jansen (18) and Wesley Storm (10)

It has been about three years since the boys attended a Sea Rescue water-safety lesson. But they remembered it well. Most importantly, they remembered how to do CPR. did not run away when they heard the screaming. They saw Donnalee being pulled out of the water and then lying motionless at the water’s edge. They ran over to help. It had been about three years since the boys attended a Sea Rescue water-safety lesson at school. But they remembered it well. Most importantly, they remembered how to do CPR. Taking turns, the boys knelt next to Donnalee’s lifeless body and pressed down hard and fast on the centre of her chest, just as they had been taught by Sea Rescue’s water-safety instructor Eoudia Erasmus. After what seemed like ages but was actually only a couple of minutes, Donnalee started coughing up water and vomiting. It all seemed to happen so fast – and the response from the ambulance service was equally fast. The paramedics and police arrived together

to find that the boys had saved a life. The fatal drowning that they were sure they were responding to, had been averted. Donnalee was taken to the provincial hospital in Ceres and kept for observation overnight. The incident will always be engraved in the minds of this group of friends, and for the water-safety instructors there is no better ending to this tale. ‘For me, this story is the best I have ever heard!’ says Eoudia. ‘Not only did it make my day, but it also confirms that we must never ever stop doing what we do! ‘I found myself thinking over and over that our water-safety workshops and CPR training empower ordinary children to learn a skill that really does save lives. ‘It really is an inspiring reminder of the value of what we do.’ Se a Re s c u e AUTUM N 2 0 1 9

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Habot Marine Services (Pty) Ltd are the authorised distributors of Mobil Marine Lubricants, in South Africa and Mozambique.

Habot Marine Services (Pty) Ltd Tel: +27 (0) 31 5346019 e-mail: paul@habotmarine.com | em-order@habotmarine.com www.habotmarine.co.za

CLUB K I D S CLUB KIDS Canals, beaches, dams and rivers seem like fun places to go

for a swim, but can quickly become places of danger and disaster if you are not prepared.

Sea Rescue Water Safety lessons give children a chance

to learn about the dangers that water sources hold and prepare themselves for an enjoyable and safe day.

Spot the

DANGERS

Always keep yourself safe. Before you go swimming, make sure there are no dangers that could hurt you. Can you spot the dangers in this picture?

S E A R E S C U E AU T U M N 2 0 1 9

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P PLAN

Pack a bag for your trip to the beach. Prepare a safety plan so that you know what to do if something goes wrong.

a e v ha

PLAN L N 20 |

NEVER Never swim alone or try to cross a river in flood.

S E A R E S C U E AU T U M N 2 0 1 9

LOOK Look out for waves and rip currents. Slippery rocks are dangerous. Never turn your back on the sea.

ASK Ask an adult to watch you when you swim. Always tell an adult where you are going and when you will be back.

What to do O T N I if someone GETS

E L B U O TR

HELLO If it is safe to approach the patient, tap them on both shoulders and say loudly â&#x20AC;&#x153;HELLOâ&#x20AC;?.

HELP

If there is no response from the patient call an ambulance on 112 and then start CPR.

HANDS-ON

CPR

Place the heel of one hand on the centre of the chest. Place the heel of the other hand on top of the first hand; lace your fingers together. Push hard and fast until help arrives. S E A R E S C U E AU T U M N 2 0 1 9

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HAZARDS Your safety comes first. To be able to help a friend you must make sure that you do not get hurt.

Look for Pink Rescue Buoys, and tell your parents about them. The Pink Buoy is only meant to be used in an emergency. Help look after the buoy. It could help save someone in your family.

Call 112 from your cellphone if you need help. 22 |

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ENTER OUR COMPETITION AND

WIN

Can you tell us what P L A N stands for? We would also like you to tell us of three ‘dangers’ you can see on the picture on the opening page of your Kids’ Club booklet. Send your answers to info@searescue.org.za or write to us at Kids’ Club, PO Box 154, Green Point, 8051. The writers of the first three correct answers drawn will each receive a copy of The Brave Turtle and a turtle toy. Competition closes: 15 June 2019

✁

join our club You will get a special certificate to put up on your wall, you will be sent your own magazine three times a year and you might be one of the lucky ones to win a Sea Rescue T-shirt.

✁

Join our club for R100 a year* Ask your mom or dad to fill this in

Please find enclosed cheque/postal order for R100 Debit my Visa/MasterCard to the amount of R100 Cardholder’s name:.................................................................................... Card number

Name:.................................................................................................................................. Surname:........................................................................................... Age:....................

Expiry date of card:

Postal address:.............................................................................................................

CVV number:

.............................................................................................. Postal code:....................

Cardholder’s telephone number: (..............)......................................

Telephone number: (..............)....................................................................................

Signature:.........................................................................................................

* If your mom or dad is a rescue volunteer, you can join at no cost. S E A R E S C U E AU T U M N 2 0 1 9

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NEWS

NSRI Pink Rescue Buoys win international award for Innovation & Technology

he NSRI’s Pink Rescue Buoys won the 2018 International Maritime Rescue Federation (IMRF) award for Innovation & Technology at a prestigious gala dinner in Norway on 8 November 2018. NSRI Head of Drowning Prevention Andrew Ingram was present at the ceremony as a guest of IMRF to receive the award. He was then also invited to present the South Africanborn campaign at IMRF Europe’s annual meeting. Journalist and author Gordon Dryden once said, ‘An idea is a new combination of old elements.’ The Pink Rescue Buoy project is exactly that. There is a clear pattern where

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people are drowning because of a lack of flotation. The typical scenario is that someone is in difficulty in the water and a well-meaning bystander goes in to help. Tragically the ‘helper’ is the person who may be most likely to drown. Flotation devices on beaches were a common sight when life rings used to be placed at the water’s edge at beaches, swimming pools and canals. But this practice died out. Concerned about the rate of drowning, NSRI stepped forward to initiate a series of preventative campaigns through a new unit headed by Andrew. Rescues worldwide use torpedo buoy flotation, and these buoys are affordable and

effective. The idea was to then make these available as public rescue devices. Theft was raised as the biggest challenge when presenting the idea. The concept of a unique colour coupled with the need for them to be highly visible in the surf resulted in the signature luminous pink. Known drowning hot spots were identified, sponsors were found and a pilot project was launched. Twelve months later we have more than 300 installations around the country, and although theft has hovered between eight and 18 percent, most importantly, 25 lives have been saved. The next step is to make this pervasive across all beaches and beside all water bodies. Through partnerships and community buy-in this is possible. ‘It is a great honour for our team, which has worked on the Pink Rescue Buoy project over the past year, to be recognised by the IMRF,’ said Andrew. ‘The spotlight is now firmly on public rescue devices and effective rip current education. We hope that this combination will help to reduce rip current and failed peer rescue drownings around the globe.’ In 2017, the NSRI education programme presented in schools was an IMRF award finalist in the category Outstanding Team Contribution.

PINK BuoY IMAGE: Dr Berend Maarsingh, NSRI Knysna; squadron training image: Stephen Gore

Sponsor of the award Julian Longson [left] of Pole Star with the NSRI’s Andrew Ingram.

NSRI Integrated Report a winner

PINK BuoY IMAGE: Dr Berend Maarsingh, NSRI Knysna; squadron training image: Stephen Gore

n 14 November 2018, our Integrated Report won in the NPO category of the JSE Chartered Secretaries Integrated Awards ceremony hosted at Montecasino. ‘Our Integrated Annual Report is a comprehensive document that reflects the many facets of our business. As an organisation run by volunteers and funded by donations, we believe that we have an obligation to be transparent in our reporting of the year that was. The King IV Report on Corporate Governance demands far greater levels of reporting and detail than the King III version, which consumes resources in producing this report and we thank DHL for once again sponsoring the costs,’ said acting CEO Mark Hughes. ‘We share this award with all those who make up the Sea Rescue family. Together we are better.’ We love our planet, so this report is printed on responsibly sourced paper from wellmanaged forests. It is 100% recyclable.

A special word of thanks to all the photographers who so generously donated their work – including Stuart Brink Films, who shot the cover and opening spread. Investorsense worked with us to ensure that our reporting is in line with industry standards, and Fresh Identity brought the report to life with its design. › Investorsense is a strategic investor relations and communications team that specialises in comprehensive balance disclosure of its clients’ unique business propositions. Its range of services include stakeholder engagement strategies, investor relations advice and support services, shareholder communications and integrated annual report advisory services. › Fresh Identity is a design agency specialising in communication design and traditional print media. Its clients range from investment companies and lifestyle magazines to restaurants and wine farms.

ASR Fifteen Squadron training with NSRI Station 5 (Durban), Station 20 (Shelly Beach), Station 19 (Richards Bay) and Station 41 (Ballito). S e a R e s c u e AU T U M N 2 0 1 9

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NEWS

N E W I N S TO R E

Hooded ponchos (changing towels)

R580 EACH

Pink Buoy cycle jerseys

R480 EACH Go to shop.searescue.org.za/collections/clothing

Anchor earrings

R540

Turtle necklace

R430

Anchor necklace

R400

Go to shop.searescue.org.za/collections/jewellery 26 |

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WE ARE PROUD to benefit from a special fundraiser with &Jewellery. They have selected three pieces in their collection to help raise funds to support Sea Rescue and subsidise crew clothing. â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;With our hearts in Cape Town and our head office in London, we are committed to supporting the local South African community and charitable causes. Many of our items are hand-crafted in South Africa and we use local suppliers wherever we can. We outsource our packaging and assembly work to a local township in order to empower those less fortunate, and we also believe in giving back through our charitable partnerships that are at the heart of who we are and we pride ourselves on delivering jewellery with a conscience.â&#x20AC;&#x2122; Amy Mansell, Director: &Jewellery

BRAVO, Oliver! We are a family based in Waterfall just north of Durban. I felt that we should share the following with you. We home-school our son Oliver, 12 years old. As part of his geography lessons we have given him a project to do: to complete the BravoBravo online Skippers Guide for small vessels course. Oliver is not only enjoying and loving the programme but progressing well. We would love to surprise him with an invite to visit the Durban NSRI station to meet some of the people and to see what great work the NSRI is doing. Garry Salkow Oliver and his family visited the station on Saturday, 9 March, and after a brief introduction about Sea Rescue, its history and operational capabilities we launched Eikos Rescuer II. With everyone on board we proceeded to sea where Oliver was shown how a Class 1 rescue vessel is operated and then he was given the opportunity to take the helm. Oliver handled the vessel like a seasoned helmsman even maintaining a straight course while ‘steering the compass’. Station 5 enjoyed hosting Oliver and his family and have invited them back to visit when the new ORC rescue vessel is on station. (For more information on NSRI’s learning platform BravoBravo, go to bravobravo.co.za)

After their catamaran capsized off Fish Hoek on 2 December 2018, a father and son were assisted by crew from Strandfontein and Simon’s Town bases, Fish Hoek Lifesaving lifeguards on their rubber duck and operators of the shark-net tender boat.

MOST IMPRESSIVE We live in Highway, Fish Hoek, and as shore crew we were thrilled and most impressed with the NSRI rescue associated with the catamaran capsizing incident. We had a grand-stand view of it all! Tony Boniface

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P L AT I N U M SPONSORS

WE’VE GONE CASHLESS

• Atlasware • Lusitania Marketing Services • Peregrine Equities • Denso SA (Pty) Ltd • Macs Maritime Carrier Shipping (Pty) Ltd • Store Maintenance and Installation Specialists (Pty) Ltd • JLT South Africa (Pty) Ltd • Two Oceans Marine Manufacturing • Mix Telematics International (Pty) Ltd • Freddy Hirsch Group • Imperial Group Ltd t/a Alert Engine Parts • Viking Fishing Co (Pty) Ltd • Richards Bay Coal Terminal • Anglo American Thermal Coal - New Vaal Colliery • Press Spinning & Stamping Co • De Beers Marine (Pty) Ltd • Westpoint Fishing Corporation • Robertson and Caine • Africa Bunkering & Shipping • Lusitania Marketing Services • A&M Logistics (Pty) Ltd • Duxbury Networking • RF Designs • Denys Edwardes Approved Collision Repair Centre 28 |

S E A R E S C U E AU T U M N 2 0 1 9

TAP, SNAP OR ZAP

PHOTOGRAPHS: CHRIS MCCARTHY

G O L D PA R T N E R S

As an agile, flexible and responsive charity, Sea Rescue has gone cashless after listening to its stakeholders. We have decided to make it safer, more convenient, faster and more reliable for our donors, marketers and our volunteers. Digital platforms have reduced security risks by not having to have cash on hand; donor funds go immediately and directly into our account; donor information is secured; cellular phones are ubiquitous and convenient, making availability continuous; and fundraising crew and marketers will spend less time on administration and more time on their core functions and saving lives.

NEWS

T H A N K YO U F O R T H E D O N AT I O N S R E C E I V E D

WAYS TO DONATE Visit our website www.nsri.org.za and follow the donation links for EFT, Credit Card, Zapper or SnapScan transactions. QR Codes for SnapScan and Zapper will be available at stations and in all Sea Rescue publications. The following are guides to using SnapScan and Zapper on your phone.

PHOTOGRAPHS: CHRIS MCCARTHY

SnapScan Download SnapScan from your app store (it works with iPhones, Blackberrys and Samsung smartphones). • Open SnapScan and complete your profile • Load your debit or credit card details • Tap the camera icon • Scan the QR Code displayed left to pay for your goods or make a donation • Enter the amount you want to pay • Confirm payment with your 4-digit PIN • That’s it. You’re done! Zapper Download Zapper from your app store (it works with iPhones, Blackberrys and Samsung smartphones). • Open Zapper and complete your profile • Load your debit or credit card details • Tap the PAY/SCAN icon • Scan the QR Code displayed left to pay for your goods or make a donation • Enter the amount you want to pay • Click the pay button • That’s it. You’re done! We are busy working on a Sea Rescue fundraising app and are in the process of reconfiguring all of our donation boats you have come to love and recognise around the country.

Remember: Tap, Snap or Zap! For more info or suggestions, please email dean@searescue.org.za

IN MEMORY OF: Jinny Ash, Chris Beasley, Milton Borrill, Robert Brown, Dani Caplan, Vic Dawson, Verona Dominy, Rod Dunbar, Dorothy Erlank, Olaf Hersen, Elise Gundelfinger, Georgina Haywood, Philip Heber-Percy, Hugo Heydenrych, Carly Hill, Neville Kitchin, Willem Kruk, Patrica Olive Landon, Gordon Lategan, Jolandi le Roux, Ian Lewis, Eastwood Loftus, Jenny Lottering, Nelson Mandela, Paul Henry McDaid, Sinead Moodliar, Ray Naidoo, Gillian Margaret Newell, Jim Powell, Peter Smith, Alexander Sternberg, Derek Sutherland, Doreen Turner, Joan van der Merwe, CE Westergaard, Theodore Yach. IN HONOUR AND MEMORY OF: Helge, James Porteous (90th birthday), Raymond Resnick, Michael (49th birthday), Maddie and Rigardt, Calley and Russel (wedding anniversary), Bisogno family, Marcus Brauer (45th birthday), Fred Byworth (80th birthday), Admiral and Mrs Cole (40th anniversary), Sarah Copelowitz, John D’Arcy Evans (80th birthday), Mike Donnely (80th birthday), Emma Eldridge, Jane Ewing, Roger Falken (70th birthday), Mr and Mrs Floquet (50th anniversary), Rob Fraser (70th birthday), Moira Giese (70th birthday), Pamela Hansford (Mother’s Day), Barry Jordan (80th birthday), Jeff Louw (80th birthday), Andrew McKenzie (80th birthday), Sandy Meltz (60th birthday), Paul Neill, Jane Robinson, Rear Admiral AE Rudman (80th birthday), Leoni Segal (80th birthday), Sally Shapiro (90th birthday), Martin Skeen (80th birthday), Paul Stewart (50th birthday), Norman Witt (60th birthday), Spencer Young. ASHES LOG: Station 10 (Simon’s Town): Vivien Payne, Erik Foshaugen, Cyril Douglas Rudd; Head Office: Coralie McDonald; Station 8 (Hout Bay): Bill Chaplain; Station 3 (Table Bay): Willem Thijsse.

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LITTLE TOWN,

BIG HEARTS

In November last year, the Oyster Bay community came out in full support of Station 36 (Oyster Bay), raising more than R70 000 for the base. and everyone was very excited and keen to help. We secured sponsors for the spitbraai and the venue, and accommodation for the band.’ she adds. It was planned for Saturday 3 November at the local community hall in Oyster Bay. Melissa’s to-do list was immense, but with the help of fellow crew and community members, the evening came together seamlessly. ‘We bought fabric and made 25 runners

TOP: Station commander Lodewyk van Rensburg and his wife Melissa. ABOVE (from left): Jaen Smit, Johan Strydom, Alwyn Barbas, Ciska Barbas, Garry Sumner, Melissa van Rensburg, Lodewyk van Rensburg, Johan Strydom Senior; (kneeling) Christabel Barbas, Choppie Linstrom (deputy statcom), Hennie Vermaak.

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PHOTOGRAPHS: RIEG & AD PHOTOGRAPHY

URING THE SECOND half of 2018, the crew of Station 36 (Oyster Bay), began hatching a plan for a fundraiser for the base. Melissa, wife of station commander Lodewyk van Rensburg, explains: ‘As we are a farming community we thought that a boeredans and spitbraai would be the perfect opportunity to raise funds for our station. ‘We discussed it among ourselves and with a few community members

FUNDRAISING

THE AUCTIONED ITEMS – ALL DONATED – WERE AS FOLLOWS: › 20 bales of teff grass › A scenic flight along the coast › 2 x Spec-Savers sunglasses vouchers › A magnum bottle of KWV Roodeberg 2015 and 25 tablecloths. Crew member Tilla Strydom and I cut and hemmed the fabric one evening, and Station 36 now has its own table linen to use for future functions. We bought red, white and navy bunting for décor on the dance floor, and it is all still in perfect condition to be used for future functions. We borrowed fairy lights from friends. Crew picked a bakkieload of penny gum and succulents for us to use on the tables, and a nursery donated a bunch of plants that we auctioned off at the end of the evening,’ she says. ‘A local farmer donated bales of teff grass, which were also auctioned, and the Oyster Bay Residents Association allowed us to use the hall free of charge. In addition,

hotdog buns were donated and we received discounts on fruit and veg. We had five lambs for the spit: three were donated and two bought at discounted rates. All five were prepared and delivered to the venue at no charge. Die Windmeul donated a freezer full of ice that we were able to sell during the function,’ Melissa adds. The funds were raised by way of ticket sales, cash donations and a number of items sold on auction. A donor pledged R3 000 if Lodewyk got up on stage to sing, which he of course did, much to everyone’s immense delight. The auction was the highlight of the evening and the station managed to raise R23 500 in a matter of minutes!

› A bottle of Archers Cranberry Schnapps › A Weber braai was sold on auction and then redonated to be sold by the generous bidder › The plants used as décor › A seven-day holiday in Vilanculos, Mozambique

In total the boeredans and spitbraai raised R74 815. Thank you to our community, farmers, local businesses, sponsors and our 220 guests. Thanks also to all the crew members who took time off from their busy schedules to help set up and decorate the hall in the two days leading up to the dance, as well as for the clean-up afterwards. The dancing continued into the early hours of the morning,

PHOTOGRAPHS: RIEG & AD PHOTOGRAPHY

with music by Kobus Gouws and his boereorkes. It was great fun. See you again at the end of this year! For more information, contact Melissa 072 182 6175.

TOP: The boeredans in full swing. ABOVE (from left]: Outgoing station commander Mark Mans with Justin Erasmus; Tilla Strydom and Carina Strydom; StatCom Lodewyk on stage.

BREAKDOWN OF FUNDS RAISED Donations R12 780 Ice sales R205 Auction R23 500 Ticket sales R38 330

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P L E T T E N B E R G B AY

A LITTLE BIT OF

Plettenberg Bay was called bahia formosa or ‘beautiful bay’ by early 16-century Portuguese sailors. And while more than 400 years of history has passed, the beauty of Plett and its surrounds still remain something quite special, as do its historical remnants. By Wendy Maritz

LEFT: The view from Robberg Nature Reserve. TOP: NSRI launching from Central Beach. ABOVE: The World War 11 siren on Signal Hill.

ONG-TIME RESIDENTS OF Plettenberg Bay will tell you why they would never leave: it’s less of a town and more of a village; it’s charming and tranquil; the weather is perfect; the beaches are unspoilt and vast; its indigenous fauna and flora are spectacular; and visiting southern right and humpback whales are a delight each year. Plus, there is no end of places to visit for the day should they ever find the walls closing in on them. Yet Plett’s treasures go beyond the intriguing estuaries and lagoons, gigantic trees and dramatic rocky 32 |

peninsula, all so loved by those who call it home and attracting tens of thousands of visitors to this ‘jewel’ of the Garden Route each year. Well known to residents but perhaps alarming to those who hear it for the first time is the World War II siren the NSRI station uses to signal a callout. It is located on the water tower on Signal Hill, so named because the village harbour master used to hoist flags there to warn passing sailing ships of any danger in the bay in the 1800s. The history of how this particular siren came to Station 14 originated in the early ’70s after the base was

established. Ideas around how crew could be alerted if someone’s life was in danger were discussed at length, including shooting maroons and flares. Someone suggested a siren. And so the largest siren commercially available was installed opposite what is today known as Dolphin Circle. But it had a very limited range, and it was back to the drawing board. The newly appointed town electrical engineer at the time, Frank Redford, heard of the station’s dilemma and, having worked for the City of London, offered to lend a hand. He had knowledge of a store of World War II air-raid sirens in the keep of the city and wrote to an erstwhile colleague about obtaining one. The colleague duly obliged and informed Frank a siren was on its way. And so the historical siren was shipped to Plett in 1974. Nowadays, residents are accustomed to it going off every Friday afternoon as a weekly test (and informally to signify the weekend); every other time, it’s a call to action.

PHOTOGRAPHS: SUPPLIED, GETTY IMAGES. SOURCES: PLETTENBERG-BAY.CO.ZA/PLETT-HISTORY; PLETTHISTORY.ORG/PLACES-OF-INTEREST

HISTORY

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NELSON BAY CAVE Robberg Nature Reserve is a national monument and World Heritage Site, situated some 8km south of Plettenberg Bay. The rugged peninsula offers many hiking and cave-exploration opportunities. Among them is Nelson Bay Cave, a Stone Age archeological site located on the Robberg Peninsula

that shows evidence of human occupation as far back as 125 000 years. Rocks from this region have been found to date back to the breaking up of Gondwanaland, the supercontinent that split up into the landmasses we know today as Africa, South America, Australia, Antarctica, the Indian subcontinent and Arabian Peninsula.

EUROPEAN SETTLEMENT In the winter of 1630 a large Portuguese sailing vessel, the São Gonçalo, bulging with an overfull cargo of spices, stopped off in the bay so her crew could administer repairs. She was struck by a storm and all of those on board perished, save 100 who were camping on the beach. They survived, living in the Piesang Valley for around eight months, where they befriended the Khoisan, built a church and constructed two vessels using wood from the original ship and the trees in the area. They were able to set sail and were picked up by a Portuguese ship bound for home. Relics from the wreck were discovered by the Jerling family at the beachfront property in 1980 and can be viewed at the Plett municipality.

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PHOTOGRAPHS: SUPPLIED, GETTY IMAGES. SOURCES: PLETTENBERG-BAY.CO.ZA/PLETT-HISTORY; PLETTHISTORY.ORG/PLACES-OF-INTEREST

LEFT: The wooden trail in Nelson Bay Cave leads down to the excavation display.

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IN DIRE

It was a day that almost lived up to Odd Grim Persson’s name when he fell off on a big wave and floated, numb and paralysed, writes Spike of Wavescape.co.za.

N 8 AUGUST 2018 when Odd Grim Persson almost drowned at Sunset Reef after a spine injury that suggested paralysis, it was a day as foreboding as the casualty’s Viking name (he once told me that Odd means ‘arrow head’ in ancient Norse). And, while the former Swedish surfing champion recovered, the surfing community searched for two surfboards ditched during the rescue: a half-black and half-green 9’8” DVG belonging to Odd, and a 10-foot blue Armstrong with a black nose belonging to first responder Dougal Paterson. Were it not for the inflation and impact vests Odd had been wearing, and the swift reactions of Dougal and Matt Bromley, Odd easily could have lost his life or found himself floating out to sea, unable to move. For his close friend Dougal it was a tough day emotionally. He had to deal with a scary situation that seemed a lot more dire in the heat of the moment. ‘The waves were big and 34 |

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strong. Probably 15 foot. Maybe some were slightly bigger. There was a bit of south in the direction, which means at Sunset they can clamp shut quite hard,’ he says. ‘There were four of us out, Fabian Compagnalo, Odd, myself and Matt.’ In typical South African big-wave understatement, Dougal recalls: ‘We were getting waves. It felt fairly mellow by some standards.’ That ‘Saffer’ sense of playing down extremity is common, and partly why our big-wave chargers are so respected overseas. When even Hawaiians avoid the set waves at giant Jaws, Saffers

THE ODYSSEY OF TWO LOST BOARDS

like Matt start paddling for them. ‘We got caught by a set. I saw Odd come up looking disorientated, maybe concussed. He was flapping around. But he got on his board and seemed okay. We were hit by another white water and he was gone. This time he came up way down the reef. He was tapping the top of his head [signalling that he needs help],’ Dougal continues. Dougal could see something was really wrong. With his stomach in his throat, he sprint-paddled to Odd. ‘It was so scary. When I got there, it looked really bad. He kept saying, “I can’t feel my legs. Can’t move. Can’t move.” It was a sickening feeling. He’s a good friend of mine, which makes it worse. I just tried to keep his head up. Luckily, his inflation vest had been fired off twice so he was floating and his head was mostly up.’

The two big-wave surfboards that were ditched in the dramatic rescue described vanished from the Kommetjie area. Dougal Paterson and Odd Persson believed they would never be seen again. However, a few days after the rescue, Dougal’s board washed ashore near

PHOTOGRAPHS: ANT FOX, JORDY MASTERS AND SEAN THOMPSON

STRAITS

R E A L- L I F E R E S C U E

PHOTOGRAPHS: ANT FOX, JORDY MASTERS AND SEAN THOMPSON

FROM LEFT: Swedish surfing champion Odd Grim Persson; Dungeons has a reputation for testing big-wave skills; Persson and Dougal Paterson, one of the friends who saved his life.

Without the impact and inflation vests Odd was wearing, Dougal says, it could have gone horribly wrong. The vest was keeping him afloat, but he couldn’t move. By then Matt had reached them. Big-wave safety protocol kicked in as they tried to move Odd towards shore – a very long paddle of about 800m. However, three boards, two surfers, and a third surfer who can’t move are not a good combination in the impact zone of 15-foot-plus Sunset Reef. They were hit by big walls of white water. One big wave rolled over them. Dougal grabbed his friend’s body, terrified that his spine was damaged and further impact would snap it. ‘I pulled Odd’s leash off, and my own, and let the boards go. I had Matt’s leash looped under my arm. I tried to support Odd’s neck as

Hondeklip Bay in the West Coast National Park a few hours’ drive north of Cape Town and was spotted by tourists. Odd Persson’s board, however, went on a scarcely believable journey. After traversing an astonishing 1 650km, it was found washed ashore near Meob some 140km south of

Matt pulled us behind his board. Odd couldn’t feel anything. He was choking. He was also crying. But Matt was amazing. He was so calm. He is comfortable in big waves. We’re also of the Christian faith. We prayed. We continued praying together the whole way in.’ Dougal says. ‘Eventually, we got him to just off the beach but then we realised we had to get through the shorebreak.’

Meanwhile, Matt paddled ashore to ask people to call the NSRI. It seemed a lifetime, but it was maybe only 10 minutes. ‘I was comforting him, telling him that he was going to be okay and that we were here for him.’ But Odd was getting cold, ‘so we decided to drag him through the shorebreak. He was screaming in pain as we took a few hits, but eventually we got him onto the sand, cradling his head. We had no idea how severe his injury was.’ Kommetjie StatCom Ian Klopper arrived and the paramedics took over. ‘They were very calm and loaded Odd onto a stretcher. A few other guys arrived, including his girlfriend, Tamanique De Meillon, and she had a calming effect. He also began to get some feeling in his limbs.’ Odd was taken to hospital. MRI scans and other tests revealed no spinal break although he had sustained severe spinal shock. Odd has since made a full recovery.

Walvis Bay in Namibia. The board was spotted on the beach by tourists who had been visiting the area in the company of a tour operator. It was left at Namib Camp near Meob until tour operator Travel Unchartered brought it to Walvis Bay. Equally amazing was its relatively unscathed appearance. It had probably floated with its top deck submerged keeping it protected from the elements. S E A R E S C U E AU T U M N 2 0 1 9

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THE VALUE OF

DRONES IN SAR

ID YOU KNOW that the first drone was built more than 120 years ago, in 1898, by Nicolai Tesla? And it was a boat! A drone (as defined by the Merriam-Webster Dictionary) is an unmanned aircraft or ship guided by remote control or onboard computers. Drones, especially unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), are ubiquitous in our lives nowadays, with major impacts having already been made in many fields, from agriculture (spraying and monitoring of crops) and medicine (dropping urgent medication in remote villages in rural areas) to advertising. The list goes on as far the imagination can take it. 36 |

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All of this leads us to what the NSRI as an organisation is doing to be part of this revolution. Enter Rieghard Janse van Rensburg, StatCom at Station 37 (Jeffreys Bay). He is a member of the NSRI Futures Committee and a qualified UAV pilot who operates such vehicles commercially as a professional photographer. He leads the NSRI’s approach to using UAVs optimally, legally and safely. Because this is a new technology, regulators such as the South African Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) have enacted strict requirements in an attempt to control the boom in

the usage of UAVs, with a broad distinction made between those using UAVs for private use (no licensing/ certification required) and those using them commercially. NSRI falls into the commercial category (as do our rescue vessels). Rieghard maintains that the main thrust of the concern about UAVs is best captured in the following statement made by Phillip Kent in Popular Mechanics (November 2017): ‘…remotely piloting an aircraft has removed the first law of aviation safety: the law of self-preservation.’ This is why doing it properly is important. ‘We have been supported kindly

PHOTOGRAPHS: RIEG & AD PHOTOGRAPHY

Brett Ayres identifies the value of drones in, among others, offshore search and rescue (SAR), but acknowledges the right expertise is necessary.

T E C H N O LO GY by NTSU Aviation Solutions in the process of creating our own ROC (Remote Pilot Aircraft System Operating Certificate), which enables volunteers with Remote Pilot Licence (RPL) certifications to fly UAVs for Sea Rescue purposes,’ he adds. Rieghard and the Futures Committee have done quite a lot of work in identifying six separate use cases for Sea Rescue, which will guide our ROC process. These are: 1. Enhanced situational awareness: Providing a live video feed from the UAV to an incident command centre. 2. Shoreline search: Finding a missing person along a geographically challenging shoreline (with rocky cliffs, dunes or a river mouth, and so forth). 3. Offshore search: This would either be beyond a visual line of sight (requiring more stringent certification requirements) or launched from an all-weather rescue vessel. 4. Communications hotspot: Providing a VHF or cellular repeater or hotspot. Using a drone can also be a way to provide public announcements or auxiliary lighting. (It is possible to ‘tether’ these UAVs to a power supply on the ground, meaning they can remain airborne as long as is needed). 5. Dropping a lifesaving device: Dropping an inflatable buoy or torpedo buoy to a person in difficulty in water – faster than a lifeguard/rescue swimmer can swim there. 6. Whale disentanglement: To confirm entanglement or track whale movement in ‘real time’. Shark-spotting requirements are also a possibility.

PHOTOGRAPHS: RIEG & AD PHOTOGRAPHY

Jeffreys Bay StatCom Rieghard Janse van Rensburg is a member of the NSRI Futures Committee and a qualified UAV pilot.

Drones are not limited to things that fly, as we’ve established. There is also a growing use case taking us back to the water, with unmanned marine vehicles (UMVs) becoming more prevalent. With NSRI being ‘about boats’, this is another use we need to explore. Unlike UAVs, UMVs are a relatively unregulated innovation currently in a state of transition, with the International Maritime Organisation and leading maritime insurers considering ways to govern such devices. Potential applications for Sea Rescue include the ability to launch small, nimble, lightweight lifesaving devices very quickly, at zero risk to lifeguards or SAR personnel in dangerous areas. However, as with all things, there are limits to what a UMV can do. For example, it would be difficult to recover an unconscious person from the water without a rescuer on board. There are also risks and legal concerns, such as what would happen if a UMV collides with a person, injuring them or riding over them – the first law of aviation can be extended to the first law of boating! In the final analysis, the UMV would fall somewhere between ‘doing nothing’ and a fully manned rescue vessel. It would be an addition to an arsenal of rescue tools and techniques, not a replacement. And to a person in the water in a previously inaccessible location, the UMV would be a massive improvement on ‘nothing’! S E A R E S C U E AU T U M N 2 0 1 9

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FROM THE

H Naturalist Georgina Jones takes us on a journey below the water’s surface to explore the intricate life of crabs, and the extraordinary measures they take to protect their offspring from predation.

ABOVE: A hermit crab uses its legs to hold its borrowed shell away from its body and pumps water to send its larvae out into the ocean.

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UMAN PARENTS HAVE possibly always been the unwilling recipients of well-meant and usually conflicting advice – provide for your children, protect your children, discipline your children… Although most advice generally draws the line at giving the children the clothes off your back. Crabs as a group probably don’t get much parenting advice but, in any event, most species take a relatively no-nonsense approach to the rearing of young. Once a female crab has mated, she will extrude her fertilised eggs and stick them onto her abdomen. She then carries the developing eggs around until the larvae are ready to be sent off into the open sea. This way of brooding serves to protect the eggs until they are more developed, giving the resulting larvae a better chance of survival in the plankton. The birthing female crab will make her way to a reef outcrop, wait for a favourable tide, and then perform a birthing dance, releasing the developed larvae into the water. These zooea are now able to swim and float in currents, and

have a tiny spine for some protection from predators. They develop in the plankton, finally settling in a conducive environment, there to complete their own life cycles. Sinisterly, there are parasitic barnacles that take advantage of this cycle. A large group of barnacles, known as the Rhizocephala, parasitise shrimps and crabs. Although these animals have standard barnacle larvae, their final larval form has a significant modification: it has a sharp needlelike point. When the larva finds a crab of the correct species, it searches for a joint in the crab’s armour. It then injects its cells into the crab, where they develop into a network of tendrils known as an interna, which grow through the host crab, surrounding its organs and taking over control of its body and brain. Effectively, the rhizocephalans hijack the crabs’ bodies for their own use. The interna grows and feeds on the host’s tissues, and then its gonads erupt through the crab’s abdomen as an externa – a bulbous mass that attracts a male rhizocephalan, which injects itself into the female and fertilises her eggs.

PHOTOGRAPHS: GEORGINA JONES

SAME CLOTH

beautiful planet LEFT: A baby furred sponge crab on its parent’s cloak. BELOW: Even tiny boxer crabs look after their eggs until they’re ready to hatch.

Eggs attached to the carapace and rear legs of a porcelain crab.

Photographs: GEORGINA JONES

recent observations suggest that the babies start adult life fully kitted out with miniature pieces of their parent’s cloaks. The host, unable to reproduce on its own account, cares for these eggs as though they were its own young. And when the barnacle larvae are ready, the host acts just as a normal crab would and dances to release the larvae into the plankton. So powerful is the control these barnacles have over their hosts that they parasitically castrate their male hosts, changing their body shape to that of female crabs (which have a more rounded abdomen than males) and inducing them to imitate females in the birthing dance. It’s a really horrifying process to contemplate. All of which might be why the furred sponge crabs of False Bay and Algoa Bay have developed a rather different approach to child rearing. These are porter crabs, which have a specially adapted set of legs that hold a cloak of sponge or colonial sea squirt over the crab’s carapace, so

that only the tips of the crabs’ legs are visible. It was known that porter crabs have a relatively small number of larval stages to go through before developing into miniature adults. It was thought that the tiny babies would leave the safety of the mother’s brooding abdomen and venture out onto the reef in search of a sponge garden or field of colonial sea squirts to acquire their own protective cloaks. It was considered that the mother might make an effort to be in such a garden when the babies were ready to start their own adult lives. But it turns out that our furred sponge crabs go further than that: recent observations suggest that the babies start adult life fully kitted out with miniature pieces of their parent’s cloaks. The first inkling of this came when cloaked babies were seen on the surface of their mother. Further observations of gaps

in the cloaks of adult furred sponge crabs suggest that the developmental story in these crabs is unique. It seems that adult female furred sponge crabs brood their young until they are fully developed into miniature versions of the adults. The tiny young presumably then crawl out from the abdomen and onto the mother’s carapace, under her protective cloak. Once here, they cut themselves a piece of her cloak and crawl out through the resultant hole onto the surface, protected as completely as possible. The cloaks then grow larger along with the growing crab. If this isn’t giving your children the clothes off your back, I don’t know what is. Yet, in furred sponge crabs, the clothes are alive and the gaps where the babies have emerged grow closed in time. And the kids are safe from being turned into zombies by barnacles. S ea Res c u e AU T U M N 2 0 1 9

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STATI O N D I REC TO RY The nsri is manned by more than 1 000 volunteers at 41 bases around the country, including five inland dams. Our volunteers have day jobs but will always respond to your emergency. STN 2 BAKOVEN StatCom: Luke van Riet ✆ 082 990 5962 STN 3 TABLE BAY StatCom: Dr Quentin Botha ✆ 082 990 5963 STN 4 MYKONOS StatCom: Morné Dettmer (acting) ✆ 082 990 5966 STN 5 DURBAN StatCom: Andre Fletcher ✆ 082 990 5948 STN 6 PORT ELIZABETH StatCom: Ian Gray ✆ 082 990 0828 STN 7 EAST LONDON StatCom: Geoff McGregor ✆ 082 990 5972 STN 8 HOUT BAY StatCom: Lyall Pringle ✆ 082 990 5964 STN 9 GORDON’S BAY StatCom: Alan Meiklejohn ✆ 021 449 3500 STN 10 SIMON’S TOWN StatCom: Darren Zimmermann ✆ 082 990 5965 STN 11 PORT ALFRED StatCom: Juan Pretorius ✆ 082 990 5971 STN 12 KNYSNA StatCom: Jerome Simonis ✆ 082 990 5956 STN 14 PLETTENBERG BAY StatCom: Marc Rodgers ✆ 082 990 5975 STN 15 MOSSEL BAY StatCom: André Fraser ✆ 082 990 5954 STN 16 STRANDFONTEIN StatCom: Vaughn Seconds ✆ 082 990 6753 STN 17 HERMANUS StatCom: Deon Langenhoven ✆ 082 990 5967 40 |

S e a R e s c u e AU T U M N 2 0 1 9

STN 18 MELKBOSSTRAND StatCom: Rhine Barnes ✆ 082 990 5958 STN 19 RICHARDS BAY StatCom: Bernard Minnie ✆ 082 990 5949 STN 20 SHELLY BEACH StatCom: Jeremiah Jackson ✆ 082 990 5950 STN 21 ST FRANCIS BAY StatCom: Sara Smith ✆ 082 990 5969 STN 22 VAAL DAM StatCom: Jake Manten ✆ 083 626 5128 STN 23 WILDERNESS StatCom: Robert van Helsdingen ✆ 082 990 5955 STN 24 LAMBERT’S BAY StatCom: Avril Mocke ✆ 060 960 3027 STN 25 HARTBEESPOORT DAM StatCom: Rod Pitter ✆ 082 990 5961 STN 26 KOMMETJIE StatCom: Ian Klopper ✆ 082 990 5979 STN 27 GAUTENG StatCom: Gerhard Potgieter ✆ 060 991 9301 STN 28A PORT ST JOHNS StatCom: John Costello ✆ 082 550 5430 STN 29 AIR-SEA RESCUE StatCom: Marius Hayes ✆ 082 990 5980 STN 30 AGULHAS StatCom: Reinard Geldenhuys ✆ 082 990 5952 STN 31 STILL BAY StatCom: Arrie Combrinck ✆ 082 990 5978 STN 32 PORT EDWARD StatCom: John Nicholas ✆ 082 990 5951 STN 33 WITSAND StatCom: Martin Fourie ✆ 082 990 5957 STN 34 YZERFONTEIN StatCom: Willem Lubbe ✆ 082 990 5974 STN 35 WITBANK DAM StatCom: Travis Clack ✆ 060 962 2620 STN 36 OYSTER BAY StatCom: Lodewyk van Rensburg ✆ 082 990 5968

General needs Data projectors and speakers or flat-screen TVs for training | GoPros or similar waterproof devices to film training sessions | Good-quality waterproof binoculars | Prizes for golf days and fundraising events | Towels for casualties | Groceries such as tea, coffee, sugar and cleaning materials | Long-life energy bars | Wet and dry vacuum cleaners | Dehumidifiers | Small generators | Good-quality toolkits | Top-up supplies for medical kits | Waterproof pouches for cellphones | Tea cups/coffee mugs/glasses for functions | Training-room chairs. You can also make an EFT donation and let us know which rescue base you would like to support. Cheques can be mailed to: NSRI, PO Box 154, Green Point 8051. Deposits can be made at: ABSA, Heerengracht branch Branch code: 506 009 Account number: 1382480607 Account holder: National Sea Rescue Institute Swift code: ABSA-ZA-JJ If you choose to do an EFT, please use your telephone number as a unique reference so that we are able to acknowledge receipt or email your proof of payment.

STN 37 JEFFREYS BAY StatCom: Rieghard Janse van Rensburg ✆ 079 916 0390 STN 38 THEEWATERSKLOOF StatCom: Shane Wiscombe ✆ 072 446 6344 STN 39 ROCKY BAY StatCom: Kevin Fourie ✆ 072 652 5158 STN 40 ST LUCIA StatCom: Jan Hofman ✆ 063 699 2722 STN 41 BALLITO StatCom: Quentin Power ✆ 060 305 4803 STN 42 KLEINMOND StatCom: Schalk Boonzaaier ✆ 083 419 4557 STN 43 PORT NOLLOTH StatCom: Sean Naas ✆ 063 698 8971

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