LETTERS

THE SOUTHEASTERLY winds have returned to Cape Town with a real bang – debris everywhere. A sign, surely, of summer as we pass the equinox!

The story of 2020 really is one of resilience in the face of the very real economic destruction brought about through lockdown, and of the ability of our community to hang together and continue providing the essential services we do. Thankfully we seem to be surfacing, to be rising towards the light!

September was strategy month, when we looked back at the last five years, planned for the next five years and ironed out detailed objectives for the next year. Survival was on the agenda – perhaps not surprisingly – and, on reflection, our financial models have stood us in good stead. The fact that we have almost 100 000 donors of various shapes and sizes across a huge diversity of society and business is crucial to our sustainability, and you guys deserve our respect and thanks for being our lifejacket in 2020.

People are always a key focus, and the almost 1 350 volunteers who form the foundation of the organisation are at the forefront of our collective consciousness. Catching up with training in 2021 is going to require a flat-out effort, with coxswain development being a principal goal. Leadership within the institute starts at crew level, and continuously evolving and developing new leaders in a dynamic social and economic context require extraordinary effort – something

Tel: +27 21 434 4011 Fax: +27 21 434 1661 our training team responds to every day. Regional managers have been added to the mix to assist regional station commanders and take some of the routine administrative and general task load off their shoulders. Training is also part of their mandate in a regional context.

Geographically we have identified a few gaps on the West Coast and Wild Coast, and the plan is to have established 52 stations by the end of 2021 so that we reasonably cover the entire 3 000km of coastline. The Wild Coast deserves an additional three stations – we’ll start small and build from there. Lifeguarding in these areas also needs capacity, so building will take place from a grassroots level and evolve over time into fully fledged stations. Port St Johns we plan to evolve into a multi-service centre, building the team around water safety, survival swimming, training and rescue services. The initiation of subsistence fishing projects, economic activity and tourism are all creating demand for our services.

The story of summer will probably be one of a rebound to beaches in greater numbers, more activity and the need for a focus on safety. So keep rip currents and beach safety top of mind, keep children within sight at all times, keep your lifejacket on and enjoy what will be a huge relief and de-stressor from the trauma of 2020.

DR CLEEVE ROBERTSON, CEO

CAPE TOWN: NSRI, 1 Glengariff Road, Three Anchor Bay 8001; PO Box 154, Green Point 8051 Have a great summer!

Visit our website at www.searescue.org.za or email us at info@searescue.org.za

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THE PUBLISHING PARTNERSHIP

MANAGING EDITOR Wendy Maritz ART DIRECTOR Ryan Manning BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT MANAGER Nic Morkel EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR Mark Beare PRODUCTION DIRECTOR John Morkel MANAGING 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.nsri.org.za FUNDRAISING AND MARKETING DIRECTOR Janine van Stolk EMAIL janine@searescue.org.za COMMUNICATIONS OFFICER Megan Hughes EMAIL megan@searescue.org.za

PRODUCED FOR THE NSRI BY

The Publishing Partnership (Pty) Ltd, PO Box 15054, Vlaeberg 8018. Copyright: The Publishing Partnership (Pty) Ltd 2020. 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 Novus Print ISSN 1812-0644

WINNING LETTER

Thank you, Niall, for sharing your story. Your book and hoodie are on their way.

AN AVID SUPPORTER

For most of my life I’ve had the good fortune of falling asleep listening to the sound of the ocean. Whether it was the northern Irish Sea or the Indian Ocean in South Africa, once you have salt water in your veins, you can’t get it out.

I grew up fascinated with the British RNLI rescue boats and always attended their public shows. One year, the enacted rescue scene using helicopters and craft in Whitby Harbour was so realistic that a lady fainted and needed medical attention. This was enough to stir a love within me for anything ocean-related.

Living on the beach at Cannon Rocks, we are blessed with 180degree panoramic sea views and Channel 16 on my marine VHF radio is permanently monitored. At least 10 times we’ve had drama in the high seas, ranging from yachts in trouble off the Bird Island area to the odd ship in distress with main-engine problems or small recreational vessels in need of assistance after flipping in our local surf. The two closest NSRI stations are in Port Alfred and Port Elizabeth harbour, so it presents quite a challenge for any rescue craft to get to a vessel in conditions that can be very challenging indeed.

I have been rescued off Mossel Bay on a sail board being blown out to sea and have also been reported for entering the sea on a 16-foot Hobie Cat at Kenton and doing a downwinder to our bay at Cannons in front of our house. Locals thought we were lost at sea and the Port Alfred crew came all the way, only to find us high and dry on the beach, safely home. The funniest story was when I got a new 6m Aquarius cat I had designed like a surfboard and launched in 4-5m surf to go and ride the breaking waves off Boknes reef. My wife, who was painting in her studio at the time, saw ‘an idiot’ riding these massive waves and was on the verge of calling the NSRI to rescue him. It was the clearly deliberate repeated catching of the waves that stopped her, and she began suspecting…

When I arrived home later, beaming from ear to ear, her suspicions were confirmed.

I also forgot to add that I once took a girl out on a first date. We went scuba diving off Miller’s Point in PE, only to have the boat sink on us. The NSRI arrived and assisted in loading the boat back up on the trailer. Said girl and I have been happily married ever since.

Good on you guys for all you do! NIALL CAMERON

A PASSION FOR IMPARTING SKILLS

Thank you so much for the Autumn edition of Sea Rescue. I was so excited to see your cover photo of a young child learning to float and to read about the launch of your Survival Swimming programme. Four years ago, at the age of 65, I was given the opportunity to do my Learn to Swim training, which I undertook with the view to teaching children to swim who do not normally have access to swimming lessons. However, I was asked to join a local swim club in Kimberley to teach as they needed a learn-to-swim teacher.

At the end of 2020, I will be retiring to George. When I read your article, I immediately thought to myself that it would be amazing if I could continue to impart the skills I have learned by partaking in your programme. In so doing, I would eventually live out my passion for helping others to appreciate and enjoy the water safely.

Congratulations on this excellent initiative. JUNE LOUW

For NSRI membership or Sea Rescue subscription details:

Email info@searescue.org.za or phone (021) 434 4011

LOOKING BACK

It was a crystal-clear summer’s day in November 1966 at the General Botha Nautical Academy in Granger Bay, Cape Town. Along with 12 other candidate ship’s deck officers studying there for our certificates, Captain Phil Nankin, captain superintendent of the academy, informed us that Captain Bob Deacon, an instructor, was testing a rubber duck as a prelude to launching a new rescue organisation. This was my first introduction to the NSRI and the start of an eventful journey as a foundation member, volunteer radio operator and navigation instructor at Station 5 (Durban) in 1969. After my departure from the shipping company Tropical Lines, I got married and settled in Durban, my home town. I saw a write-up in the local newspaper reporting that the local Durban ski-boat base members were keen to start a rescue base and were looking for volunteers to join.

In 1969 we erected our boathouse and ops room on the South Beach near the entrance to the harbour. We all worked hard over weekends – hand-blistering, back-aching work – but we achieved our goal. This resulted in a greater spirit of friendship and cooperation among the crew.

We felt very proud on Tuesday 14 October 1969 when Captain McKinnon, Port Captain of Durban, officially opened our boat house and ops room.

Some of the more memorable call-outs were the assist-and-search of a defence force plane lost at sea in gale-force winds and 3m waves. Also, while on standby at sea off Virginia Beach at the Durban Airshow in July 1969 we saved four parachutists who had landed in the sea. Station 5 earned the nickname of ‘The flying 5’ among Virginia Airport pilots. The station now has a new modern home in the harbour, having made way for new waterfront developments.

I’m now retired, having left the NSRI in 1975 as I was transferred to Gauteng. I can look back with a great sense of appreciation and gratitude to the NSRI for the opportunity to serve all who need help on the seas and dams around South Africa.

Long live the NSRI – I salute you all! JAMES A NISBET

FAMILY TIES

Thank you for the newsletter. My wife and I were very interested in the article on the founding of the NSRI. The photo shows Pat O’Sullivan, who was my wife’s uncle. When he was Commodore of the Royal Cape Yacht Club, she would go sailing with him several times a year and would be with him when he met the Round the World sailors. He was an avid supporter of the NSRI and that is one of the reasons we support you in our small way. We have great admiration for the work carried out by your volunteers. On one occasion they rescued a family member who got into trouble while parasailing. JOHN AND MARGIE (NEE PHIPPS) AUSTIN

President of the Society of Master Mariners of South Africa Captain John Payne and Miss Patti Price hold certificates presented by then State President Jim Fouche. On the far right is the NSRI’s founding chairman, Pat O’Sullivan. WRITE TO US AND WIN!

The writer of the winning letter published in the Spring 2021 issue of Sea Rescue will receive an NSRI hoodie.

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.)

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