SEA RESCUE R14.95 | WINTER 2019
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ALICK RENNIE IS HOME
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CO N T E N T S WIN TER 20 1 9
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LETTERS
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TAKING ALICK RENNIE HOME The NSRI’s brand-new 14m ORC Alick Rennie makes the journey to her new home at Station 5 (Durban).
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BETWEEN A ROCK... Five crew are rescued after their yacht runs aground on the dolosse at Durban harbour.
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DISENTANGLED Volunteers from the NSRI and the SAWDN succesfully free a southern right whale caught in fishing rope.
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KIDS’ CLUB Everything you and your children need to know for a fun – and safe – day near the water.
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IN THE NEWS Fundraising drives, events and station news.
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AGM AND AWARDS EVENING Recognising our volunteers, donors and sponsors.
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PINK RESCUE BUOYS DOWN UNDER Andrew Ingram travels to Australia to share how the Pink Rescue Buoy project is changing the outcomes of peer rescue.
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A TALE OF TWO STATCOMS An exchange of war stories between two former Garden Route station commanders.
SAVING LIVES. CHANGING LIVES. CREATING FUTURES.
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STAND A CHANCE TO WIN
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SEE PAGE 8
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BEST OF THE BEST New recruits are put through their paces during Sea Rescue’s Coxswain Training Course.
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IN SALUTE OF OUR FAMILIES Andrew Ingram recalls life as an active crewman, realising it’s an impossible task without family support.
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THE USES OF AIS The value of AIS for searchand-rescue vessels, artisanal fishermen and individuals.
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KILLING FIELDS The incredible – and dangerous – world of the ocean’s gardens.
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STATION DIRECTORY
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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
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@searescuesa SEA RESCUE WINTER 2019
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FROM THE HELM
T
HE YEAR CONTINUES at pace with exciting developments: the delivery of the first ORC 14m rescue vessel to Durban, the beginning of the construction of ORCs in Cape Town, breaking ground for new stations at Simon’s Town and Hermanus, the evolution of the Pink Rescue Buoy Campaign, growing Lifeguarding Operations, installing in-house administration at the NSRI store in the Waterfront and the call centre now operating directly under NSRI management… It’s been a roller-coaster six months, all supported by your significant contributions as donors and stakeholders. Volunteers continue to deliver outstanding services with dependable passion and commitment – the foundation of the NSRI brand! It’s real; we save lives. I don’t think there is anyone in the country who doesn’t value and appreciate the contribution made by our volunteers and respect the integrity with which they go about the business of rescue. It’s unquestionably the cornerstone of the organisation. Stakeholders, particularly donors, are another cornerstone of the NSRI and justifiably expect that we operate at the highest ethical standards and utilise the significant contributions they make judiciously and responsibly. Increasingly over time I have questioned our cost of fundraising and engaged with donors over the issue – this has resulted in us taking over the call centre directly from a third-party provider, thereby significantly improving the proportion of each donation that goes to fund rescue and drowning-prevention activities. Internationally the cost of fundraising across a range of charities and fundraising streams is benchmarked at about 20% to 70% of total revenue, with the understanding that raising money requires resources and effort. International fundraising monitoring agencies raise concerns when costs of fundraising are at or above 70% of revenue. The cost of fundraising varies across a range of activities. For instance, we are currently losing money on direct mail and will have to decide whether or not to continue with it. It is important to keep in mind that fundraising activities may also have a marketing, communication, awareness, donorrecruitment or operational element. Historically our costs of fundraising have approached 50% for certain activities, such as the very effective call centre, which was governed by a legal agreement. That agreement has been terminated and in 2019 our cost of fundraising through the call centre will be 25% of revenue, so we have addressed the concern. The NSRI fundraising model of diversity also addresses major-donor dependency or what’s known as the dependency quotient. The NSRI depends not on a few major donors but on almost 100 000 individual and corporate donors, which significantly reduces the consequence of a major donor withdrawing their support. There is no question that the NSRI is an effective charity and service, raising money progressively to deliver on its drowning-prevention and rescue mandate – but I think it’s important that donors are confident and assured, firstly that quality services are delivered and secondly that most of their donation supports those services directly. I am confident that in 2019 we can give you that assurance and that we will continue to be critical of our costs. Every day you call us, email us, text us, WhatsApp us and send us your thoughts via voice messages. Not every message gets a reply but we appreciate all your feedback and make work of it. Thank you for your support, particularly under austere economic conditions! Like the sea, it’s rough out there but we are proud of the service we deliver for and on your behalf – and we are sure you are too.
THE CREW THE PUBLISHING PARTNERSHIP MANAGING EDITOR Wendy Maritz ART DIRECTOR Ryan Manning
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ADVERTISING Neal Esau EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR Mark Beare PRODUCTION DIRECTOR John Morkel EDITORIAL DIRECTOR Susan Newham-Blake ADDRESS PO Box 15054, Vlaeberg 8018 TEL +27 21 424 3517
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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 MANAGER Craig Lambinon CELL 082 380 3800 EMAIL communications@ searescue.org.za PRODUCED FOR THE NSRI BY The Publishing Partnership (Pty) Ltd, PO Box 15054, Vlaeberg 8018. Copyright: The Publishing Partnership (Pty) Ltd 2019. 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. 100
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SEA RESCUE WINTER 2019
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NSRI Sea Rescue Autumn 2019_090519
LETTERS SEA RESCUE R14.95 | WINTER 2019
FREE TO NSRI MEMBERS
NSRI’S NEW 14m ORC
ALICK RENNIE IS HOME
WINNING LETTER Thank you, Bev and David Knoesen, for sharing your story with us. Your book and hoodie are on their way.
SCAN HERE TO DONATE
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READ OUR COVER STORY ON PAGE 10. PHOTOGRAPH: PAULA LEECH/NSRI
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For NSRI membership or Sea Rescue subscription details: Email info@searescue.org.za or phone (021) 434 4011
SEA RESCUE R14.95 | WINTER 2018 FREE TO NSRI MEMBERS
pink rescue buoys
big-wave surfers and friends get together to raise funds
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SEA RESCUE WINTER 2019
O
H, HOW I LOVE beachcombing! I have a super collection of pick-ups from my lifelong walks along our beautiful South African beaches. But wait... No, we never really get to know the sea. In 1976 my hubby and I bought our very first boat, a little Loch Fyne, a three-in-one boat – rowing, sailing and motor attached. And the marine fun experiences began. First experience: when our firstborn was a few months old, we spent a day on the beach at Saldanha Bay, me beachcombing, while hubby, a novice sailor, set off to practise his sailing. He was not aware of the fickleness of the West Coast weather. Not intending to be long or to leave the shoreline, off he went. Unbeknown to me, he had capsized in the centre of the bay, due to strong winds and currents (where did they come from?), even though it was all so calm when he left me and baby. Now it was afternoon, still no hubby, the elements getting to me. I was tired and really worried. Then a man approached to inform me that he had been watching my hubby and had reported his capsizing to the NSRI and the police. What a scare. I was so grateful to him. NSRI Saldanha came to his assistance but could not right the boat. They brought him safely back to shore as one frozen man, happy to be alive. The shock for both
of us was an experience on its own. Life is so precious and short. The boat was salvaged and we never stopped learning and practising. A growing family, now two children and a puppy. The puppy spent a lot of time in the boat with us, experiencing the elements. We learnt too, that the better prepared one is, the better the fun. Safety comes first. Knowledge is everything. Now, years down the line, we are still having fun and are retired. Hubby approaches me with a happy smile and says, ‘Your crying magazine has arrived, dear’, referring to Sea Rescue. And watches me, knowing that my tears are tears of joy and pride in all our wonderful NSRI volunteers all over the country. I cry about how grateful and thankful we all are, I cry for the ones who are saved, I cry for those waiting on shore, I cry for you, the volunteers, your dedication, your perseverance, your life-saving efforts and all the love you generate while being so passionate about being active and serving members of NSRI. For me it is an emotional thrill, it is so alive. Our sincere thanks to all NSRI members around the country, administrative staff included, for your wonderful dedication. I am still beachcombing with delight. Pick-ups are now few and far between, compared to years gone by. Bev and David Knoesen Great Brak River
IMAGE: GETTY IMAGES
WE NEVER REALLY KNOW THE SEA
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LETTERS
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Sea Rescue WINTER 2019
the sun creep into sight and brighten up the skies for the dawning of a new day; it is so moving and a feeling I can’t even put into words. My grandfather was a fisherman and a member of the NSRI. It is from him I got my love and respect for the ocean. Whether we were sitting on his boat, casting a line, or standing on the shores patiently waiting for a fish to take the bait, he would stand teaching me how the ocean worked. Showing me where the rips were, how to spot the rip and directions of the currents. I know before I was born my grandfather took his boat out through the Knysna Heads and was hit by a freak wave. He lost everything that day but was rescued by the guys of the NSRI. I am very grateful for all your hard work and dedication, helping those out there when they are in their darkest hour of need. If it wasn’t for your guys saving my grandfather that day, I never would have had the memories or the love for the ocean that I have today. Thank you and keep up the outstanding work, Euline Mason, Durban
MESSAGE OF GRATITUDE A pensioner group for ladies resident in Hartbeespoort would like to take this opportunity to thank Rod Pitter and his amazing NSRI team for a most informative visit. The ladies (approximately 40), who meet once a month and have been doing so for almost 45 years now, visited the base of your Station 25 (Hartbeespoort Dam). Rod and his team gave us a brilliant presentation on the history of the dam and also of the NSRI. Rod also highlighted all the good work your team has done on our beautiful dam and nationwide. We were told about the excellent work being done at schools to create water-safety awareness. Thereafter we had a tour of your immaculate facility and your spotless boat. Please pass on our most grateful thanks to everyone at Station 25. It is our humble opinion that this is a most professional team and we would at any time trust them with our lives. Paula Mitchell and Sonja Pickering, Oreads Ladies Club, Hartbeespoort THE IMPORTANCE OF THE NSRI One day when I was at the beach with my friend at Big Bay on the West Coast, we decided to take a walk to the island because it was low tide. We thought it was safe to go, but when we were almost on the other side I realised that we were on kelp and slippery rocks. Then suddenly waves were crashing over my friend, who started to panic. I realised that she couldn’t swim. Luckily for her, there were people with paddle boards who saved her. They put her on the paddle board but luckily I could swim back to the shore. Being a nine-year-old and a member of the National Sea Rescue Institute I now realise that you should always know how to swim and make sure that your friends can swim before you go in to the sea and always check that there is a life guard on duty. It is important for everyone on the beach to donate money to the NSRI as you guys make the sea a safer place. I look up to you guys. Jancke Smit
IMAGE: jayden brand/unsplash
LESSONS OF THE SEA The sea is my second home and the place I feel most at rest. That is not to say the waves are not big at times or rough, but the pure beauty and wonder of the ocean and all the secrets beneath the waves… I love walking along the shores, glancing at the crashing waves, listening to the sound and vibrations that are all given off. And watching the boats launch from the Durban shore and seeing them head for the horizon. I enjoy my time surfing and experiencing first-hand the pull and push of the currents along the coastline, the occasional dolphin pod cruising the waves with us, teaching the youngsters how it is done. There really is no better place I would rather be. I spent eight years away in the UK and was inland and so longed for my African seas and yearned to watch another sunrise over the ocean. I am very grateful to say I have come back home and now spend every minute I can back at the ocean. One of the best feelings in the world is lying at the backline on my surfboard and watching
IMAGE: jayden brand/unsplash
PEACE OF MIND Today I found the Sea Rescue magazine in my mailbox. What a riveting read it is – I will be adding it to the top of my coffee-table collection to make sure everyone knows about your incredible presence that gives me so much peace of mind! I wanted to share the story of how you have impacted on my life. I have been afraid of the sea forever. In my youth I avoided it at all times and when my friends went in the water to play, I stayed back on the sand, fearing disaster would overwhelm me. Three years ago I decided I needed to deal with this fear that was crippling my life – I live near the beach, for goodness’ sake! I took to the sport of stand-up paddling (SUP) and the life transformation was monumental. As I progressed in SUP, learning about predicting and reading waves and sets, understanding the water and
the elements of nature, and taking part in paddling races, my fear was converted to respect and deep awe, and is now a fully-fledged devotion to the ocean! What made the difference to me was safety. I was always kept in a safe environment, either by training as part of a group or being supervised by knowledgeable watermen and -women. Whenever we raced, the NSRI was always on hand – boats clearly visible on the water, qualified staff on call and ready to act. This created such
peace of mind that I began to relax and really enjoy the ocean, even on days when the waves were a bigger challenge than I had anticipated. I also learnt how to use the SafeTrx app, knowing that even when I’m paddling on a downwind the NSRI is just a call away and can track me to my location in the event of an emergency. As my children have grown, I have also been able to set them free to participate in water-based activities such as Nippers and sailing, knowing with great confidence that they are well protected in their water ventures! I am ever so grateful to the NSRI for their incredible community service – you have literally given me a new lease on life. Thank you for always being in the background to set my mind at ease. Caroline Gill Download the NSRI’s free RSA SafeTrx application from the Apple App Store and Google Play Store.
LETTERS
WRITE TO US AND WIN! The writer of the winning letter published in the Summer 2019 issue of Sea Rescue will receive a Sea Rescue commemorative hoodie and a copy each of the Hiking Trails of South Africa by Willie Olivier and Field Guide to Butterflies of South Africa by Steve Woodhall.
A GREAT READ I would like to compliment the crew on the great production of the Autumn 2019 Sea Rescue magazine! I thoroughly enjoyed it from cover to cover. So many great and interesting articles. My best was ‘Top of her game’. What an amazing woman Carmen Long is. Then, too, coxswain Roy Wienand: another amazing person achieving so much. Has the print size of the magazine improved? I found it easier to read. If so, many thanks for this. Michele Linkermann, La Lucia
Hiking Trails of South Africa by Willie Olivier is a comprehensive guide featuring more than 500 trails that offer something for everyone – from the casual ambler to the experienced hiker. Whether you want to explore the beautiful landscape of the Karoo, wander through fynbos in the Western Cape, see the lush indigenous forests of the Garden Route, admire the sandstone mountains of the Free State or spot game on a wilderness hike in Mpumalanga, you will find all the information you need. Field Guide to Butterflies of South Africa by Steve Woodhall is designed for easy, rapid identification of all butterflies likely to be seen in South Africa. Following a worldwide trend in butterfly watching, readers are encouraged to observe behaviour rather than collect specimens. A detailed introductory section discusses butterfly biology, behaviour and anatomy, and butterfly families and subfamilies, accompanied by photographs. CONGRATULATIONS TO OUR WINNERS Holden van Litsenborgh (6), Ethan Arun Thomas (8), and Zoey Niemann (9), each won a turtle toy and a copy of The Brave Turtle. They were spot-on when answering the question: What does P.L.A.N. stand for? (Answer: Plan. Look. Ask. Never.) We hope you enjoy your prizes. 8 |
SEA RESCUE WINTER 2019
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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28/4: Table Bay to Simon’s Town 62,5nm (116km)
TAKING
ALICK RENNIE
HOME
PHOTOGRAPHS: SUPPLIED
NSRI’s National Training Manager Graeme Harding was on board the brand-new 14m ORC Alick Rennie as she made the journey to her new home at Station 5 (Durban). It was quite an adventure!
The delivery team, consisting of Mark Hughes, Clifford Ireland, Station 5 (Durban) station commander Andre Fletcher, Paul Bevis, Lorenzo TavernaTurisan, Jonathan Kellerman and Julian Singh (all crew and coxswains from Durban), myself and our guest for the leg to Hout Bay, Operations Support Board Chairman Brad Geyser, gathered bright and early at Cape Town Port for the first leg of our voyage. The new 14m ORC sailed gracefully out of the harbour at 08h00, announcing to Cape Town Port Control: ‘Rescue 5 Alick Rennie departing for delivery to Station 5 Durban.’ Fifteen minutes into the leg, crew from Station 2 (Bakoven) arrived alongside to see us on our way. Upon rounding The Sentinel in Hout Bay, we were met and escorted by Station 8’s (Hout Bay) Nadine Gordimer, Albie Matthews and Tintswalo Phoenix into the harbour, where we moored for a crew viewing and breakfast. Two hours later we departed for Simon’s Town, encountering fog (a bit of an eye-opener for the KZN guys) before rounding Cape Point and heading into False Bay. From there we were escorted by Spirit of Safmarine into Simon’s Town Harbour, where we refuelled and moored for the night.
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c r e w s to r i e s 30/4: Mossel Bay to Port Elizabeth 195,5nm (362km)
Photographs: SUPPLIED
29/4: Simon’s Town to Mossel Bay 225nm (417km) The crew arrived early for the 04h00 departure, accompanied by our guests, Station 17 (Hermanus) deputy station commander Stephan Malherbe and Class 1 coxswain Jean le Roux. We headed out in thick fog en route to Station 17. During this leg, Mark Hughes was fortunate enough to see a 6m orca jump the wake, much to the dismay of the rest of the crew who missed it. We slowly made our way to Hermanus, where we topped up with diesel and bade our guests farewell. Many thanks to the station for the breakfast rusks and coffee. We departed for Mossel Bay just before 09h00, experiencing thick fog for most of the day. This provided great training for radar and practising collision regulations. I think our Durban crew has a brand-new respect for good old Rule 19, ‘Conduct of vessels in restricted visibility’. We received a VHF radio call from Station 33 (Witsand) more than 80nm away that launched us into training mode, with their base controllers enjoying some awesome hands-on navigation plotting practice. It was especially good to see and hear that
all calculations and positions agreed with where we were. As we approached Mossel Bay, Vodacom Rescuer II and Vodacom Rescuer IV met and escorted us into the harbour, where we got a welcome spray from a Port Control tug. After a refuel and a braai at the Mossel Bay base the crew was whisked away to their accommodation, leaving Mark and I to sleep on (read guard) the boat.
At 06h00 Alick Rennie slipped her moorings and headed off to Port Elizabeth via Knysna. What an absolute honour it was helming her through the infamous Knysna Heads after being met at sea by Station 12’s Eileen Medway and Jaytee IV. Thank you, East Head Café and owner, station commander Jerome Simonis, for the breakfast delivered on board. On this leg to PE we encountered a 2m-2.5m following sea with a wind gust of up to 40 knots, which provided more hands-on training in helming skills. The Alick Rennie handled these seas with ease and the crew’s confidence grew immensely as the day progressed. While rounding Thunderbolt Reef and Cape Recife Lighthouse, we were met by Station 6’s (Port Elizabeth) Spirit of Toft and Eikos Rescuer IV and escorted into Port Elizabeth harbour, where we received a rock-star welcome to a cacophony of horn blasts as two harbour tugs sprayed water high into the air. After refuelling and a braai with Station 6, the crew went off to their lodgings, and Mark and I settled down on board for the night.
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1/5: PE to East London 130,9nm (242,5km) 2/5: East London to Durban 253.4nm (470km) We left East London at 03h15, carefully making our way to sea from the Buffalo River to head for our final destination, Durban Harbour. This leg, at 20 knots, should have taken us about 12 hours and 40 minutes, but Poseidon had other ideas: enter the dreaded northeaster, which encouraged a not-so-friendly head-on sea. We could have maintained 20 knots
Photographs: SUPPLIED
After enjoying bacon-and-egg rolls (more than one for me) and given lunch packs at the base, we slipped our moorings and left PE harbour at 09h00 accompanied by Spirit of Toft and Eikos Rescuer IV. After waving farewell we made our way round Bird Island as we headed towards the Kowie River Mouth (Port Alfred) on our way to East London. Station 7’s (East London) Spirit of Lotto rendezvoused with and escorted us into the Buffalo River to berth close to their base. The crew gladly assisted with refuelling and obtaining a seal, which was required to repair a leak on the steering system. We are grateful to station commander Geoff McGregor and his crew for the braai and organising accommodation for the delivery team, while Mark and I fought off the mozzies on the boat while preparing for a super-early start as the following day would be the longest leg of the trip.
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c r e w s to r i e s but that would have made things rather exciting. Alick Rennie was handling superbly but for the sake of crew comfort we backed down to about 12 knots, still taking a few waves right over the top. Yours truly got caught out and was totally drenched. Owing to our late arrival in East London and our steering repair, we didn’t manage to stock up for Day 5, which meant rations were running low. With a good 700nm (1 296,4km), four long days at sea, as well as late nights and early mornings under our belts, I can’t say we were too happy being slowed down by these challenging conditions. The news that Station 32’s (Port Edward) Wild Coast Sun Rescuer was launching brought smiles to our faces but unfortunately the conditions made it impossible for us to rendezvous with them to pick up two crew members for the last leg. With our snack cupboard now completely depleted, it was time to take out the hidden emergency rations: a packet of biltong. It was literally wolfed down in seconds as we pounded up the KZN coast. Suddenly we saw a vessel on AIS and, next thing, a bucking Spirit of
Once we were re-energised, the speed picked up a bit, naturally, and even more so when we spotted Cooper Light on our port beam. Dawn, under the care of phenomenal coxswain and station commander Jeremiah Jackson from Shelly Beach appeared. He expertly brought the RIB alongside in trying conditions to pass over a black box that was full of cooldrinks, chips and chocolates. (Writing this, it is easy to be overcome with emotion at the love this Sea Rescue family shares.) Once we were re-energised, the speed picked up a bit, naturally, and even more so when we spotted Cooper Light on our port beam. In fact, with the goal in sight, we all needed to slow down a bit and enjoy the finish. Durban Harbour was extremely busy, causing a 45-minute delay outside before we were given the green light – well, flashing lights – as Port Control welcomed the Alick Rennie to her new home. With Clifford proudly at the helm, we blasted into port passing a gathering of emergency services that were
flashing their lights and blaring their sirens to welcome us. Again, we felt like rock stars. We arrived alongside at about 20h30 and quickly squared the boat away, then we were off to NSRI Station 5 (Durban), where we were fed and had showers before the local crew went home, and Mark and I collapsed on a mattress at the base. Job done, Alick Rennie is home! To Mark Hughes and Clifford Ireland: you can be extremely proud of this achievement. The future of search and rescue is in good hands. To the Durban crew, a job well done: Andre Fletcher, Paul Bevis, Lorenzo Taverna-Turisan and Roy Wienand, and a special shout-out to the two youngsters, Julian Singh and Jonathan Kellerman – I would put to sea with you two anytime. Here’s wishing NSRI Station 5 (Durban) crew many safe rescues on board Alick Rennie. Always take care and stay safe.
Photographs: SUPPLIED
about alick rennie The 14m ORC Alick Rennie, the culmination of a five-year project involving Pantocarene Naval Architects, Bernard Shipyard and the NSRI, and pioneered by NSRI Operations Director Mark Hughes and supported by KZN Regional Representative Clifford Ireland, was delivered in Cape Town at the end of March 2019. Thanks to our sponsor, Safmarine, who undertook the mammoth task of shipping her over to us, and to Andy Connell, who assisted with shipping logistics. Two Oceans Marine assisted with the final preparations and she was
launched into the Cape Town Harbour and moored in front of NSRI Station 3 (Table Bay). A week of sea trials and South African Maritime Safety Authority (SAMSA) certification followed, with teams working from early morning until late into the night. All Class 1 Coxswains from Cape Town rescue bases got the opportunity to take her out in Table Bay. A welcoming event followed on 27 April, which allowed for a few trips with donors and staff.
The Durban crew arrived on Thursday 28 April to get some hands-on training as well as complete their Life Raft and VHF DSC courses, and to prepare Alick Rennie for the 945nm delivery trip to Durban.
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r e a l- l i f e r e s c u e
BETWEEN A ROCK...
I
n the early hours of Thursday 4 April, Station 5 (Durban) was alerted by Durban Port Control to a yacht in distress off the south breakwater of the harbour. The station’s 7m Megan II was launched with Class 1 coxswains Lorenzo Taverna-Turisan and Roy Wienand and crew David Hoffman and Julian Singh on board, along with the larger 10m Eikos Rescuer II crewed by station commander Andre Fletcher, Clifford Ireland and Stacey Rudolph. The South African Police Service’s Sea
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The day after the yacht ran aground on the dolosse at Durban Harbour’s south breakwater. All five crew members were brought to shore safely.
Borderline Unit, Transnet National Ports Authority (TPNA) and Netcare 911 also responded to the Mayday. Lorenzo explains that this part of the harbour is sometimes referred to as ‘the graveyard’, as sand carried from further down the coast gets trapped there, forming a sandbank that encourages swells of between 3 and 3,5m, catching boats off guard. ‘We even got punched as we were exiting the harbour,’ he explains. On arrival, they discovered the yacht, with its mast broken, had run aground against the dolosse. One casualty was visible, stuck between the mast and the dolosse, while the other four had managed to scramble off the large concrete structures, suffering only minor injuries. The TNPA’s tug and pilot boat were located in the harbour channel, so Megan II was manoeuvred alongside the tug in order to transfer David and Julian to shore. They would have to descend the dolosse from the harbour wall to bring the now very frightened
Photographs: SUPPLIED
Station 5 (Durban) responded to a yacht in distress off the harbour’s south breakwater. Wendy Maritz finds out how the rescue unfolded.
On arrival, they discovered the yacht, with its mast broken, had run aground against the dolosse. One casualty was visible, stuck between the mast and the dolosse, while the other four had managed to scramble off the large concrete structures... In a chat with the skipper later, Lorenzo learnt that the yacht with five crew on board (the skipper, his wife, two daughters and son-in-law) had been sailing from Richards Bay to Durban. As they were entering the south breakwater under motor power, they were hit by a set of waves that washed the skipper overboard. The yacht motored itself past the south breakwater into the‘graveyard’. The skipper, who had his safety line attached, swam after the yacht and managed to get back on board. Then the yacht hit the sandbank. The skip-
per tried to use the swells to to motor the yacht off the sand, but it was no use. He then started swimming each member of the family, who were all wearing life jackets, one by one, back to shore, where they clambered on the dolosse. The yacht was taken by the swell and ran aground. It was an intense rescue, Lorenzo says, executed within about 45 minutes. They had launched at 2h15 and were back at the base at 3h00. The Mayday call had been placed by one of the skipper’s daughters after he had fallen overboard.
Photographs: SUPPLIED
woman to safety. Fully kitted and with handheld radios, the pair worked their way down the dolosse. ‘It was dark,’ Julian recalls. ‘And the woman was screaming for help.’ Julian, a rescue swimmer and trainee coxswain who has been with the NSRI for five years, acknowledges that this rescue was quite an eye-opener for him. ‘We were aware of the urgency because she was very scared.’ Manoeuvring over and around dolosse that are double the length of the average person, stacked up against a 6m harbour wall, asks for a particular skill and mindset. It was a dangerous situation, as once Julian and David had reached her, they had to time their efforts between the swells that were causing the mast to flick back and forth, creating a real risk of further injury. But their calm approach under very trying circumstances prevailed and the casualty was brought safely to shore.
Se a Re s c ue AU T U M N 2 0 1 9
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Earlier this year, NSRI volunteers and the South African Whale Disentanglement Network set about freeing a southern right whale entangled in fishing rope. Cherelle Leong tells us more about this intricate operation.
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O
n 29 March at 14h38, the South African Whale Disentanglement Network (SAWDN) received a report of a juvenile southern right whale that was entangled in multiple ropes and buoys about 1.5nm offshore of Sea Point Pavilion, Cape Town. The whale had been spotted by Francois Stapelberg of African Eagle Marine Eco Tours, who was able to identify it as the same whale he’d sighted earlier in February. In fact the whale had been sighted four times in two months, but each time SAWDN and NSRI launched, the whale could not be located. Even thought it was badly entangled, the whale was certainly elusive. Photographer and environmentalist Jean Tresfon had volunteered to conduct aerial spotting from his gyrocopter but that, too, had proven unsuccessful.
Eager to not lose sight of the whale again, Francois had notified local boat companies as well as the NSRI and SAWDN, and a shore spotter in Sea Point was able to maintain a visual of the whale through his telescope until rescuers could get to the scene. Station 26 (Kommetjie), which has several crew members very experienced in whale disentanglements, launched with Mike Meyer from SAWDN to assist the whale. Extreme caution and quick thinking are required when approaching entangled southern right whales in particular, as they are known to be quite cantankerous and aggressive in nature. What made this particular disentanglement difficult was the fact that the 10m juvenile was accompanied by two larger whales who remained in close proximity at all times, swapping
Photographs: station 26 (kommetjie)
Disentangled
r e a l- l i f e r e s c u e
Photographs: station 26 (kommetjie)
Volunteers from Station 26 (Kommetjie) and the SAWDN work to free a juvenile southern right whale.
positions continuously. This meant the crew had to keep a sharp lookout for not only one but three potential sources of dangerous tail slaps while they were manoeuvring up close to cut the lines. The weight of the entanglement was also pulling the mammal’s tail down under the surface of the water, explaining why even an aerial search had proved difficult in previous attempts to locate the whale. While SAWDN manages the training and operations of whale disentanglements, Sea Rescue is the platform from which they operate in terms of providing vessels and crew to perform their task. It’s a partnership that works exceptionally well, with both parties able to build on their working knowledge and experience in dealing with whale disentanglements. No two operations are the same, and knowing the safety protocols to follow, being familiar with the specialised equipment and having the right skills in place are critical to a successful operation involving southern right whales. In this particular case there were several wraps around the tail that needed to be cut, and it takes an experienced eye to determine which line to cut first. Typically one or two lines are anchoring the entanglement to the whale – these lines need to be cut last, so that when they are loose the whale will be entirely free of the
In this particular case there were several wraps around the tail that needed to be cut, and it takes an experienced eye to determine which line to cut first. lines. If these ‘anchor’ lines are cut too early, the whale is given more range of movement and may dive down or swim away with peripheral lines still attached to it. NSRI coxswain Jami Marnitz had her hands full manoeuvring the station’s 6.5 RIB among the three whales while Mike called out instructions and Kommetjie station commander Ian Klopper carefully cut each section of line. Kelly-Ann Irving was tasked with filming the operation and keeping a close watch on the movements and location of the whales relative to the rescue vessel. Recording a disentanglement is an important part of the process. The video gives researchers data on identification of individuals, the damage resulting from the entanglement, and the size and species of the whale. The footage is also used for future training, showing crew what to expect in an operation. Skin samples are retrieved from the ropes and equipment, so that DNA information can be added to the research database. In this particular case cyamids (tiny crustaceans) that cling to the whale’s surface were also recovered.
It was a clear day with calm sea conditions, which made the team’s work much easier. The whale, however, was very active despite the weight of the ropes. It flipped upside down and slapped its tail at the inflatable, as if to swat the rescuers away. After about half an hour of intense work, having made more than 30 cuts to the many wraps around the flukes and tail, the last cut was made and the whale eventually swam free. It left behind almost 100m of rope, which along with the buoys weighed more than 40kg. After the intensity of the operation and considering that the juvenile whale had been swimming around with that weight for more than two months, the team was ecstatic to see it free at last. Although the rope had caused several deep cuts in the whale’s caudal peduncle (the narrow part of the tail), Mike and his team are confident that the whale looked strong enough to recover. The SAWDN and Sea Rescue continue to train and work together, refining protocols and adapting their specialised equipment for future operations. S e a R e s c u e W INTER 2 0 1 9
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W H AT ’ S N E W I N S TO R E
Turtle necklace
R430
Anchor earrings
R540
Anchor necklace
R400
NSRI fleece tops
R580 EACH Into a Raging Sea
R240
Limited-edition ORC red golfer Op ‘n Stormsee
R150
R280
Recycled wetsuit laptop bag
R280
Go to shop.searescue.org.za/collections/clothing
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. ‘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. We pride ourselves on delivering jewellery with a conscience.’ Amy Mansell, Director: &Jewellery
WIN
Go to shop.searescue.org.za/collections/jewellery
ENTER OUR COMPETITION AND
Can you tell us the name of the penguin that was rescued in Wilderness? (Clue: you will find the answer in the News section.) Send your answer 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 beautiful soft-toy penguin and a wooden NSRI toy boat. Competition closes: 30 September 2019
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SEA RESCUE WINTER 2019
CLUB K I D S CLUB KIDS Amakhanali, amabhishi, amadamu nemifula zibukeka njengezindawo okumnandi ukubhukuda kuzona, kodwa zingaphenduka izindawo
eziyingozi ngokuphazima kweso nenhlekelele uma ungazilungiselele. Izifundo zakwa-Sea Rescue Water Safety zinikeza izingane ithuba
lokufunda mayelana nezingozi imithombo yamanzi enazo futhi zikwazi ukuzilungiselela ukuthokozela ngosuku olumnandi noluphephile.
qwalasela
INGOZI
Hlala ukhuselekile. Phambi koba uyodada, qiniseka ukuba akukho bungozi obungakulimaza Ungayikhomba ingozi kulo mfanekiso?
SEA RESCUE WINTER 2019
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P
PLAN/PAKISHA Pakisha isikhwama sohambo lwakho oluya elwandle.
a e v ha
PLAN L N 20 |
NEVER/UNGAZE Ungaze udade wedwa okanye uzame uwela umlambo ophuphumayo.
SEA RESCUE WINTER 2019
Lungisa icwangciso lokhuselo ukuze wazi ukuba wenzeni xa kusonakala.
LOOK/JONGA Jonga amaza aza ngamandla. Amatye amtyibilizi ayingozi Sukulizela ngomva ulwandle.
A
ASK/BUZA, CELA Cela umntu omdala akujonge xa udada. Hlala uxelela umntu omdala apho uyakhona nexesha ozobuya ngalo.
Yini ongayenza uma omunye umuntu
I N I Z O NG
ESE
M
N
MOLO Kukhuselekile ukuya kwisigulane usichwethe amagxa omabini ukhwaze “molo�.
NCEDA
Xa isigulana singasabeli, biza isithuthi sezigulana ku112 bese uqala uncedo lokuqala iCPR.
IZANDLA KWI
CPR
Beka isithende sesandla phakathi nendawo esifubeni. Beka esinye isithende sesandla phezu kwesandla sokuqala; hlanganisa iminwe. Yolula iingalo. Cinezela ngamandla, utshove ngokukhawuleza de uncedo lufike. SEA RESCUE WINTER 2019
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INGOZI
Jonga iBuoy ebomvu, xelela abazali bakho ngayo. Le Buoy ibomvu yenzelwe usetyenziswa kuqubuliso qha. Nceda ukugada le Buoy, inganceda omnye wezihlobo zakho.
Shayela inombolo ethi 112 kumakhalekhukhwini wakho uma udinga usizo. 22 |
SEA RESCUE WINTER 2019
ILLUSTRATIONS: MEGAN BIRD
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SAFETY
NEWS N
SRI’s lifeguard initiative started mid-2017 when Sea Rescue affiliated to Lifesaving South Africa and decided to modify our method of saving lives to include equipping young, fit and enthusiastic people to patrol the beaches during the summer months. Leading the initiative was Station 18 (Melkbosstrand), which combined Sea Rescue values with lifesaving techniques to create a highly skilled Lifesaving Unit. Volunteer surf lifesavers provide important surf rescue services on beaches in South Africa on weekends and public holidays throughout the patrol season, which runs from November to April. Since the start of the Lifesaving Unit, several stations have followed suit, including Station 37 (Jeffrey’s Bay) and Station 16 (Strandfontein) with rescue swimmers. Secondary to keeping our beaches safe, our lifeguards enjoy putting on
NSRI’s junior sprint relay team members giving it their all in the relay finals.
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Grietjie Burger, Station 37 (Jeffreys Bay)
their skull caps for a little friendly competition in surf lifesaving sporting events. Lifesaving sport replicates all the elements of the skills needed to save a life, building confidence and fitness and honing the ability to respond to life-threatening situations. These events include run-swim-run, surf swims, beach sprints and a variety of similar activities. In March our lifeguards from Melkbosstrand and Jeffreys Bay headed up to Kings Beach in Port Elizabeth to compete in the 2019 General Tire National Lifesaving Championships. With a few days off to wait for the rest of the team to join them, Melkbosstrand unit captain Natasha Kriel and a small group of lifeguards trained with our Jeffreys Bay team. This gave them time to build a relationship before competing together under the Sea Rescue banner.
The Junior/Senior Division consisted of three days of non-stop competition and although our team wasn’t always standing on the podium, they enthusiastically upheld our safety standards in a friendly, competitive environment at all times. A prime example of our safety standards was our PFD (personal flotation device) initiative, where every NSRI surfski competitor wore a lifejacket to set an example as well as for personal safety, and ours were also the first lifeguards to wear a lifejacket in a lifesaving competition arena in South Africa. Before contracting bronchitis on Day 2, our team manager, Genevieve Hennessy, made sure that every competitor got to their event on time. But no person was left astray thereafter! Station commander Rhine Barnes and crew member Mia Erasmus quickly jumped in to tackle the job. Our team was never at rest: if they weren’t competing, they were cheering on their teammates from the sidelines or cooling off in the warm East Coast waters. The same could be said for lifeguard coordinator Stewart Seini, who sprinted alongside his lifeguards to get the best action shots! We are extremely proud of our team and the effort they have put in. Natasha competed in the Masters Division, where she placed first in the Flags Malibu Race, as well as third in Flags in the Senior/Junior Division and fourth in Sprints. She also made it to the provincials lifesaving competition this year, where she once again took the Flags title. Well done to everyone who participated. By Michaela Nagel
PHOTOGRAPHS: MICHAEL VAN DEN BERGH, STATION 37 (JEFFREYS BAY)
NSRI life guards shine at Lifesaving Nationals
BLESSING ALICK RENNIE
O
N FRIDAY 31 MAY, more than 200 donors, supporters, affiliated emergency services and NSRI crew met at Station 5 (Durban) to bless the new Sea Rescue vessel, Rescue 5 Alick Rennie. The celebrations started with NSRI Station 5 (Durban) station commander Andre Fletcher welcoming all the guests to this very special event, after which NSRI operations director Mark Hughes shared some details around the ORC project: ‘Some 20 years ago Pantocarene Naval Architects (owned by Didier Marchand) came up with the idea for a type of vessel that would operate in rough sea conditions, and over the years the design has been improved to produce the current ORC 140 for NSRI. Numerous pilot vessels and searchand-rescue vessels have been built to this design and are in operation.
Margie Firth, pictured here with Station 5 statcom Andre Fletcher, represented the Rennie family at the blessing of the Alick Rennie.
The French Sea Rescue Service, the SNSM, has 30 ORC 140s in service, and some 16m versions too. The designs range from 8m to 26m, and have been built in various countries in Europe and in Australia. ‘Chantiers Navals Bernard SA is the shipyard that has been building ORCs for the SNSM and various pilot operations in Europe. It has all the necessary experience in building this particular type of design and has an excellent track record. That is why
we contracted this company to build the Alick Rennie for NSRI. The proof is in the pudding: on her maiden voyage from Cape Town to Durban (about 945nm) the vessel performed very well in varied sea conditions and has fulfilled all our operational requirements. ‘The Alick Rennie is an exceptional SAR vessel that will meet NSRI’s operational needs for the next 40 years, which is her intended operational lifespan.’
WE NEED YOUR HELP
PHOTOGRAPHS: MICHAEL VAN DEN BERGH, STATION 37 (JEFFREYS BAY)
O
N 19 JUNE, Mike Vonk, deputy station commander of Station 23 (Wilderness) received a call from a runner and a family visiting from Pakistan about a blue African penguin stranded on Wilderness Beach. It was suspected that the young penguin washed up on shore due to changes in weather conditions and appeared to be exhausted and weak. Wilderness crew member Monica Vaccaro (pictured right), also a volunteer for Systematic Medical and Response Training, collected the blue penguin, named Lucky Star, from
THERE ARE A FEW WAYS TO DONATE:
the beach. He was transported to a local expert who monitored him for the night before taking him to SANCCOB, a seabird rehabilitation centre near Mossel Bay. We need your help so that our volunteers have easier access to the long stretch of beach in order to save more penguins like Lucky Star as well as persons in distress. Please consider a donation of R395 today and reach out to friends and colleagues to do the same. Your contribution will go towards funding an all-terrain vehicle for our Wilderness rescue base. Go to www.searescue.org.za or click on our QR codes on the right to donate. Use ‘Lucky Star’ as the reference for payment.
In thanks of your support, you will be entered into our ‘Lucky Star’ lucky draw (if your donation is received by 30 August). The winner will receive a R1 500 gift card generously sponsored by Outdoor Warehouse. This voucher is valid at any Outdoor Warehouse store nationwide. Please visit www.outdoorwarehouse.co.za for store details.
SEA RESCUE WINTER 2019
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P L AT I N U M PA R T N E R S THANK YOU, DHL
W
S T R AT E G I C PA R T N E R S
G O L D PA R T N E R S Kiddie Rides • 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
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SEA RESCUE WINTER 2019
E HAVE BEEN brand partners with DHL for the past five years and have a few things in common: red and yellow, connecting people, getting things done quickly, taking care of precious cargo, and making the world a better place. DHL has been incredibly generous and, more importantly, makes a point of being personally involved in our partnership. We know them by name. Their annual sponsorship includes all our courier requirements – moving essential lifesaving equipment around the country to ensure that our rescue crew have what they need, when they need it. They also sponsor the costs of shipping specialist equipment such as helmets and harnesses from other continents. Recently DHL offered to ship all the electronic equipment for our first search-and-rescue ORC, built in France, at no charge so that it could be installed on site. For the past four years they have sponsored the cost of our Integrated Annual Report.
This document is key when we seek funding from companies, government departments, trusts and foundations – and their support of this specific project unlocks many doors for us. (Go to nsri.org.za/library/annual-report/ to see the full report.) DHL partners with our fundraising cycle team and sponsors our cycle jerseys. They have sponsored a wind- and waterproof jacket for each of our station commanders at our conference for the past two years. Thank you, DHL, for being so kind, so caring and for showing so much support to the men and women who volunteer. We are proud to have you on board as a Strategic Partner.
KIDDIE RIDES
K
IDDIE RIDES IS a 40-year-old family business based in Cape Town, and run by father and son, Ellis and Craig Meacham. The company rents space from its host partners, and places mechanical toys for kids (aged one to seven years) in shopping malls and other locations. Children love riding on the range of machines that includes elephants and helicopters. Ellis is a life member at False Bay Yacht Club and is a keen angler who grew up on boats, and fishing off our coast. As the business expanded, some of their retail partners embraced the opportunity to donate their rental income to a charity partner. Knowing the important work
that NSRI does at sea, it was easy for the Meachams to recommend NSRI, and so their partner relationship with us began. Trusted partnerships that develop over time are invaluable, and through regular financial contributions since 2003, a substantial total amount has been given to the NSRI. Kiddie Rides was awarded Gold Partner status. They were thrilled, but also quick to acknowledge their host partners and shopping centres that made this possible. They look forward to continuing their relationship with us and they would encourage other small businesses to get behind the NSRI. Small contributions over time make a big difference!
NEWS
MySchool Card Did you know that Sea Rescue is a beneficiary of this programme and receives a donation on a monthly basis? You can help us to earn more by nominating NSRI as a beneficiary linked to your Woolworths Reward Programme or MySchool Card. Every time you swipe, we earn. To find out more, visit www.myschool.co.za
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 Birthday, anniversaries and weddings: Norman Witt (60th birthday), Mr & Mrs Floquet (50th wedding anniversary), Paul Stewart (50th birthday), Andrew McKenzie (80th birthday), Jane Robinson (birthday), James (90th birthday), Sean Hurly (60th birthday), David Robins (birthday), Pat Roche (100th birthday), John and Louise Firth (50th birthday), Norman Adami (birthday), Tony Dakyns (birthday), Alistair Campbell (80th birthday), Mr & Mrs Ralph (50th wedding anniversary), Marc Cohen (60th birthday), Wouter van der Merwe (birthday), Raymond (birthday), Roger Falken (70th birthday), Sue and Lynton Lloyd (wedding) In memory of: Alexander Sternberg, Neville Kitchin, Doreen Turner, Sinead Moodliar, Jinny Ash, Dani Caplan, Patricia Olive Landon, David Phillip Laker, John Spencer, Rod Dunbar In tribute to all sailors: Sinead Moodliar, Jean Daguiar, Johan Stone, Louise Fowler, Denis Zimmerman In honour of: Maddie & Rigardt, Emma Eldridge, The Sparke family Ashes log: Station 10 (Simon’s Town): Jon Collis, Penelope Edith Francis Fowler-Breedt, Reginald George Noel Hopkins; Station 3 (Table Bay): Willem Thijsse
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AGM AND AWARDS EVENING
Directors’ Thanks Award: This award was given to Sage Khowa, Everett Duarte, Jon Caple and Marc Franz for their bravery and determination on the early evening of 18 February 2019, when they went to the aid of three people caught in a rip current at Marina Beach on the KZN South Coast. Using a Pink Rescue Buoy and a surfboard as emergency flotation, two international golfers were rescued and one of the rescuers was assisted from the water.
From left: NSRI Governance Board Chairman Ronnie Stein with Jon Caple and Marc Franz.
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BRAVERY AWARDS Water Safety Recognition Award This award went to Luc Lepront for his quick thinking and willingness to help someone who was in grave danger of drowning. On the afternoon of Friday 15 March 2019, Luc was at Baggies Beach, surfing. While sitting on the backline waiting for a wave, he heard shouts for help. Friends of a young man who was caught in the rip current were signalling that he desperately needed assistance. Without hesitation, Luc paddled in towards the young swimmer, got off his board and allowed the panicked man to climb onto it before moving around behind him to push him and his board back to the beach, where he was attended to.
Photographs: megan hughes
Every year, we pause to reflect on the previous year, review the financials, elect the leadership and recognise the bravery and long-service commitment of our rescue crew, and acknowledge the contribution made by all our donors and supporters. This year we met on 31 May at uShaka Marine World in Durban for our 52nd Annual General Meeting. Thanks to East Coast Radio DJ Deon Govender, who was our MC for the evening.
AG M
SPECIAL SERVICE AWARDS
Witbank Dam station commander Travis Clack receives the award from Operations Director Mark Hughes.
STATION AWARDS
THE MOST IMPROVED STATION OF THE YEAR 2018: Station 35 (Witbank Dam) THE BEST RIB STATION OF THE YEAR 2018: Station 37 (Jeffreys Bay)
Mark Hughes and Jeffreys Bay station commander Rieghard Janse van Rensburg.
THE PAT O’SULLIVAN TROPHY FOR THE BEST CLASS 1 STATION: Station 17 (Hermanus)
Station commander Deon Langenhoven receives the Pat O’Sullivan Trophy.
MARMION MARSH TROPHY 2018 AWARDED TO: Clifford Ireland (right) for his individual noteworthy service to the cause of Sea Rescue in South Africa and his tremendous contribution towards the ORC 140 project. ALRIC SIMPSON TROPHY 2018 AWARDED TO: Reef Wetsuits for its remarkable contribution to Sea Rescue over 14 years. Barry Stringer (right) receives the award. DIRECTORS’ THANKS: Kantey & Templer Consulting Engineers (represented by James Stalberg) for its generous sponsorship in providing NSRI and Station 5 (Durban) with free engineering design services since 2004.
PHOTOGRAPHS: MEGAN HUGHES
LONG-SERVICE AWARDS 20 YEARS Aidan Wood – Station 11 (Port Alfred) Brynn Gericke – Station 19 (Richards Bay) Ian Reid – Station 7 (East London) June van der Westhuyzen – Head Office Lyall Pringle – Station 8 (Hout Bay) Sven Gussenhoven – Station 8 (Hout Bay) Otto Rodenberg – Station 15 (Mossel Bay)
25 YEARS Brian Brink – Station 14 (Plettenberg Bay). Brian also received an Honorary Life Membership Award. 30 YEARS Deon Truter – Station 14 (Plettenberg Bay) Kathy Manten – Station 22 (Vaal Dam) Dr Cleeve Robertson – CEO, former pro bono doctor for stations. Cleeve also received an Honorary Life Membership Award.
35 YEARS Bruce Bodmer – Station 8 (Hout Bay) Bruce Davidson – Station 2 (Bakoven) David Robins – Station 3 (Table Bay), then Director Dick Manten – Station 22 (Vaal Dam) Dorian Robertson – Station 19 (Richards Bay) Geoff McGregor – Station 7 (East London) George Parkes – Station 12 (Knysna)
40 YEARS David Roberts – Station 10 (Simon’s Town), then Regional Director and Honorary Life Governor Rudi Fisch – Station 3 (Table Bay) 45 YEARS Ian Wienburg – Station 3 (Table Bay), former CEO and Honorary Life Governor Marty Reddering – Station 14 (Plettenberg Bay)
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i n n ovat i o n
DOWN UNDER
NSRI’s Drowning Prevention manager Andrew Ingram travelled to Australia to share how the Pink Rescue Buoy project is changing the outcomes of peer rescue.
I
t was late 2018 when Life Saving New South Wales (NSW) manager Matt du Plessis made contact with us, asking for details of our Pink Rescue Buoy programme. Matt, a former lifeguard at Ballito, has worked in lifesaving around the world, including with our UK cousins the RNLI, and now finds himself on the management team of some of the most respected lifeguard services in the world. And so it was with great enthusiasm that we shared with the Aussies how our Pink Buoy project works. If they liked the concept of public rescue devices, as they are known in lifesaving circles, we knew they would do some really in-depth R&D,
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which would make the rest of the world take note. Public rescue devices have had a mixed reception, as some believe they would encourage people to enter the water and attempt a rescue, which could cause more than one drowning. This is exactly why Sea Rescue started the project: to try to stop these failed peer rescues from happening. A Rotary Club of Hawaii started a ‘rescue tube’ project a few years back and has recorded many successful peer or bystander rescues, with no injury to rescuers. And at the time Matt contacted Sea Rescue, we had already recorded more than 30 successful rescues, also with no injury to the rescuers.
It was a small but really important switch in thinking that drove the project. Very often a well-meaning, kind person will go into the water to try to rescue someone without flotation of any sort. Statistics show us that these untrained ‘rescuers’ are in grave danger of drowning. But the point is that they will go into the water anyway. With or without flotation. So if we can provide emergency flotation at drowning hot spots, we give those who decide to enter the water a much better chance of surviving. And, of course, of helping the person who was in difficulty in the first place. I was thrilled to be invited by Lifesaving NSW earlier this year to spend a week with them, running through how we set up the programme and learning from some of the world’s most experienced lifeguards. In early April 2019 I was on a Quantas flight heading for Sydney’s Manly Beach, and some serious testing of rescue devices from around the world, as well as discussions around liability, wording on signage and all things related to public rescue. Much of our discussion was focused on a paper published by the World Health Organization in 2017. It highlighted 10 ways in which we could help reduce drownings around the world, including teaching the public how to rescue someone safely, and how to do bystander CPR. When the Aussies do something, they do it at full tilt with great funding behind them. And that’s how they are tackling Pink Rescue Buoys. Imagine wherever you visit a beach in the world – if you see a pink rescue device, you will know what it is and where it comes from. Watch this space. At the time of writing (mid-April 2019), Sea Rescue had recorded a total 43 people rescued with the help of a Pink Rescue Buoy.
Photograph: ANDREW INGRAM
PINK RESCUE BUOYS
H I S TO RY Dick Harris (left) and Geoff Frielinghaus exchange war stories.
Former station commanders at two Garden Route bases discovered they had a lot more in common than they thought. By Cherelle Leong.
A TALE OF
PHOTOGRAPH: SUPPLIED
S
TWO STATCOMS
EA RESCUE VOLUNTEERS hail from all walks of life, and it’s not unusual for them to have a lot in common – aside from their passion for the sea and rescue involvement. This was exactly the case when station commanders from two rescue stations along the Garden Route happened to strike up a conversation while they were out to sea on a routine exercise off Plettenberg Bay back in 1975. At the time Geoff Frielinghaus was station commander of Station 14 (Plettenberg Bay) and Dick Harris, the station commander of the nearby Station 15 (Mossel Bay). On the day they met as two fellow rescue volunteers, they had no idea they shared a history that connected them far away from the shores of the Garden Route. This commonality took them back to their youth spent on the battlefields of Europe and in prisoner-of-war camps. During World War II, Dick had been stationed with the Allied Airforce and
routinely flew on bombing raids over Germany. It was during one of these raids that his aircraft was shot down. How he survived was nothing short of a miracle. He hadn’t been wearing a parachute and hadn’t time to don one either before being ejected from the bullet-riddled, falling aircraft. Fortunately they had been flying over steep and heavily forested terrain when they were hit and this proved to be his saving grace. The tall trees lining the steep slope broke his fall and although he was severely injured, he survived. Following the accident he woke up in a German hospital with no recollection of how he got there. His leg had been amputated as a result of his injuries and he suffered many broken bones. He was in a bad way and behind enemy lines. Yet even in that situation he found kindness. A German soldier who was recovering from similar injuries in the same hospital would slip extra food to him and helped convince the medical staff to give him proper care
while he waited out the end of the war. Without that care and kindness, he may not have survived. Geoff, too, spent time behind enemy lines as a POW during WWII. As a young officer with four anti-aircraft guns under his command in the South African artillery, he was captured at the infamous battle of Sidi Rezegh in North Africa. General Rommel promptly handed over all the prisoners of war to the Italians. And as a result, young Geoff Frielinghaus got to celebrate his 21st birthday in Italy with a bottle of Italian chianti – a kindness extended to him by the Italian camp commander. Later on Geoff would be moved to another POW camp in Germany, where he survived the remainder of the war. His camp was liberated by none other than General George Patton, who entered the facility standing up in the turret of one of the tanks, smoking a cigar, with two Colt pistols on his hips. SEA RESCUE WINTER 2019
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The trainee coxswains ready for action. Pictured here in front of the new 14m ORC, Alick Rennie.
BEST BEST OF THE
H
ave you ever wondered what it takes to become a Sea Rescue coxswain? To be the person in charge of a rescue vessel and crew? The person that takes the responsibility for life and death every time they launch a rescue mission? It is our Sea Rescue Training Department’s job to assess these candidates, to make sure that every coxswain we train across the country lives up to our incredibly high seamanship and safety standards. It takes hours of preparation for the four-day course. Apart from the written and practical assessment our coxswains are required to complete, they also attend lectures on leadership, conflict management and dealing with stress, all of which will equip them in their leadership role.
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COXSWAIN COURSE UNPACKED On the afternoon of Thursday, 11 April, six trainee coxswains from across the country gathered at Sea Rescue’s training centre in Maitland to attend a coxswain course. Sean Lunnon (Station 6, Port Elizabeth), Luke Selk (Station 10, Simon’s Town), Bevan Geyser (Station 8, Hout Bay), Vincent Landman (Station 9, Gordon’s Bay), Andrew Hirsch (Station 2, Bakoven) and Paul van Jaarsveld (Station 37, Jeffreys Bay) settled around the table to get to know each other and have lunch, before diving straight into their first set of exams, which covered collision regulations, first aid, fire management, and search and rescue. There were some nerves, of course, but the trainee coxswains finished
their papers and the assessors picked up their red pens. With just four hours of sleep and a night of assessments behind them, everyone gathered at Head Office on Friday morning for breakfast and a presentation before heading back to the training centre for further tests. Not all of the time was spent in the classroom, though. That evening they put on their kit for their continued practical assessment but first enjoyed a sneak peek of the ORC, our brandnew 14m search-and-rescue vessel. The guys did some close-quarter manoeuvring exercises and called it a night. On Saturday morning they attended a lecture on leadership and resistance to change before a session of capsize training, where they were joined by Station 3’s Spirit of Vodacom.
Photographs: michaela nagel
Michaela Nagel takes us through the paces of Sea Rescue’s Coxswain Training Course.
coxswa i n co u r s e
‘We have more than a thousand volunteers in the organiSAtion, of which only 200 are coxswains, putting you in the top 15% of the most elite mariners on our waters. The responsibility that you carry is immense.’
Bruce Sandmann (left) and Rico Menezies, our two training officers, kitted out and ready for assessments.
Plotting on the radar simulators.
Photographs: michaela nagel
After a short lunch break, the two team leaders had to devise a passage plan from the Waterfront to Hout Bay Harbour, meeting specific waypoints at certain times, and had to take speed, conditions and fuel into consideration. On Sunday morning first-aid practicals took place. the debrief Instructor Rico Menezies describes what it takes to become a coxswain: ‘First of all, you need to have a certain amount of skill dealing with people and to be able to cope under an immense amount of stress; you need to have a lot more knowledge than the guy who is simply taking his fishing boat out on the weekend.’ In his debrief to the crew after the training weekend, national training
facilitator Graeme Harding addressed the group about leadership, and the important role that they, as coxswains, would be playing on South African waters. ‘We have more than a thousand volunteers in the organisation, of which only 200 are coxswains, putting you in the top 15% of the most elite mariners on our waters. The responsibility that you carry is immense. ‘A good leader does not think about how he will get somewhere but how he can bring the rest up to his level with him,’ he said. behind the scenes Prepping the course requires a lot of administration and planning. The goal is to cover and assess as much as possible of what an operational coxswain will be required to do in
an emergency. The training team’s goal is to test the many years’ worth of information that a volunteer has acquired within four days. Boat handling is only a drop in the ocean when it comes to what these candidates need to know. There is a set programme for all coxswain assessment courses that will be adapted to the specific weekend. Training starts with a set of five exams: general seamanship, first aid, firefighting, navigation and collision regulations. These marks will determine what needs attention during the course of the weekend. Our operations administrator, Tarné Major, arranges accommodation, flights, catering and all other logistics. Before the weekend, the candidates need to complete their online e-learning courses. All of their logbooks and medical examinations need to be up to date and up to standard. A substantial amount of planning and funds go into courses like these. At Sea Rescue, we recognise the important role of the coxswain. We invest in our volunteer leadership to make sure that they are trained to the highest standard and ready to tackle any rescue they may be faced with. S e a R e s c u e W INTER 2 0 1 9
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IN
SALUTE TO OUR
FAMILIES
PHOTOGRAPH: ANDREW INGRAM
While watching a rescue unfold, Andrew Ingram recalls life as an active crewman, realising it’s an impossible task without family support.
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SEA RESCUE WINTER 2019
C R E W S TO R I E S
PHOTOGRAPH: ANDREW INGRAM
F
OR 36 YEARS I was an active Sea Rescue volunteer – 24 of them as a coxswain at Station 2 (Bakoven). During those years volunteering pretty much defined me. It was what I did. Right now there are more than 1 000 volunteers who feel the same pride and responsibility I did for all that time. Around the coast of South Africa, from Port Nolloth in the west to Richards Bay in the east and a good few dams in between, if someone needs help on our waters a volunteer Sea Rescue crew will drop whatever they are doing and launch a rescue boat. No questions asked. Any time of the day or night. I was sitting in my chair looking out over False Bay from Miller’s Point campsite a few weeks back when my WhatsApp chirped – it was an operational rescue group warning sound and instinctively I reached for my phone. ‘NSRI Simon’s Town responding to Cape Point for capsized craft. 2 pax accounted for. Waiting on confirmation,’ the message read. I stood up and went to turn off the kettle before making two cups of tea and going back to join Sandy, my wife, looking over the ocean towards Hangklip. Just below us the water was a brilliant turquoise. It was so clear it was almost translucent. I remember thinking that the visibility must be about 20 to 30m, and that we should finish the tea and go down to the beach. It was 09h18 on Saturday morning. A good morning for a swim. I looked at my watch. It had been 10 minutes since the WhatsApp. Lifting my binoculars onto the vessel that was pounding into the southeaster about a mile offshore, I could see that it was Spirit of Safmarine III, call sign Rescue 10. I watched as she hammered into the bigger swells, every few seconds disappearing under a cloud of spray. I imagined Simon’s Town station commander Darren Zimmerman was at the helm (turns out that he was) and knew that they were making best speed possible despite the tough conditions.
They wanted to get out to the Point as fast as they could. And to make absolutely sure that everyone was safe. I put down my binoculars and lifted my cellphone to take a picture of the tiny rescue boat in the vast expanse of sea and sky. I was glad that I wasn’t out there and perhaps for the first time I knew that my operational days were over. And I was happy with that. After standing down from rescue crew about four years ago it is seldom that I go down to the Bakoven rescue base over the weekend. My days are now filled with doing things with my family. Going camping, which we love but seldom had time for. Going to shops that are out of operational range to help decide on tile colours… And I am really enjoying not having to take my cellphone everywhere with me. In the bathroom. In the toilet. In the movies. Just in case there was a call. At night I now switch my phone to ‘do not disturb’ mode. Instead of waking up in the middle of the night at the sound of an SMS and feeling that pump of adrenaline, I wake up in the morning and see that there was a call-out I had slept through. For all those years it was my family who allowed me to spend so many hours training. And it was Sandy who would be left holding the baby (literally) as I rushed off on another call-out. When it came I would be struggling to pull on my shoes and would simply say ‘call-out’ before grabbing my keys and running for my car. More often than not, Sandy passed me a banana or a packet of nuts and raisins as I flew through the door, not even shutting it in my haste. They were good years. But without the sacrifice my family made as I rushed off yet again, not knowing whether I would be gone for 10 minutes or 10 hours, it would not have been possible. This is a big shout-out to the families of Sea Rescue volunteers. Without you we could not do what we do. Thank you. SEA RESCUE WINTER 2019
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THE USES OF
AIS A
IS STANDS FOR automatic identification system. It was originally conceived as an aid for ships to avoid one other when navigating. With further evolution of the technology over time, an array of other uses for AIS became apparent. Sea Rescue, too, has made use of it in quite a few ways. Without going into too much detail, and using terminology that is understandable, AIS works as follows: a vessel has a transceiver (a device that sends and receives a radio signal), which communicates digital data via a very high frequency (VHF) radio signal. These devices range from very sophisticated, like the ones mounted on larger vessels, to simple, as worn by a person or carried by a small vessel, that only sends position information. Part of the modern AIS system also includes land-based receivers that can detect all devices within their
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SEA RESCUE WINTER 2019
radio signal range. More recently it has been found that AIS signals can even be received by receivers on satellites. These receivers can then be connected to the internet and the information made available anywhere with an internet device. There are various companies such as Marine Traffic and others that offer a free access version, with paid subscription offerings according to different user requirements. NSRI makes use of these aspects of AIS for various purposes. Firstly, our vessels use AIS for its primary purpose of avoiding collisions when at sea, by automatically putting out a vessel’s own details (location, speed, heading, vessel info, picture, length, draft and so forth) so that other vessels can be aware of it, and in turn by being able to see this data regarding other AIS-enabled vessels. In foggy conditions and rough seas, this is a major benefit to safe navigation.
PHOTOGRAPHS: SUPPLIED
Brett Ayres explains the value of AIS for search-andrescue vessels, artisanal fishermen and individuals.
PHOTOGRAPHS: SUPPLIED
NEW TECH
Secondly, we use AIS to track our vessels from land when they are at sea during training and rescue operations. This is a major safety benefit to our crews going into risky and dangerous situations, near or far from shore. Should they get into trouble, we can see the last known location to put a rescue effort into place. Thirdly, we have given each of our crew members who operate on vessels travelling further out to sea an AIS Person Overboard Device. This is a small device that fits snugly into a lifejacket. Should a crew member fall overboard unnoticed at night or in rough weather, they can activate this device, which sets off an alarm on the AIS-enabled chart plotter of any vessel in range (two to three nautical miles), with the exact location of the device being given. Lastly, in a project sponsored by the UK Space Agency and underpinned by ExactEarth, and in partnership with the South African Maritime Safety Authority (SAMSA), we have made AIS safety beacons available to artisanal fishermen around the country – free of charge. This initiative provides a free AIS collision avoidance benefit to these small vessels, as well as a combination of the ability to track and send an SOS alert should they
get in trouble enabling the NSRI to find these vessels easily, even in thick fog. This feature is a major safety benefit and saves hours (if not days) in typical rescue missions off the West Coast in foggy conditions. The NSRI has been actively involved in promoting the use of these devices. As is the case with all technology, AIS will not solve all our problems but does represent an added tool that improves the opportunities for our crew to be safe and for people to be rescued. In order to be effective, these devices need to be used at all times (in other words, it must be on board or worn when going onto water) and
WE USE AIS TO TRACK OUR VESSELS FROM LAND WHEN THEY ARE AT SEA DURING TRAINING AND RESCUE OPERATIONS. THIS IS A MAJOR SAFETY BENEFIT TO OUR CREWS GOING INTO RISKY AND DANGEROUS SITUATIONS, NEAR OR FAR FROM SHORE.
LEFT TO RIGHT: The AIS Person Overboard device fits into a lifejacket and can be activated should a casualty fall overboard; Water Safety instructor Nicole Anthoney at work; Vaughn Seconds installing the AIS receiving antenna.
operated correctly. There are also some places around the South African coastline where there are dead spots, without repeater coverage. In this light, some stations have worked to install their own AIS receiving antenna, enabling them to see all AIS vessels in range. One such station is Station 16 (Strandfontein), which used to have trouble tracking NSRI assets in False Bay. Vaughn Seconds, Strandfontein station commander, then made contact with Marine Traffic (the international AIS website and service provider) and struck a deal that involved Marine Traffic providing the equipment if the NSRI station provided the location (ideal in this case thanks to its direct view of the entire False Bay) as well as the internet connectivity. Now the station is joining the marinetraffic.com terrestrial receiver network, enabling all users to have complete coverage of False Bay. It is hoped that more NSRI stations will follow suit, helping to build a robust AIS receiver network along the country’s coastline. SEA RESCUE WINTER 2019
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T
HE DAY OF THE TRIFFIDS is a post-apocalyptic novel in which mobile carnivorous plants hunt and kill human beings. Of course the plucky hero gathers his loyal band and lives to defeat them another day, but if you read the novel from a marine perspective you can’t help wondering whether John Wyndham got his inspiration from the ocean. Divers love swimming among gorgeous underwater coral gardens inhabited by brightly coloured fish, vivid slugs, armoured crabs and flower-like anemones. It’s easy to be mesmerised by a swaying sea fan forest and the many creatures that can be found living in its branches, or calmed by the sheer beauty of an
assembly of intricate corals. These gardens, however, are killing fields. Corals, although they are not plants, are carnivores. While tropical hard corals get most of their energy from sunlight, they are only able to do this because of the presence of tiny symbiotic algae living in their tissues. The corals provide the algae with the protection of their stony walls and the algae produce sugars for the corals through photosynthesis. To top up, the coral polyps also sieve the ocean water for planktonic food. In darker, cooler, more food-rich waters, where the sun is not such an accessible source of We dive deep with naturalist energy, sea fans rely entirely on the food Georgina Jones as she shares
KILLING
the incredible, carnivorous world of the ocean’s gardens, and discover the unexpected.
Tropical sea fan forests supplement their energy intake with the tiny creatures they catch and kill.
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SEA RESCUE WINTER 2019
PHOTOGRAPHS: RUPERT CORNELIUS, GEORGINA JONES
FIELDS
u n d e r s e a wo r l d
Photographs: Rupert Cornelius, Georgina JONES
OPPOSITE: An aeolid nudibranch eats its prey for food and defence. LEFT: This hermit crab’s shell is scant protection from an anemone’s stinging tentacles. BELOW: A decorator crab wears stinging hydroids for camouflage and protection.
they can catch. Their beautiful flowerlike polyps extend their stinging arms into the water where they catch, sting and usually eat their prey alive. Of course their prey is tiny – minute shrimps, fish or crab larvae, miniature worms – but all these animals amount to a miniature banquet. Those gorgeous graceful sea fan forests are feasting on any passing life. Their gorgeous flower-like relatives, the anenomes, albeit slow-moving, are mobile carnivores. And anemones will eat anything that stays still long enough to be wrapped in their deadly embrace. A moment’s lack of attention can result in a small fish or a baby shark being engulfed. The tentacles themselves are equipped with batteries of stinging cells that can paralyse or otherwise incapacitate the anemone’s prey. Having subdued its catch, the anemone uses its tentacles to push the prey into its mouth, which opens directly into its digestive cavity. In some species, the walls of the digestive cavity are studded with more batteries of stinging cells in case the victim is still struggling. If it still lives after that, it’s death by digestive enzyme as the anemone slowly turns the prey into a slurry for absorption. Not a great way to go. Anemones usually move slowly by creeping over the reef on their adhesive feet, but some puff up their feet and extend them into the water so as to sail to different locations. Others
have teamed up with hermit crabs and live on the crabs’ adopted shells. Here the anemone provides the crab with the added protection of its stinging tentacles, while the crab returns the favour by taxiing the anemone around the reefs. Crabs are messy eaters, so as an added bonus, the anemones also benefit from being right where the scraps are up for grabs. So beneficial is the protection the anemones provide that the crabs persuade them to change shells along with them when they grow out of their existing homes. The sea fans and anemones are not the only deadly plant lookalikes on reefs. Hydroids are sometimes encountered by unfortunate divers and beachgoers. No-one forgets their first brush with fire coral, a hydroid that stings and burns – and the stung skin then itches for several weeks afterwards. Hydroid stings are no joke. And there are quite a few marine animals that use their very effectiveness for their own purposes. Many species of decorator crabs would pinch off part of a hydroid and attach it to their carapaces to take advantage of both the camouflage and the protection offered by the hydroids’ stinging cells. One group of sea slugs, the aeolid
nudibranchs, takes this protection to an incredible extent. They prey on hydroids, eating them for both nutrition and protection. An aeolid nudibranch would devour its chosen prey hydroid and pass its stinging cells, undigested, through its digestive system to special sacs. Here the stinging cells develop as though they were in the hydroid and respond to threats in exactly the same way. So these nudibranchs effectively turn themselves into hydroids from a defence perspective. It’s an act of biological wizardry that can scarcely be underestimated. In technical terms it’s known as kleptocnidy: the stealing of stinging cells. Dreamily floating through underwater sea fan forests or over busy coral reefs does however mean ignoring the continual and voracious slaughter and feasting happening at every moment. Animals are being engulfed and eaten in countless numbers. John Wyndham may not have used corals or their kin as his inspiration, but the killing fields of the coral gardens are very real indeed. S e a R e s c u e W INTER 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 |
Sea Rescue winter 2019
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 a 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. For deposits and EFTs: ABSA Heerengracht 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 Nass ✆ 063 698 8971
PROUD SUPPORTER
Two_Oceans_Marine_NRSI_Mag_Winter2019.indd 1
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LI T
Phone: + 27 21 448-7902 | Email: mark@2oceans.co.za | www.2oceans.co.za
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Manufacturers of custom sail and power catamarans O P TI M I S
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GA-100-1A2 R1,6 99 WAS R2,799
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• SHOCK RESISTANT • 200m water resistance • World Time • Magnetic resistance
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