Just Property Celebrates the Soul of St Francis Bay
A fresh and innovative gathering in St Francis Bay. Offering good food. Supporting a good cause. Providing an excuse to mingle on a week night … and did we mention the welcoming G&Ts on arrival?
Just Property’s Wellness Event earlier this month ticked all of our boxes and did not disappoint. We caught up with the creative force behind this occasion, Meg Holden, to get the full story.
What an incredible turn out at the Wellness Event in St Francis Bay! The evening was hosted and inspired by Just Property Lifestyle, in aid of Spay it Forward – and we managed to raise well over R8000. Megan
Spay it Forward’s team have successfully sterilised over 1600 cats and dogs since they opened their doors 4 years ago. Their aim is to “raise funds to enable the sterilisation of dogs, cats, strays, ferals and to assist pet owners living on a limited income”. Visit their book sale at the morning market each month, and in the village – contact Pauline Hardy (084 789 7801) or Carmen Stevens (082 775 0122) if you are keen to get involved.
DD: So what was the event all about?
Megan: This specific event was aimed at all of the newbies in town, and the community as a whole, to get to know how many activities are offered in SFB and its surrounds. We wanted to be able to identify all of the different clubs and associations – so that people can join in, make friends and have fun. In spite of the chilly evening the event was humming with well over 100 guests and speakers!
Megan: We would like to thank each volunteer who spoke about all the tremendous activities offered in our town. The crowd was blown away by how many clubs, societies etc there are available to join! Most of us who attended didn’t realise how much was going on in the area.
This is also just a reminder that many drops make an ocean. We are all part of this town and we can all contribute positively!
So now there really are no excuses to sit at home, unsure what to do … join the birding, cycling, knitting, running, bridge, friends, naughty nautical, rotary clubs, just to name a few! The best part is that at least 15 other clubs and associations couldn’t attend – so when we do this again, we will have a whole new array of even more initiatives to join or support. If you would like to get involved in the next event, and share your club or association, just drop us a line on +27 76 699 9866
Megan: We would like to say a huge thanks to Dr Lana Pepler from DeNude who spoke about the benefits of detoxing; Nick from 22 Eatery for his healthy cooking demo, Liza Lippstreau from Body Roll, Steph Arndt Ernstein from the St Francis Bay Running Club and last but not least, the incredible Pauline Hardy and her formidable team who do the most incredible work to spay cats and dogs in the Kouga Region.
Matt Davies supplied the crowd with his delicious venison burgers (they were a sell out!) and Fitch & Leedes kept the crowd hydrated with their delicious welcoming drinks.
Events don’t just happen – the organisers of this event, all of the members of the Just Property Lifestyle Team, worked relentlessly to ensure it ran smoothly.
The Net Ninjas Score an Ace
Picture if you will, a beautiful spring Sunday in St Francis Bay. The sun is warming the air and you are enjoying a stroll. You happen to walk past the St Francis Bay Tennis Club. The rhythmic sound of ball hitting racket filters through the shrubbery. The grunt of effort, intermingled with the jubilant shout of success drifts over the hedge. Laughter. The clapping of hands from appreciative spectators rises above the other sounds. Interest is piqued, and curiosity leads you up the pathway to the clubhouse to investigate. It is alive with activity and good energy. Welcome to the inaugural Sea Vista Community Umbrella Tennis Tournament.
This is not like any other tennis tournament though. The competitors, all young girls (bar one brave boy) only began their tennis careers a mere four months ago. None of them had held a tennis racquet, let alone played a tennis match on a court, at the start of this year. What you see in front of you is astounding and noteworthy in today’s cynical, jaded society. It is what happens when the stars align and send a meteor to sprinkle a little moon dust over the court. Joking aside, it is what happens when determination to move out of one’s comfort zone (the Net Ninjas) meets a group of people with the time and energy to make things happen (the dedicated Community Umbrella ‘angels’), meets two young, humble men who care and want to make a difference (Noah and Lollie, the coaches), meets the generous citizens of St Francis Bay (the tournament sponsors and St Francis Bay Tennis Club).
DuneDaisies were honoured to be invited to check out the excitement and talk to some of the players – on and off the court. The coaches, Noah and Lolly were full of praise for the girls and super impressed with their perseverance and talent, not to mention amazed to witness the knock on benefits of their all round self development.
I’ve seen a 100% change in the girls since they began their tennis coaching. They are more social, they feel good about learning a new skill and they have really bonded well as a group. Coach Lollie
With the help of Stella and all of the amazing sponsors the tournament has come together better than I could ever imagine. I think that the girls’ sportsmanship and attitudes are remarkable – that is one of the highlights for me. And also seeing how far they’ve come, how well they are playing competitively. I’m just so proud of them.
Coaching the girls has impacted my life in a huge way. We’re now family and I love being able to teach them and have a positive effect on their lives. Our aim going forwards is to get the girls proper tennis kits, keep practicing and then play matches against other schools, clubs and tennis groups. Coach Noah
I like my granddaughter to play tennis as she gains respect through the sport and her mind has become open to future possibilities. She has changed through the tennis coaching – she has better manners, keeps time better and is a happier girl. Noah is wonderful. He gives the girls lifts to and from the court. We all really appreciate him. He’s doing a great job. Thank you for helping our children! Cynthia (Buli’s grandmother)
As the last tennis ball whizzes over the net and the scores are tallied, it is time for the much anticipated prize giving. The St Francis business community and individuals have dug deep and ensured that these girls are truly celebrated in style. First prize is a luxury canal trip for 4, courtesy of Captain Kev. Other winners receive gifts & vouchers from the St Francis Brewing Co., Bruces Ocean Museum Cafe, Full Stop Cafe, Shakti Shanti, Absolutely Water, Super Spar and the Kitchen, as well as prize money from Dawn Watt and Hixonia Nyasulu.
Noah, Lollie and the Net Ninjas would like to say a huge thank you to everyone who has helped so far; from the donations of tennis rackets and balls, to the St Francis Bay Tennis Club for allowing the twice weekly practices to take place, as well as hosting this inaugural event. A variety of family and friends were roped in to umpire, score and judge on the day, and Brad Peens took the awesome pictures for this blog. Stella sourced the prizes and added her magic wand to the proceedings – a huge thank you to you all!
The Net Ninjas will never forget their inaugural tennis tournament. The day that they realised they are champions, both on and off the courts.
Betty's Sea Vista Township Tour
Fondly known as “China” by many of its inhabitants, the Sea Vista Township is a vibrant residential area located next to the industrial area of St Francis Bay. It is home to an eclectic mix of people, speaking anything from Afrikaans to Chichewa mixed in with a bit of English. The atmosphere feels alive and pulsating with strains of music coming from all corners. Dogs are everywhere looking for scraps or a sunny spot to nap and exist alongside people going about their daily business. On the weekends, the streets are busy and noisy, especially around the taverns. Sea Vista residents live amongst each other, not behind doors and fences. After work or on weekends, people bring their chairs outside and kuier with their neighbours, everybody knows everyone else’s business! The smell of braai meat wafts through the air and there’s always chatter and music.
I hardly knew anything about Sea Vista until recently (even though I live a few kilometres from it). Nothing in my daily life required me to go beyond Tarragona Road. Yet, I was often struck by how much activity and celebration there seemed to be on the other side of the road after hours. I imagine it would be hard to feel lonely in a place like this. When the opportunity to take a township tour with a local guide came about, I seized it – eager to understand more about what life is like for others in my community.
Betty Anoster is our tour guide (and possibly one of the most captivating and resilient people I have ever met). Her hugely successful tours were curated for foreign guests at the Cape St Francis Resort who wanted to learn more about local culture. The tour is a slow stroll through Sea Vista guided by Betty and depending on how long your shebeen stop is, takes about 2 hours.
Talhado
The first stop on the tour is Talhado. Tucked away on the edge of Sea Vista, is a sweet preschool that has been nurturing and educating the youngest Sea Vista residents for the last 26 years. We are met by the charming and gentle Chamel Malgas, the school secretary. The school has four classes taught by qualified teachers in Afrikaans or isiXhosa with a total capacity of 100 children. As a Montessori preschool, Talhado focuses on self-directed activity, hands-on learning and collaborative play. As we walk through the school we see happy children, eager to say hello and give us a smile or a jump.
The school runs solely on donations and charges parents R200 a month (this may not sound like much to some, but as we near the middle of the year, when tourism is low and expenses are high, parents do struggle to come up with these funds). To ensure that the little ones go home with a full belly at the end of the day, the Lunchbox Fund serves the children two cooked meals a day, lovingly prepared by the school cook, Bridget. Talhado has a large playground with a lovely jungle gym as well as a vegetable garden made using recycled materials. I can imagine that when it’s playtime this space is encapsulated by a bubble of joy.
It becomes evident as we tour the school that this is so much more than just a preschool. Under Cathryn Hempel’s community-minded leadership, it serves others in the area as well. In the afternoons, the kitchen transforms into a space to teach sewing classes. There are also plans to convert the media centre into a dance studio. Chamel tells us about a group of young dancers in Sea Vista who are currently taking classes at Salt and how the transport there and back is often an issue. Having a dance studio that is easily accessible would make a world of difference.
This preschool is special and undoubtedly has a far-reaching impact. Chamel tells us with pride how when they track Talhado children through primary school, the top ten typically begin their education at Talhado. Her mood changes to one of concern when she starts to talk about the Sea Vista Primary. There are around 550 children at the school and each grade has only two classes with between 45 and 50 in a class, although the largest class has 58 children. The Co-op has funded 15-20 assistants for the school, but the funding dries up in June and the teachers will be left on their own again). From Grade 1 to 3 the language of instruction is either isiXhosa or Afrikaans. In Grade 4, this changes to English or Afrikaans. Xhosa-speaking children have to adapt quickly and often get lost along the way. Even Talhado does not offer classes in English and English is minimal in their foundation phase. I simply can’t get my head around this – how can these children be expected to cope with a sudden change in language?
Sea Vista Sports Field
After saying goodbye to the gorgeous little people, Betty takes us on a stroll around the corner and shows us the sports field. To our dismay, the fields are locked behind two gates. Apparently, the fields are only unlocked for scheduled matches and on Wednesday afternoons for rugby practice.
With a wistful smile, Betty tells us how the Sea Vista Sports Field was the local after-school hangout place, “Everyone would gather there to practice and run around”. She played netball in a team with her friends, and whenever there was a match, there was always an excited crowd to cheer them on. It was a big deal. She played in the ‘Hulettes’ and they would often play against other teams with equally cool names, such as the ‘Peacelovers.’ Betty talks openly and honestly and tells us how she feels the community has lost control of their home. They should rise up and object to things like the locked sports field and the large classes at the primary school.
Our tour continues and by now we have picked up a friendly pack of dogs with lots of personality to escort us.
The Bahlalis
As we walk, Betty tells us how much Sea Vista has changed in the last five or so years. Post-COVID, more people have been attracted to the area and the township has grown. Sadly, many residents are struggling financially, and alcohol and drug abuse is becoming more of an issue. The police are understaffed and don’t have enough manpower to deal with the many problems plaguing Sea Vista. Criminals are released from prison after a few days and resume their old games, only to be arrested again later. Out of necessity, the community has taken it into their own hands to make sure there are consequences for crimes. Neighbourhood watches called Bahlalis will discipline people who are found stealing, raping or committing violence. They are known to expel criminals from the community by walking them out – if ever you see someone with a suitcase followed by an angry crowd, you can guess what has happened.
The Nightlife
The tour continues and as we approach Rosie’s, we launch into a discussion of what the nightlife is like in Sea Vista. Taverns are open 24 hours a day and parties carry on all night, especially if there is a good DJ. Rosie’s, apparently the most popular bar in town, was in the throws of a facelift so we didn’t get to go inside. Betty tells us that her tours used to include a visit to one or two of the taverns and it was often hard to get her group to leave.
The next stop was Lulu’s and we had a quick chat with the charming manager. It didn’t go unnoticed that the price of beers here is half of what it is in the village and the bar also functions as a bottle store. There’s a pool table and a few booths, already occupied with patrons (at 10am). Strolling through Sea Vista, we go past a few Spaza shops that stock everything from hairpieces to cabbage – small bags of chips must be a top seller as there are crates of them in every shop.
Chisa Nyama and Amapiano
I can just imagine a Saturday afternoon in Sea Vista starting with a haircut while catching up on local gossip. Then, grabbing a Russian and Chips for the kids at Rosie’s Take Away and heading to the chisa nyama guy for a chop and maybe a vetkoek. We could then saunter to Lulu’s for a round of pool and a few beers. The kids are in and out, and fully occupied with their chommies. On the way home, the Spaza shop would have a Coke and a packet of Nik-Naks – all this within a hundred steps and accompanied by the shared soundtrack of Amapiano wafting through the air.
The Clinic, the Library and the Community Centre
After Lulu’s we head towards the Clinic. The clinic always has a full waiting room with lots of people needing meds for various conditions including tuberculosis and HIV. Once a week, a doctor visits for the more serious cases referred to by the nurse, but in general, treatment is administered by the onsite nurses who clearly have their hands full. The big rule is that you must have a clinic book – no book, no help.
Next door is the library – probably my happiest surprise on the tour. As you walk in, you are greeted by Sesetu’s magical smile. The three librarians working there are so welcoming and engaging, they make you want to check out a book! Priscilla is upstairs in the children’s section which is a hive of activity after school. On that day, it was International Play Day and Vula had set up multiple games – ready for action.
From the library, we could peek into the community hall. This is the place often used for funerals, celebrations and public meetings. It’s a safe and central venue but is apparently quite a challenge to book. In the distance we could hear the laughter of little children from the creche sponsored by Pam Golding.
Nomvula’s Knitters
Nomvula’s Knitters is typically the last stop on the tour. This small business runs out of a shop in the Industrial Area off Tarragona Road and is a creative and colourful hub for talented knitters who supply the wholesale knitting market in South Africa and abroad. Pop in and browse through the beautiful knits or buy a few balls of wool. The knitters are always hard at work producing beautiful clothing and home goods and will welcome you with a smile.
As we headed back to our car, I felt so grateful to Betty for giving us this tour and having the initiative to offer something like this to the community. She says that there are seldom South Africans on this tour and it is mostly foreigners who are interested. As a local, I benefitted from this tour. We live in a country home to many different cultures and people from many walks of life. Compassion comes from a point of understanding and acknowledgement and is key to living peaceably together. Thank you, Betty for sharing your experiences with us.
Blossoming young minds & old souls
Although many of us would wish that “life is a bed of roses” (as in Christopher Marlowe’s poem), the truism that the thorns (or rather Bon Jovi’s “bed of nails”) will more likely impact and dominate our daily lives, our moods & actions, pervades. Looking after your mental health has never been so critical as in today’s highly pressurised and demanding society. It is a catchword, a mantra to repeat at the gym, a heartfelt query aimed at those who we care for.
The statistics make for terrifying reading. 1 in 5 adults in the USA, and almost as many here in SA, experience mental health disorders; those affected are almost twice as likely to develop cardio vascular & metabolic disease. And mental illness does not discriminate against age; a latest poll indicated 70% of South African children aged 15-24yrs needed help to improve their mental wellbeing, and in the USA, 3 million adolescents had thoughts of suicide (UNICEF; NAMI; SSM).
Help however, is at hand, in our own beautiful town, nogal! And whether you are feeling depressed, stressed, can’t sleep at night or just need a change in the pace and direction of you life’s path, please do read on about the Art of Living Foundation (AoL). We managed to chat to both Elizabeth Meiring and Susan Botha of AoL and Matt Davis, co-founder and coach at St Francis Bay United (SFBU). What lies ahead in the next few few paragraphs may well change your life – it has for one of us Daisies as well as the budding young soccer stars of SFBU….
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DD: We heard that you are the inspiration behind bringing the AoL & its affiliated courses to St Francis Bay. Can you tell our readers a bit more about yourselves and the Foundation?
Elizabeth: In 2003, Elisabeth Rautenbach and Stella Platinga attended a lifestyle and spiritual festival in PE and was introduced to AoL. They learned to do bastrika (a breathing method), were intrigued and motivated to organise the first course in Kouga for 20 people.
During the next few years, some teachers came and stayed on Elisabeth’s farm (including me), taking Happiness Programs and Art Excel Courses (part of the AoL suite of courses) at Seavista Primary. The community would hold short kriya (breathing meditations) followups locally. We found the breathing techniques and knowledge were of great benefit and helped us gain a broader perspective on life. We were keen to make the courses available for the whole community – whether king or pauper, EVERYONE can benefit.
Susan: I am JBay born and bred, and had discovered AoL during my studies at University of Cape Town. I had been finding life tough and the AoL techniques and life-skills changed my perspective from struggling to light. I loved the idea of shifting from being passive in life to being part of the solution, so I came back to this area to share my experience with all who seek this for themselves. I have since taught several hundred adults and children from all walks of life including the general public, schools, youth leadership training programs and in prisons. In this volunteer role, I have driven many, many miles in an effort to leave no person behind between Gqeberha, JBay and St Francis Bay – where Stella and Eliabeth have continued to share the love all these years.
The Art of Living (AoL) Foundation is a happening. Sri Sri Ravi Shankar, the founder, was quietly sharing spiritual knowledge and meditation, and the unique Sudarshan Kriya (SKY) that came to him after 10 days of deep silence, with people. And organically it has grown into a volunteer-based organisation in 180 countries with 35,000 teachers who have spread the benefits to millions across the globe.
A basic premise is that world peace starts from inner peace, and we strengthen society by strengthening the individuals within it.
DD: What do you think makes the AoL unique?
E & S: The depth! It’s like the ocean – you can gaze at it, paddle ankle deep, surf some waves, or deep dive – the choice is yours. We’ve tried many different modalities and practices and while they all have some merit they simply don’t have this depth … after a while you bottom out.
AoL shares authentic ancient yogi wisdom that has stood the test of time and is more relevant than ever in this modern era. There are many ‘life-hack’ fads based on one or other of the techniques … but none we’ve found has the whole vast deep package, backed with guidance from true masters. The amazing impact the founder, Sri Sri has had in the world is evidence that he walks the talk and works tirelessly yet joyfully to put a smile on everyone’s face. We are touched and inspired by his effective and selfless service.
DD: Can you describe in 3 words how has it impacted on your every-day life?
E & S: Empowering us to bring happiness to living versus waiting for life to line up and ‘make’ us happy. (not 3 words!)
DD: You are planning an Art of Happiness course later on this month – happiness can be elusive for many of us in these stressful times. How can this course help, what are its main aspects and most importantly, how can we sign up!
E & S: Nothing robs you of your happiness like stress – whatever the underlying reason. Yet we’re not taught at school or at home how to truly clear stress from our system. Many of us live in hope of circumstances or something outside of us to make us happy. But this makes us victims in life with the mind stuck in repetitive complaint, frustration or negativity. At some stage we realise …. its kinda like chewing very old tasteless chewing gum! Exhausting and yech. But how to stop?
The Happiness Program is experiential – you will feel a shift in just a weekend. You’ll leave not only feeling positive, calm and light, but also equipped with tools and a home practice to handle whatever life throws at you. The central technique is the unique Sudarshan Kriya (SKY). The results are backed by many peer reviewed studies now, but best is to trust your own experience.
Key benefits
- Quickly & Effectively Reduce Stress with the power of your own breath. Soothe your physiology and come to a calm and positive state of mind. This has helped many with anxiety, depression and addiction too.
- Build Resilience with mind mastery, so you won’t get bothered by issues that used to create frustration, impatience, worry and more.
- Make Meditation Easier and Relax Deeper – Sudarshan Kriya brings your mind to a place where meditation happens with ease. Guided meditations and low impact gentle yoga allow you to experience your beauty within.
- Most people say they Sleep Better, become Healthier, have Abundant Energy and Feel Great.
Learn more and register here for the next Happiness Program in St Francis
DD: What would you say has been your most impactful experience to date?
E & S: Watching people arrive looking tired and somewhat downtrodden by life, and in just a few days looking bright and fresh with a twinkle in their eye. People often say things like: “I feel like a weight has been lifted off me”. We’ve had many cases of people coming out of depression, self-loathing, suicidal ideation, and all manner of stress, anxiety and even middle-class-malaise. However they arrive, they always feel better at the end of a course, and with continued practice the benefits continue to grow and deepen. There is always a moment on every course we teach where we find ourselves shedding a quiet tear of wonder and gratitude at being able to be part of this movement of love.
DD: The AoL also offers really amazing programs for the youth, not just us older Daisies – what is available for our local children and how do you think they can benefit from taking part?
E & S: AoL offers some 52 programs for all people in all walks of life! Here in this area we offer courses for children and teens that are fun and light yet give them empowering life-skills that help them avoid many pitfalls and instead have an ‘unfair advantage’ as they grow into adulthood. We have free courses for people with no or low income and our paid courses are affordable and the funds go towards service projects. It’s the principle of ‘a stitch in time saves nine’. Giving children these outstanding life-skills early is possibly the biggest gift and best foundation they can receive.
DD: You (together with willing assistants, Stephen & Zelda) recently completed a 4-day workshop with a group of children from the St Francis Bay Sport for Youth Project (aka St Francis Bay United Football Club). How did that partnership arise?
E & S: Stella created the Community Umbrella forum so that all community workers could collaborate and support each other with resources. We were wanting to teach courses to children. Sri Sri encourages us to reach children, teens and youth. As the Dalai Lama said: “If every 8-year-old in the world is taught meditation, we will eliminate violence from the world within one generation.” Stella introduced us to Matt from St Francis Bay United Football Club, and he was curious to bring beneficial practices to his team.
DD: What do you hope the kids will take away from these 4 days?
E & S: That they feel empowered and know they have options about how they experience life going forward, regardless of the circumstances. That may sound a bit big … but we are sowing these seeds. Two of them wrote us a short note about the course:
“It took away all the stress I had before coming here and it also helped me to stay calm.” Sipho
“After learning about sugar I have reduced my sugar to only 5 teaspoons in the past days. The breathing, I have seen it helped me over the days.” Zozo
DD: Can you tell our readers more about the other work that you and your partners are doing, and plan to do, in our local Sea Vista community?
E & S: Yes! On 6-8 May we taught over 400 children from grade 3-7 at Sea Vista Primary, where the principal is a visionary legend. Stella and Susan have worked with the school consistently in smaller ways over time and built a relationship there. We’d love to teach the whole school annually, take followups with the children regularly, & teach adult courses for teachers and parents. Our bigger vision is to bring this program to ALL St Francis schools and their communities.
DD: So, how can we help? Do you need volunteers or donations – what can we do?
E & S: If you’ve not yet had a taste of the instant joy of being a volunteer doing service – we invite you to join us. The journey starts with attending the Happiness Program yourself. We’d love help to start :
- a nature outing / hiking club for Sea Vista kids and money will be needed for basic gear, transport, and light refreshments on outings, and
- an empowering movement for girls (could include sport but we’d like it to be broader). The Sea Vista boys have soccer and they need supporting too, but to get going with the girls we need local young women with leadership and facilitation skills and a passion for our young girls.
INTERESTED? FIND OUT MORE…..
Thi
s seven minute video gives a good sense of the Art of Living Foundation. The SA website provides info on local and online courses. Our service initiatives fall under AOL’s projects organisation the International Association for Human Values (IAHV) – website & facebook.
Sri Sri’s knowledge is best experienced through video, but again, come on a course and raise your energy so you can appreciate the subtleties and depth with your heart and not just your head. And we’ll point you to all the resources.
DD also chatted to Matt Davis for his feedback about the course. But first, a little background for those of you who haven’t yet heard of the amazing work he has done for over 100 St Francis Bay youth ….
Matt : Thanks, it actually all began in August 2019 when I started volunteering coaching some kids from Sea Vista. From there I noticed there was a need for youth soccer coaching in the community. William and Inga Brooks from Village Square then noticed us and started sponsoring kit and equipment to get us off the ground and that is what shaped the start of the project. The main objective was to keep the kids off the streets and bring them into a safe active environment where we could train and coach them soccer skills.
DD: Sport for Youth is not only about football though – you strive to achieve your mission of providing ‘a safe environment for the youth of Sea Vista Township and surrounding communities’ through life skills programmes and community projects – please tell us more.
Matt : Yeah, we started with football, which teaches kids a lot of life principles in itself but I always felt we had to bring in some other programs to gel with the sport. Currently we run a life skills and environmental awareness program every Thursday, before we start with practice. We are also actively involved with the Kromme EnviroTrust beach clean ups and whenever they need extra hands to make a difference to the environment. But we are always open to new collaborations for our boys to get involved in!
The boys really enjoyed it, especially some of the younger ones. They learned breath work, yoga and to just be peaceful in those moments of silence which is quite rare in the townships. The kids that finished the course were super stoked and had that sense of pride. Was good to see!!
DD: What inspired you to sign up with the AoL for your group?
Matt : I met Susan, who is really cool and she told me about the program. I thought it would be great for my boys to learn something new and the art of breathing seemed like a great opportunity.
DD: Did anything surprise you during the sessions and what were the main challenges, if any?
Matt: I feel just getting full commitment from the some of the kids and teenagers is always a challenge but those that came every day really enjoyed it and were happy when they got their certificate on the last day. I think even if you are getting the message across to 10 out of 30 kids then you doing a good job.
DD: Have you noticed any changes since completing the course – both on and off the soccer pitch?
Matt: We have been doing some breath work before games to focus and calm down and it seems to be working. We will definitely join another course in the future.
DD: Your organisation is going from strength to strength – what’s next?
Matt : Our aim to to become the best team in Kouga , we just finished 2nd in the top Kouga League so hopefully next season we can win it . We also really need to get our own facility so we can improve the standard of football in the community and run programs out of it for the youth. Its proving to be abit of a struggle but we will keep pushing till we get there.
DD: So, how can we help? Do you need volunteers or donations – what can we do?
Matt : We would love to have volunteers who are interested in soccer coaching or just helping out in any of our programs. We have recently introduced a monthly supporter subscription whereby you can donate a R100+ a month to our project. I would be glad to talk this through with whoever would be interested. You can also check out our website where you can find our newsletters (posted every 2 months).
Astrid Forbes and her Solar Journey
Astrid Forbes is one of those remarkable women who is as at home in a boardroom as she is on the beach. Her gorgeous ready smile and compassionate nature, coupled with her intellect and sharpness make her someone you won’t easily forget. She is a nurturing mother, and loyal friend and loves having a houseful of people to cook for (must be her Italian genes) but is by no means a pushover and holds her own in a male-dominated industry.
As the co-founder of Genergy, she and her business partner, Terry Bilson, have watched as their company has gone from being a small business, back in the days when people were still sceptical about renewable energy, to one of South Africa’s top commercial solar providers. From their beginnings installing solar water heaters in Khayelitsha, they have graduated to the field of big players in the industry. They have recently completed a 5MW (Megawatt) Solar PV Power Generation Plant. They are currently busy with a 3MW Car Port Solar PV Power Generation Plant in the Eastern Cape and another 3MW ground mount Hybrid Solar Plant in the Western Cape.
In August 2021, Astrid and her beautiful family made the move from Port Elizabeth to St Francis. As with many parents of coastal kids, they were spending weekends chasing the surf. So, to make life simpler, they bought a rambling fixer-upper that could accommodate their large family and Nonna, as well as the never-ending stream of guests.
A while ago, we chatted with Astrid to learn more about Genergy and the inner workings of the solar industry. You will be amazed – there is so much more to it than one imagines.
DD: We know Genergy is involved with renewable energy. Can you tell us how you started in the industry?
AF: In 2008, we started as an ESCO (Energy Services Company to Eskom). There were incentives to take load off the grid and this was done with energy efficiency rather than renewable generation. This meant looking for opportunities to reduce the demand on the grid, for example, by making more efficient hot water.
We began by installing solar water or hot water facilities for changing houses in the mining sector as they use a lot of hot water for showering between shifts. We also got involved in a CDM (Clean Development Mechanism) project launched in Khayelitsha, Cape Town where we did the first installations of low-pressure hot water systems on RDP homes.
This project was so special because as it made such a difference to the community involved. We trained residents (including females) to do the installations and maintain the systems. We noticed the impact that having access to hot water to have a bath in the townships made in lowering health issues amongst the community in winter. Inevitably, after a few years, financial incentives by Eskom ended and these low-pressure hot water programs ceased to exist.
In the field of renewables, we have always had solar photovoltaic panels that create electricity from the sun. However, it was typically a very expensive return on investment. So, Genergy waited and watched prices as more and more manufacturers came online, especially in China. Then prices of panels started becoming more affordable and the technology improved to a point where the same-size panels became more efficient. The big milestone was reaching grid parity in 2017.
Finally, as the price of electricity matched the investment for solar it made sense to install solar panels and it became much easier to sell. The minute that happened, we got involved. The transition was quite easy as we already had experience working with solar energy, all we did was train our team to do roof installations. We still do large-scale hot water systems, but it’s not a big part of our business. Our focus now is large-scale solar PV.
DD: What attracted you to this industry?
AF: After moving back to Port Elizabeth from Johannesburg when I had kids, I wanted to find something that would allow me to work from home (I had two small kids under the age of one). I had worked as an accounts manager in the advertising industry previously so was looking for something similar and after working a couple years in the advertising industry, I met Terry Billson who had just founded Genergy, and I knew this was something that interested me. In January 2008, he launched Genergy and I became part of the founding team.
DD: Genergy has been offering renewable energy for over 16 years now. Has the uptick of loadshedding and the demand for solar impacted you and what are some of the challenges facing those in the industry?
AF: Although it has been quite bad over the last year, it’s not the first time we’ve had increased power cuts. The difference is that in 2008, when it all started, we still had hope that things could improve. Now, the general feeling is that Eskom is broken and if you’re going to live in this country, you need to have an alternative plan to survive.
Non-Compliant Homes: For solar, the recent years have been hugely impactful, especially with the huge need in the domestic sector. There are a lot of newcomers on board who are not always doing compliant installations. Everyone is learning as they go, and the challenges brought about by low electrical standards and homes that have been poorly wired make things harder in the domestic space. In many instances, we arrive at a job where electrical wiring isn’t compliant and you have to troubleshoot until you can locate the issue. There are all kinds of issues, especially as houses have grown over time and things weren’t done properly. So, we have to make the house compliant before we can even start an installation.
Affordability: Last year they released tax incentives for commercial solar which will continue this year, the domestic solar tax incentive has now expired. We had load-shedding for all but 30 days of 2023 – 2024 is expected to be similar. There’s also talk about the risks of a complete grid failure. The repercussions would be disastrous, even if you have solar. Cell phone towers will be down, meaning no communication or banking – not to mention water and sewage systems. So, I think that industries that are able to help alleviate the demand on the grid, should certainly investigate solar opportunities for their facilities.
It would be beneficial if there were easier financing options out there as this is a major hurdle, especially in poorer communities, although we are seeing a huge improvement on this front in recent times. South Africa needs to roll out larger-scale projects that can provide energy to entire communities (mini-grids and mini-off grids) and not just industry, this is just one of many of the problems we face in South Africa. It’s a tricky environment where theft and corruption are rife – luckily South Africans are quite resilient and creative.
DD: Do you have any inside information on the development of large-scale photovoltaic solar systems in our area and what are some of the challenges you are encountering?
AF: Compliancy Process and Municipal Involvement:
There has been movement at government levels and local municipalities where they are now allowing large-scale arrays. It’s been such a big hurdle to get across to get all the compliance boxes ticked and get large-scale farms online to where they are producing power and either feeding a grid or a community. We completed a 5MW solar farm in Somerset West and the compliance side of things was very complex – you don’t just generate 5MW and switch on. Timelines are also an issue. There are so many applications and both Eskom and municipalities are inundated. Sadly, many municipalities don’t have the skills to deal with these applications.
It is all new and legislation is very specific (although sometimes blurry) when it comes to system configurations and connections. So, you end up knocking on doors, constantly trying to push for outcomes and get your design and systems approved so that you can enter the build phase, get online, and go live. Additionally, these boxes need to be ticked before financiers will fund these kinds of projects. If there’s even a small chance that you won’t meet the strict compliance parameters, they will not take the risk. Large-scale solar farms can take up to two years to get approved and grid impact assessment often takes months as well. Legislation is one of our biggest challenges.
DD: As a female in a male world, do you have any funny stories to share?
AF: Some of my Chinese suppliers call me Mr. Astrid. Imagine their surprise when they realise that I am not a mister! I don’t have too many funny stories, although it is a challenge at times being a female in a male-dominated profession. I am very conscious of this and over the years have learned that it is better to listen and observe first and then pass comment once I have the full picture. This way tends to garner more respect from others.
Terry often says that the softest thing about me is my teeth! I have no idea how he gets to that – but I guess it makes everyone feel uneasy when I am quiet. I speak my mind when I must and in difficult situations, when someone is out of line, I will say what is needed. I try not to speak out in anger, as that rarely ends well.
DD: What are some of the challenges with this kind of business?
AF: Skilled Labour:
Finding and retaining technical and engineering talent is very hard as these skills are in high demand and not many people who have the right training. We train our employees and I think this is something we do well. It also helps us retain staff. We understand there are incentives to go to bigger cities, so we try to create an environment that values its employees and recognises and rewards their achievements and efforts. This has been a wonderful process. It is great to see comments on social media from family members or friends congratulating our employees on their work.
Unpaid Engineering Time for Quotes:
We are one of the few industries that often don’t get remunerated for engineering time. We’re expected to tender which takes hours of unpaid engineering time. It’s not just quoting components; to tender correctly, you must design the full system to quote for the components.
Staying True to the Mission:
“Dedicated to quality, efficient, renewable systems to create a more sustainable future.”
At the moment solar is such a needed industry that our demand is more than we can meet, and we have to turn some clients away as we can’t deliver the quality service we uphold if we are working beyond our capacity. Genergy has grown substantially in the last 12 months. Many of our competitors are trying to stay as fair as possible when it comes to pricing and not take advantage of the current need, our environment is very competitive. We constantly remind ourselves that we are in renewables, and we have to stay true to our mission which is to deliver turnkey quality projects and provide maximum savings to our clients.
From bait to delicacy - calamari tastings at Clive's Chokka Block.
On a warm summer’s day in the waters around St Francis Bay, you may have the privilege to come across one of the sea’s most fascinating creatures. Once thought of as being nothing better than bait, she is now so sought after abroad that this special delicacy from our coastline seldom graces local tables.
Her slim body and eight legs pirouette through the ocean. Her diamond fins flap elegantly as she sways with the underwater foliage. Suddenly she shoots forward on a stream of water leaving an explosion of bubbles in her wake. In a flash, two tentacles whip forward to grab an unsuspecting small fish – little suckers securing the prey.
A temptress in her many guises and forms with the ability to squeeze through a space as big as her beak, the females are picky when it comes to a mate. Courtship begins far above the egg bed. Once the romance blooms, the male uses one of his long arms to place his sperm near where the egg will appear and stays with his lady until the egg has been fertilised. He gallantly escorts her to the egg bed as she cradles her eggs in her arms. Jealous bachelors try their luck at breaking the union and devious tactics are needed to ward off other suitors. Males use their incredible ability to communicate and distract with an ever-changing display of patterns and colours on their mantle. Small pockets of dye create a dazzling spectacle as they flex and contract their inky muscles.
Once they reach the egg bed, the male must still be on his guard as it is now when other large males might try to assert their masculinity and fertilise the eggs. With sperm coming at her from all directions, her mate pulls out all stops in the colour department to defend his damsel in distress. But in the end, this smart lady of the sea chooses the healthiest sperm and lays between 100 and 150 eggs in strands of a jellylike substance attached to the ocean bed or a reef. It will be around twenty days before the squidlings hatch, if the water is warm, the incubation period might be slightly shorter.
The baby chokka will have 8-12 months to frolic in the ocean, squirting around in their undersea playground. Once they have reached maturity, they must head back to the spawning ground. After the deed has been done and eggs laid, the beautiful Loligo renaudii (aka calamari) reach the end of their lifespan and either die a natural death or end up being served in a pool of butter.
At noon, on the 23rd of November, the chokka season opened. Port St Francis, one of the only private ports in South Africa and the heartbeat of the chokka industry, was busier than ever. Inspectors whizzed back and forth between anchored fishing vessels, ready to hit the waters while fishermen were ferried to waiting boats ready to cast their lines and lures.
We were lucky enough to have a bird’s eye view of all the action from Clive’s Chokka Block in the port. We also got to spend time with Clive and learn all about the calamari from our waters. The knowledge and passion this restaurateur and chef has for the Loligo reynaudii or the squid better known as chokka will not only inspire you to never want to eat any other calamari again, but also give you a whole new understanding of the sea creature that drives one of the major industries in our area.
We booked a calamari tasting with Clive to give a visitor from the States a taste of the port. Not only do you learn about the biological makeup of chokka but he also describes the way it is fished and compares it to other calamari both through taste and fishing practices.
Clive comes from a family of chefs of French and Mauritian descent and grew up in Durban. He has worked extensively in the fishing industry and has consulted globally on sustainable fishing practices. Following the family tradition, he moved to St Francis Bay seven years ago and opened “Clive’s Chokka Block.” His restaurant is one of the few places in South Africa that serves local calamari prepared in previously unimagined cuts. He has made it his mission to dispel the notion that chokka is only good as bait and educate patrons about this treasure of our coastline that has breeding grounds between Port Elizabeth and St Francis Bay.
The calamari catchers
The practice of fishing for calamari requires a skilled fisherman who can operate in challenging conditions, often working twenty hours in a row and rotating bunks with crew members for 21 days.
‘Everything you have heard about fishermen is true.’ Clive told us with a glint in his eye.
Generally, fishermen are prohibited from going ashore during their time on the boat (even if the weather is bad or the chokka are not biting) as it seems these guys enjoy ‘liquid refreshment’ a little too much. They are also superstitious about certain things, one being that if you shower while out fishing you wash your luck away. Chokka fishermen are paid per kilogram, so each man makes his own fortune.
How it works
We’ve all seen the armada of chokka boats on the horizon at night with their lights glistening. I’m sure many of us assume that the lights are there to attract the chokka. I was surprised to learn that the lights attract the fish that chokka like to prey on and the squid hang out in the shadows waiting to pounce. Because the chokka are found in the shadows, the lights on the boat are positioned so that the shadow falls just where the fisherman throws in his jigger.
Our calamari is only caught manually using a line in a process called jigging. A fishing line with a special lure called a dolly and a bit of wood to wrap the line around are used. As squid can also be caught during daylight hours nearer the ocean bed, two types of dollies are used – a light, luminescent one for the night and a weighted, larger one for during the day.
Experienced fishermen can handle up to three lines at a time. As the bulk of our calamari is exported to Europe, strict EU fishing standards must be upheld aboard. No other line fish besides calamari is allowed to be caught and strict protocols for freezing the fish must be implemented. Calamari is blast frozen on the boat and then glossed with seawater and transferred to a bigger freezer.
Unfortunately, this practice of ethical fishing does not happen globally. To drive the point home, Clive showed us a few videos of how calamari are caught commercially in other places using mechanical jigs. How the squid are caught and stored appears to be relatively unregulated and often standard of hygiene seem to be questionable (https://youtu.be/Blo0lZigay0?si=VffUVYPcC2yubys-). For an animal that only breeds once in its lifetime, there is concern over depleting resources.
Squid dissection
Another highlight was watching Clive dissect a squid, explaining the body parts and function as he went. Each squid is prepared by hand in his kitchen (during the busy seasons he hires people specifically for this job). The shiny membranes, the mantle that looks like fairy wings, the birdlike beak, the perfect little suckers on the tentacles and the ink pod with its black gold – nature’s attention to detail and magnificent beauty at every point is mind-blowing and humbling.
Local vs imported calamari
To demonstrate the superior quality of local calamari, Clive prepared some calamari from China and Argentina. He prepared each sample identically and a glass of Sauvignon Blanc was used as a palette cleanser between tastes. Without giving too much away, suffice it to say that it was obvious how far superior local calamari is. We can eat it with the knowledge that it has been caught sustainably and not injected with water to bulk it up.
Many thanks to Clive and his staff at Clive’s Chokka Block restaurant for the wonderful information.
Book your tasting! Call +27 (42) 294-1615 or +27 (60) 305-0972 | Website: https://chokkablock.co.za
Pat Holme’s amazing chokka light creations
With our piqued interest in all things chokka, we have to mention one of our very talented Dune Daisies readers. Pat Holmes makes the most amazing lamps using the giant bulbs from decommissioned chokka boats. Having had a house in St Francis since 1980, Pat has watched the industry flourish and came up with the idea to recycle these lights in 2014. Over the years he has perfected his lamp-making skills and fits each light with a customised fitting and top. Every lamp is unique. In addition to hanging lights, Pat is also now making standing lamps using galvanised tubing – very chic. If you would like to see these lights, pop into Nevermind where some are up in the restaurant. Alternatively, give Pat a call at +27 (73) 1640-622 and he will undoubtedly have a creative solution for you.
Nadine's nutritious way of life
The countdown to the festive season is well underway, synonymous with mistletoe, mince pies and a multitude of calories. And if the post-season tightening of waistbands, coupled with the guilt of unobtainable New Year health plans sounds all too familiar, fear not, we have just the lady for you! Dune Daisies were lucky to chat with Nadine Lahana, dynamic health fundi and owner of Nadine Lahana Nutrition Coaching. She has just completed one of her Go Green Challenges; a sustainable, fun, interactive healthy eating course. Let’s find out more…….
DD: What inspires you about health and fitness and how long have you been involved in this realm?
Nadine: My inspiration now has evolved slightly from when I was a young mom raising a baby in Canada. I had experienced both mental and physical challenges as a result of an uneducated decision to go vegetarian. I then propelled myself into an industry with a desperate need to learn more about everything from movement mechanics to the fundamentals of foods. These days, what inspires me is the need to share the truth, to set the record straight about food and help (mostly women) develop better relationships with both food and themselves.
Knowledge is power and as long as we don’t have it, we are vulnerable to every fad that promises a “RAPID RESULT” or a “BRAND NEW YOU”.
We are ultimately sacrificing ourselves to diet culture, which inherently results in a loss of control. Each time we fail a diet (because it does not consider our own unique body or lifestyle limitations) we blame ourselves or our lack of willpower! In truth, it is the restriction of elimination that does not fit our unique lifestyle.
There is no one-size-fits-all!
DD: Can you please tell us a little bit about your workshops – who are they aimed at and what can your clients expect when they sign up?
Nadine: My workshops are aimed at anyone who has experienced the side effects of serial dieting. In the past, I hosted these workshops to a much wider audience online. Although it was exciting being a part of a global community, they lacked the intimacy of in-person contact. For this recent workshop, I changed things around and invited only 20 people into my home. Having a small group like this allows daily communication. We are all part of a WhatsApp community where we inspire each other daily with recipes and I am on hand to answer questions.
The participants are introduced to a lifestyle that includes 3 BIG words – Balance, Variety & Moderation. By learning about proper nutrition, (there is no Monday to Sunday Diet booklet), they are then armed with tools to formulate their own personal lifestyle plan. The workshop challenges each individual to create their own daily balanced meal plans, using their understanding that all macronutrients are vital to body processes and optimal wellness.
I share my simple formula for FAT-loss and vitality, my BYOG Fitness plan and we get hands on and messy with meal planning and prepping (pestos, dressings and some time saving hacks)! Not everyone is here for weight loss, however, I do dedicate a good portion to explaining the importance of understanding WEIGHT vs FAT loss.
DD: What do you love about hosting these workshops?
Nadine: I’ve always said that the power of the knowledge I have obtained through individual client challenges, and the dedicated research on each, has surpassed any certification on my wall! I absolutely love how everyone is swapping recipes, sharing emotions and ideas on our group and during our sessions. As I said, the participants are all attending for different reasons so the outcome will differ person to person. I can’t wait to hear from each of them at the end of this Challenge.
DD: What are your biggest challenges?
Nadine: Although I strongly believe that there is a solution for every barrier, one of the toughest barriers for me is dispelling the myths and misconceptions that have settled in through clever marketing and product pushing.
As Epidemiologist & Author, Tim Spector so aptly put it: “PROTEIN SELLS. FIBRE DOESN’T!”
The protein push has resulted in most people consuming twice their daily needs of protein and 95% of people are fibre deficient. This explains the focus on the unhealthy gut microbiome and sudden rise in digestive issues.
Another challenge would definitely be keeping motivation flowing through the plateau phase. Commonly, the start of any challenge is the best for focus and commitment. Once some glycogen stores are depleted, the body experiences “fight or flight” and prepares for survival. The body just wants to survive! This is where weigh scales can either make or break our day and we need to remind ourselves why we are committed to this lifestyle change. The questions are: What other choice do we have? Elimination? Starvation? Yo-yo gains and losses?
And finally, there’s budget & availability. It’s easy enough for a health professional to tell someone to eat half a ruby grapefruit for breakfast, a salad of sorrel & pine nuts for lunch and a herb encrusted fillet of Norwegian salmon on a bed of polento for supper, but the reality is that most cannot afford or do not have access to these ingredients!
DD: Can you share some success stories?
Nadine: You will have to check out my reviews on Social Media 🙂 I’m happy to say there are a lot of stories with happy endings! From clients in New York, London, Germany and Australia who had the choice of top personal trainers at their fingertips but continued to “Zoom” in to my little studio every week, claiming my method produces the best results, to my lovely locals who send me heart warming reviews telling me that “in all my years of serial dieting, this is the first time I feel in control!” I think the most rewarding are those who haven’t just noticed the losses but the immense gains!
“I have suffered from eating disorders since my early teens and well into my 30’s. I have always had a low self body image and struggled terribly with finding a way to eat that makes me happy. So the biggest lesson I have experienced from your go green has been to have a good relationship with food….wow this has made me think completely differently!!
Now knowing that I do not have to count calories all day long….meal prepping and making food look colourful and delicious and not sacrificing, but substituting.
It has sparked an excitement inside me…..and I cannot wait to enjoy the journey of change ahead of me. Thanks you so very much, you are an amazing role model for wanting to live a healthier and happier life.”
Niks G
One particular favourite story features my Mom. After being diagnosed with a multitude of ailments from gall stones to diverticulitis and hiatus hernia, she came with my dad to St Francis to live with us. After her diagnoses, she came into the kitchen and said “I’ll have what she’s having!” This meant I had the challenge of spending a lot more time in the kitchen than I would have liked (no, weirdly enough it’s not my favourite place to be), churning out plant based burgers and Buddha bowls, smoothies and transforming a palate accustomed to fatty cold meats, full English fry ups, daily sweet treats, goose fat and other sources of metabolic mayhem! By the time she left for France, she had lost 20kgs and gained a whole new way of eating. Sadly, having left it a little late, her new diet was born out of absolute necessity rather than choice.
When we subject our bodies to severe overload or restriction, it takes a toll on our organs and disrupts our second brain. When we severely restrict calories then return to normal eating, we discover the frustration of not being able to shift excess weight.
Why? Simply put, we have severed signaling from neurons to working parts and we are left with an inability to UTILIZE calories as efficiently as we once could. So inevitably, we STORE. I don’t want other people to experience this.
DD: Do you have any inspirational texts/people that motivate you?
Nadine: I am very motivated by anyone who has passion and pursues goals (it isn’t easy to stay focussed when life happens despite our plans!). I am ashamed to say that I have only just latched onto the world of Podcasts. I have always been so careful of who I tune into for research or simple listening pleasure – there is just SO much quackery out there. Everyone is a Health or Lifestyle Coach these days. I have a daily challenge updating my Social Media and managing a fast scroll past ‘6-pack wielding so-called Influencers’ feeding the public utter &*!$. However, I am so grateful to have found this handful of geniuses who have, in my ripe old(er) age, given me a boost of confidence.
Keep your ears out for:
✅ Dr Andrew Huberman of the Huberman Lab. A Neuroscientist and Podcaster.
✅ Dan Beuttner. Aside from Guiness record holding cyclist, Founder and Author of the Blue Zones. He sums it all up nicely in his Documentary- Live to 100!
✅ Tim Spector. Softly spoken Epidemiologist and founder of Zoe, a personalised nutrition company that works at the intersection of food, lifestyle and health.
DD: How can we sign up for your next workshop?
Nadine: You will have to follow me on Social Media to keep an eye out for dates of my upcoming 2024 Challenges.
INSTAGRAM:
FACEBOOK:
DD: What do you love most about SFB?
Nadine: St Francis teaches you very quickly that downsizing is actually upgrading when it comes to your wellness. I love that my grown up children, who we once feared would suffer the boredom of village life, refuse to accept offers to go overseas for the holidays and explore, for fear of missing out on the St Francis vibe!
The Cape St Francis Resort - going the extra, adventurous mile.
During the ARWC 2023, the Cape St Francis Resort was a hive of activity, packed to its maximum and overflowing with foreign athletes, media teams and race supporters. Hosting an adventure race is a highly complex endeavour and without a doubt, the Resort nailed it. Having run the Expedition Africa race in 2017, they knew what was ahead and what was required. Ideally suited geographically for this type of race format, the Resort is close enough (or far enough) from the Baviaans and the Karoo, both suitably contrasting in biodiversity and terrain. Additionally, our challenging coastline with dunes and rocks also ensured that racers would have to ‘flex their muscles.’ With the Resort’s perfect facilities, restaurants and accommodation, plus their great team dedicated to promoting the area and sporting codes, it was a no-brainer for Heidi and Stefan Muller to host the event in Cape St Francis.
Arranging accommodation for all the visiting teams was easy compared with the logistics that accompany an event of this kind. Imagine housing about 400 foreigners in Cape St Francis, each of their very expensive bicycles and every team’s giant black box. This doesn’t yet include all the additional bodies – volunteers, media and supporters.
For those of you who aren’t familiar with how an adventure race works, everyone gets dropped together at the starting point of the race. Then they must make it through various legs, in this case over 800km, stopping at checkpoints along the way and ultimately finding their way to the final stop. This year’s world championship ended at the Resort. The first teams returned after about 118 hours – the last teams came 100 hours later! This meant that for those 100 hours there always had to be someone around to welcome incoming teams, even when they arrived in the wee hours of the morning. Additionally, those teams needed to be fed and shown their new accommodation (most teams checked out during the race and during that period the Resort welcomed 6 tour buses – so, it was business as usual). Yet it all worked seamlessly, thanks to the incredible staff and management of the Cape St Francis Resort.
The Resort staff were absolutely amazing and welcomed each team with heartfelt singing and dancing. For many, including Anita Lennox (CEO of the Resort since 2001), this was the highlight of the event. No matter what time of the day and night teams arrived, they were given a warm Eastern Cape reception. And the singing didn’t stop there! The Resort staff added a real South African flavour to the opening event held at the St Francis Links by singing and dancing in the flag parade as the participants walked up to be greeted by praise singers and drums. They have been a constant source of joy during this world championship event. And when the teams started returning from their epic adventure, they were there to guide them to the finish line and podium, celebrating every step of the way.
We were lucky enough to chat with Danni Shaw (née Malherbe) shortly before the race began. Her family has owned the Resort for many years and were all very much involved in this event.
DD: You have had personal experience with adventure racing?
DS: We were introduced to adventure racing in 2017 when we hosted the 500km South African Adventure Race. My sister competed in that event as part of the Resort team, so I have had personal experience with her with the sport.
DD: How long in advance did you start preparing for this event?
DS: We started preparing for it about 18 months ago, so it’s been quite a while in the making.
DD: What has been the biggest logistical challenge of hosting the ARWC?
DS: Finding enough beds and organising transport have been a challenge. We have had to overflow out of the Resort which has been tricky as most of the guests are foreign and want to be on site as they don’t have transport. Arranging everyone’s transport from the airport as well as to the village to go shopping or visit the other restaurants in town has also been a logistical manoeuvre. Stefan and Heidi’s work has been figuring out the route and liaising with the landowners and getting the necessary permission to through these properties. At the moment, their biggest concern is the transition zones and getting all the bikes and boxes to these positions.
DD: We see that your staff have been dancing and singing day and night to give the guests a warm welcome. How has the atmosphere been at the Resort and have you been surprised at your staff’s dancing abilities?
DS: We have not been too amazed by how well our staff dance – we knew this before! What has surprised us has been their charisma and how much they have enjoyed showing off South African culture and welcoming all the foreigners. Their enthusiasm has been massive and the way that they have embraced people being interested in their culture, and our African way of dressing, dancing and singing has been phenomenal.
DD: Have any menu items stood out as being more popular than others?
DS: In terms of food, people have different ways of preparing for races. Some people have been eating a lot of protein-heavy dishes such as steaks and fish and others have been carbo-loading with pastas.
DD: Have you had any unusual requests from adventure racers?
DS: Other than a few language barriers, there haven’t been anything other than people trying to figure out their logistics.
DD: How are you preparing for their return to the Resort? Are you anticipating a lot of parties? Especially with the rugby World Cup?
DS: Teams have placed orders for the food they want when they arrive back after the race. We will be dot watching so we will know when a team is about to arrive and we can have their food ready. From Wednesday or Thursday next week, the village we have created with extra tents and food trucks will be happening and should be quite festive. We have a lot of live music planned, but these guys won’t party too hard as they will be very tired. They will enjoy a bit of a celebration and some food, but they will probably want to rest.
DD: Teams have been arriving all day and night and when they return it will also be at all hours of the day. Are you getting any sleep and what are your stress levels?
DS: It has been hard work but thank goodness we have an amazing team and have worked well together. Everyone has taken turns to sleep and rest so we haven’t gotten too burnt out.
DD: Would you do it again?
DS: Definitely. It has also had an impact on the community of the St Francis area. The SPAR has had great foot traffic and I believe the biltong shop in the village was sold out. Those who helped with the overflow of guests in Cape St Francis have been fully booked. Also, many of the South African teams who have had access to transport have also stayed in the village. So I believe it has been positive for the area.
To all at the Resort: We are so proud of you and are grateful to have such a wonderful facility in our midst. Thank you for all you do for our area and for having the courage to bring an event like this to St Francis. We love you.
We have mentioned the great team at the Resort and credit must also go to Anita Lennox, who knows every aspect of managing a Resort of this size inside out. As the Resort is recognised for its sustainability practices, we chatted to her briefly about their affiliation to the Eco Atlas, Fair Trade and TravelLife Sustainability in Tourism and how they maintained their green code with an event of this size.
AL: That’s been our biggest challenge – fortunately adventure races are very aware of their environment, and this made it a lot easier (there is a zero-footprint policy in adventure racing). We have glass water bottles in the rooms as well as refill stations which helped. Obviously, the restaurants produce a lot more waste, so our earthworms are not complaining and Kouga recycling has been very busy.
A local adventure racer in our dunes! Juan Oosthuizen
ARWC 2023 fever has hit the Dune Daisies and we can’t get enough of this sport. Imagine doing multiple marathon-length trail runs, cycling (often in the dark) on gravel roads through mountain passes or bush for almost 500km, a quick 60km kayak and then, just to keep things exciting, a quick abseil of about 50m in no more than 9 days.
Competitors must provide their own food and water while on the move and may not have any contact or help from anyone. Finding drinkable water is a priority for teams as staying hydrated is vital for success. This can be quite a challenge in unfamiliar surroundings or water-deprived areas. Before the race, each team packs boxes of only 25kg – holding provisions and appropriate gear for the various legs of the race. They can access these boxes at transition points which is also where they pick up or drop off their bicycles. If something breaks, they have to work together to fix it.
As if this wasn’t enough of a challenge, teams only get the maps for the next leg of their journey once the previous one has been completed. They get a topographical map and a compass and must figure out the route as they go. There are checkpoints along the way to keep them on track and failure to stop at a checkpoint can cause a team to be disqualified. The use of technology is prohibited. The only communication allowed besides with their teammates is to talk to a shopkeeper to purchase food or water.
The teams who want to come in the top ten generally sleep on the side of the road for an hour or two when they cannot carry on any further. There is a lot of talk about ‘sleep monsters’ who visit when lack of sleep delirium kicks in. Competitors are challenged at every angle possible – physically, mentally and emotionally. All daily comforts are stripped away, and they have to reach their goal together, only as strong as the weakest team member.
As this is the world championship, teams have flown in from all over the world (about 40 countries). The top-ranked team is the Swedish Armed Forces, but the Estonian team is said to be close on their heels. French, South African, Spanish, American, Brazilian and Kiwi teams are all in the top ten.
Among all these top contenders is one of our own. A lad whose family lives in St Francis, Juan Oosthuizen from the Truffle Hunters (#15). He is a bio-kineticist and Pilates instructor who has two practices in Pretoria. Since his parents moved to St Francis in 2021, he has spent a lot of time on our trails on both bike and foot. We were lucky enough to catch up with him before he embarked on the race, and he gave us some wonderful insight.
DD: What do you think will be the biggest challenge for you in this race?
JO: Sleep deprivation will definitely be the hardest part about race, it will be the longest I have gone without a full night’s sleep. Your boundaries are really pushed without a full night’s sleep, and it is hard to maintain mental stability. I have done adventure races before of a few hundred kms and long bike races, but nothing this far before. This race is 800kms and it will be a real challenge for me. Having to deal with your eyes closing while you are cycling or when you start to hallucinate or fall asleep in the dark is scary. I am also one of the team navigators while we are cycling, so I need to keep us on track and going to the right destination, all the while staying motivated and positive. My role in the team is also as packhorse when the others are taking strain, I need to help by lightening their load and possibly carrying their packs or towing them.
DD: Do you think your knowledge of the area will give you an advantage?
JO: It will definitely help, even though I am not familiar with all the areas. Just knowing where the mountain is and where the climbs will be will help with pacing and ensuring that we are on the right track. Hopefully, this will also help keep everyone calm and peaceful. Problems start when you get agitated thinking you might be lost. One of our other team members, Andrea is from the Port Elizabeth vicinity, and I am sure that if we start in the area of the dunes up the coast as I suspect we will, her knowledge will help us.
DD: What will your last meal before the race be?
JO: My last meal will probably be a good lasagne – something warm and starchy with some protein. Most likely it will be the last warm thing we eat until after the race. On the course, we eat race bars, nuts, dried fruit, meal replacements and energy gels. We will try and eat as much wholesome food as possible, but it’s not easy when you can only pack 4.7kg of food and clothing per box. Most of the food needs to be dry as it will stand in the sun. It could also rain and dry food does better. We each have 7 packs of food for the transitions, so that should keep us going. So, I’m looking forward to my beef lasagne tonight and possibly also some malva pudding or lemon meringue.
DD: What are you most excited about?
JO: For me, it’s just about being alive and free. Having the freedom to do things like this is special. Sometimes we get stuck in the world and its materialism; grafting just to reach a certain status or level of financial well-being. Adventure racing is about being free and living in the wilderness and getting a sense of simplicity. It’s also about appreciating the other competitors and your teammates. This is an opportunity to be present.
Being out there brings me back to earth, it’s where I feel most alive. That’s why I come back to these events because you feel alive when you’re in it and afterwards you feel that you can conquer the world.
It’s a special feeling that you can’t explain to someone unless you are truly there in the moment. There might also be moments that are not so nice, like when you are ice cold and all you have is the people around you. They are the ones that are going to keep you happy and alive. We will also have the thrill of knowing that we are seeing and experiencing things that no one else has. It will be exhilarating to be in untamed places like those in the Karoo. I cannot wait to express myself out there and live like a free man.
DD: How well do you know your team members?
JO: I am pretty close to my teammates and we know each other well. Franco and I have done a few races together, we also did some volunteer work on the Sky Race. He’s the co-captain and navigator. Damon is actually living in the UK although he was born in South Africa. I haven’t really met him yet other than on Zoom calls. He’s going to be our captain and navigator and I think we are going to get along well. He’s awesome to be around and always creates a good atmosphere. They are the founding members of the Truffle Hunters. Andrea is a PE local and is an excellent cyclist. She has done some Cape Epics and came fourth in the TransBaviaans. She will really be able to help us get to the top of our game when it comes to cycling. I believe she will help keep us calm psychologically – women tend to have the ability to do that. She also knows the area quite well.
I think we are a dynamic team and will be a strong dark horse in this race. We hope to finish in the top thirty, anything above that will be a bonus. Even though I think we are strong contenders, our priority is to finish together with warm hearts.
Meet Camila Nicolau - top female adventure racer!
With the 2023 Adventure Racing World Champs around the corner, teams are gearing up to start their big challenge. Anything can happen during the race, and they need to be prepared for every scenario. Besides getting all their equipment in order, transition boxes need to be packed at 25kgs each, topography maps studied, and the area scoured on Google Earth. Strategies for coping with the intense physical and mental challenge that they are about to face have to be reviewed and absorbed – as little as possible should be left to chance.
Amidst all this activity, Camila Nicolau, one of the top female adventure racers in the world, graciously agreed to spend an hour with us to tell us more about her journey to the top of this awe-inspiring sport.
DD: Camila, adventure racing is not a common choice of sport for an athlete, what first attracted you to it and how long have you been racing?
CN: My mother! I started adventure racing twenty years ago because of her. My first sport was white-water kayaking. The owner of the rafting company did adventure racing and was always trying to get me involved. My mother had already started racing and was also tried. At the time, I didn’t enjoy aerobic exercise much so didn’t even consider it, but she persuaded me to join her on a race as part of her support crew. Back then, each team had to get their own boxes to the transitions so there were always many other people involved who had to get the boxes from one point to the next. I loved the whole experience and decided to give it a try and started training. I studied architecture at university, so had the necessary skills to navigate and read maps. As this is a big part of the race, as well as the kayaking, I just had to improve my other skills. In 2003, I did my first race and thoroughly enjoyed it. I did a short race with two of my university friends. We made the top ten (but from the bottom)! Neither of my teammates ever raced again, but I was hooked.
In 2005, I did my first expedition race and since then I have done two or three a year. There is so much to learn from this sport. This is what really attracts me to it. It’s a good way to test yourself as it’s incredibly hard. It’s like a laboratory where you put yourself into stressful situations with other people – a social challenge.
I think this reflects in your life. One becomes so much more tolerant and you know how to deal with difficult issues and other people. The mental strain is immense, and the race is so intense, all the while having to make things work with your team. They say it’s like living 5 years in 5 days because you experience so much every time you do this kind of thing.
The team that wins is not the team that doesn’t make mistakes, but rather the team that knows how to deal with problems more efficiently and can work their way through. It is impossible to spend over 100 hours together and not to slip up. No two races are ever the same. For example, Iron Man is a very hard race and to do it you create a formula to be successful. In adventure racing, you need to create 100 formulas to allow for all the variables.
The training before is not only physical but also mental. Physically, you have to be very fit. I train every day, usually alternating running with cycling. I run about 15-80 km a session and towards the end of my training period, I run more than cycle as the trekking part is more demanding. At least with cycling, you can relax a little when you go downhill, but it’s not like that with trekking.
DD: What is your strength in your team?
CN: I am the team captain, so I am very organised and take responsibility for everything except navigating. During the race, I know that the beginning of the race is always hard for me. So, during this period, I get the lightest pack and less gear. From around the middle to the end of the race, when the others may be struggling more, especially psychologically, I find my strength. It seems that in adventure racing this is a skill that more women are good at, and they can motivate their other team members and keep everyone together as things get harder towards the end. This is when I take the heavier backpack and try to support them more mentally.
DD: Is your team for this race an old team or a newly formed one?
CN: Three of us in this team have raced together for about two years. Obviously, my husband and I have been together for years, but Jonas only recently joined us even though he has been racing for more than 15 years. Jay comes from Thailand and is also an old racing friend of ours, like Jonas. We always had good synergy with both of them and they have the experience and the skills to match ours or complement our skills, so we feel very good about our team.
DD: How do you find the right team?
CN: Finding the right team is very hard and it takes years to get it right. It’s like finding four puzzle pieces that fit perfectly. The balance in the team is important and everyone needs to be good at different things. My husband and I always race together, we also train together. But Jonas lives on the other side of Brazil and Jay is from Thailand, so we don’t train together. But, because we have never all raced in this group, we decided to come to South Africa ten days early to spend some time together as a team and talk through our strategies.
DD: What is the biggest challenge in the race?
CN: The start is definitely the hardest part for me. The first two to six hours are difficult because everyone is trying to get ahead and moving as fast as they can. Personally, I don’t understand why they waste so much energy in the beginning and go at a pace they can’t sustain, but we have to keep up or else we will lose time. As I mentioned before, my team understands this and supports me through this.
DD: Have there been any race experiences that have stood out for you?
CN: Every race is different, even after twenty years of racing. I started racing very young. I am 38 now, but the average age for this kind of race is 42. I think the wisdom that comes with age and the ability to strategize really helps.
DD: Do you have any sponsors or get any funding from Brazil to do the race?
CN: We don’t have any sponsors, but we get some help from the government through various programs, these paid for our flight to South Africa. Finding funding is our biggest challenge in Brazil.
DD: We know that you and your husband also have a business together. Could you tell us more about that?
CN: We coach people to prepare them to do adventure racing. This involves getting them physically strong enough for the race and getting them mentally ready for the challenges they will face in a race. Our program is all online. We set up a daily training schedule for them based on the intensity they would like and the timeframe they have until the race. Once a month, we check in to talk about their progress and then also cover topics such as strategy, nutrition, hydration and mental approach. The other topics are as important as being physically fit.
DD: Is this your first time in South Africa?
CN: Yes, it is and we love it so far. We haven’t had much chance to see too much but I am sure we will see a lot during the race. It’s such a great way to see a country and get a taste of the culture.
DD: Is there anything that worries you about the race being in South Africa?
CN: There is nothing about the landscape or environment that we are worried about, but it’s communicating with people in shops, for example, that is different. On another race, we went into a shop to buy water and they gave us a bag of water (not a bottle). It was completely unexpected, but we had to deal with it.
DD: When you finish the race, how do you feel?
CN: First you sleep for about 16 hours, then you wake up to eat and hydrate and then you sleep again. This continues for about a week. My husband says you resort back to being a baby. This time, we have to do a presentation at the conference which is actually making me more nervous than the race. I think they will have to bring in a couch for me to speak from! Thankfully, it’s a topic we deal with every day so it will be easy for us to speak about it.
TEAM BRAZIL MULTISPORT 2022
