FROM THE HELM SUPPOSE THIS autumn message would
have been well matched by the autumn of the Covid-19 pandemic, but perhaps that’s pushing it! It seems this virus, as well as the resulting lockdowns and restrictions, will be with us for a while. Although we were hoping for a summer free from Covid-19 to be enjoyed by all, that was cut short by the reimplementation of Lockdown Level 3, once again throwing plans into chaos. Despite the pandemic, we had prepared well for the season. We had several lifeguarding contracts lined up and our guys on the beaches and at the bases were ready to respond as always. What we did not expect were the beach bans! An absolute tragedy at a personal and business level for everyone. We really have huge empathy for all our stakeholders who have been severely compromised by the effects of the pandemic. However, we are positive about 2021, having survived 2020 and managed to get through much of what we had planned in a year that was surprisingly busy for our services. Medevacs continued in numbers, fishing and boating casualties continued, and we were ramping up to the summer season only to have the beaches closed. There’s plenty planned for 2021, not least of which our survival swimming and water safety programmes, which we hope to get going full steam again after the school year starts. We’ve got some catching up to do.
We’re rolling out our JetRIBs.
On the technological front, the ORC and JetRIB programmes continue to get everyone excited. ORC vessel No 4 is now in the mould! The JetRIBs, of course, are rolling out rapidly into surf rescue services and having a fantastic impact with improved safety. Probably the most difficult element of our service at the moment is the lack of social contact across the platform. We miss one another and we miss interacting with stakeholders, members, donors and crew. It’s interesting how valuable primary human contact is to us! If there’s one thing we wish for this autumn, it’s to be able to congregate, chat, share and get on with the service in the community. This will pass – I suppose we will just have to be patient. The Covid-19 outbreak has been stressful for all of us, but we’ve been sustained by the amazing support we get from so many people. Thank you. Once this is over, we’ll be there with more energy and enthusiasm than ever. We look forward to a Covid-19-free world. All the best; stay healthy!
DR CLEEVE ROBERTSON, CEO
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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SEA RESCUE AUTUMN 2021
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IMAGE COURTESY: JENNIFER PONDER
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