Fire in Ponta at dive camps
21 June 2010 – 08:48
By Olivia ‘OJ’ Symcox I’m going to start off with the sad news about the fire in Mozambique which happened at Ponta de Ouro in the early hours of Saturday morning.
Almost all of the four main dive camps situated on the beach at Ponta de Ouro have burnt down. Some of the people have lost everything, boats have been destroyed as well as cars and dive gear.
Watch this space because there is talk of collection points for clothes, wetsuits, blankets and towels which can be sent to assist the people affected. Fortunately no injuries were reported. If there is anything official that east coast residents can do to help I will let you know over the coming week.
I have not had any major updates regarding sardines but reports from the Transkei seem to be pointing towards a bumper run so fingers crossed that the little silver fish make their way to us this year.
An interesting snippet is that during a flight recently a total of 49 humpback whales were also seen between Durban and Coffee Bay, all migrating north with the majority of them being about 3km offshore.
Durban - Ace paddler Hank McGregor claimed the Island Tribe Scottburgh Surf Classic which formed the seventh leg in the Discovery Sunglass Hut Surfski Series in ideal conditions.
McGregor took full advantage of the absence of series leader Matt Bouman who was at home in bed resting after dislocating his shoulder in last weeks race. “I will be out of action for a further week or so but it won’t take me long to get back into the water,” said Bouman.
McGregor stole the show taking by taking the lead early on in the race and eventual took the title a full minute and a half ahead of U23 World Marathon champ Grant van der Walt, with series regulars Tom Schilperoort and Marc Holtzhausen in third and fourth consecutively.
In the ladies race the absence of regular Donna Winter left the field was open for the Toti starlet Michelle Eder who clocked up yet another win in the 2010 winter series. “It was another great day of racing with fantastic conditions,” sad Eder. “Although I have to say I did have two swims at Scottburgh.”
“The conditions weren’t hectic,” said Eder. “The backline was clean, but there were a few waves that came out of no where and a few of us went down.” Toti youngster Jenna Ward leapt into second in the lades race and Maya Opperman took home third position.
The on-form crew of Barry Lewin and Ant Stott took the doubles title, followed by Quinton Rutherford and Bryan Taylor in a close second. Grant Harper won the 7km short course race and in the same category Chris Murray and Malcolm Pitt took home second and third respectfully.
Competitors raced the “T” shaped course in clear Winter conditions and had the option of a seven kilometre short course or the long course of 15 kilometres forming two laps of the same course. Paddlers started at Scottburgh and were directed out a kilometre then South to a turning can before returning back to a Scottburgh beach around a can on the beach then out again heading North and finishing back on Scottburgh main beach.
The Discovery Sunglass Hut Surfski Series continues with the CMH Toyota Pirates Umhlanga Pirates on Sunday 27 June.
More information and results can be found at surfski.co.za
DISCOVERY SUNGLASS HUT SURF SKI SERIES
Island Tribe Scottburgh Surf Classic race
1. Hank McGregor 01:01:53
2. Grant van der Walt 01:03:02
3. Tom Schilperoort 01:05:06
4. Marc Holtzhausen 01:05:08
5. Oliver Burn 01:06:20
6. Wayne Wilson 01:07:08
7. Paul Rabinowitz 01:09:02:
8. Steve Cohen 01:09:29
9. Mark Lewin 01:09:51
10. Andrew Neal 01:09:57
1. Michelle Eder 01:14:10
2. Jenna Ward 01:31:46
3. Maya Opperman 01:36:55
1. Barry Lewin / Ant Stott 00:59:34
2. Quinton Rutherford / Bryan Taylor 01:02:43
3. Brett Hadiaris / Matthew Collins 01:04:34
1. Grant Harper 00:44:16
2. Chris Murray 00:7:05
3. Malcolm Pitt 00:47:48
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