The competition runs 23 July – October 2024
Raats Family Wines
Chenin Blanc and Cabernet Franc. A desire to be the best. A dream for family to work together. Since 2000, Bruwer Raats dedicated his life to mastering these two varieties, believing that specialisation will lead to success. The belief was not unfounded, as today Raats Family Wines is regarded as a pioneer and leader in crafting these two varieties, receiving consistent local and international acclaim.
With cousin Gavin Bruwer Slabbert joining the family business in 2010, this dream of family working together was realised, always believing that together we can achieve more. Today our family business is deep rooted with two of Bruwer Raats’ sons Samuel and Joshua Raats also working in the business.
Raats Family Wines was awarded Platter’s Winery of the Year 2018 and Bruwer Raats awarded Tim Atkin MW Winemaker of the Year 2023.
Clean and bright, the wine opens with light aromas of fresh green apple, pineapple alongside notes of green melon and limes. The palate is crisp, fresh and racy, with a friendly, enjoyable mouth-watering finish. When you purchase a bottle of Original, you know you get wine of pure quality and value. Pure liquid sunshine in a bottle.
Raats Original Chenin Blanc 2023 drinks exceptionally well now
Assorted Spar-letta soft drinks, pampers, Koo baked beans, Nola Mayonnaise, Weet Bix, All Gold Tomato Sauce and more..
See also: Muratie Alberta Annemarie Merlot 2018
The Junior surfing event, the Sea Harvest Vic Bay Grom Comp presented by Rip Curl, saw Cape St Francis surfers dominate the podium at the event prizegiving. Rory Dace was on top form, winning both the U18 Boys Division as well as the U16 Boys division with some power surfing. Rylan Jarvis was chasing him in the U 16 Boys and ended up second.
Slayde Shooter won the U12 Boys and Brin Jarvis won the U12 Girls. Well done to our surfers.
Full press release below
Victoria Bay: Louise Lepront (Scottburgh) and Rory Dace (Cape St Francis) both won two divisions – The U16 and U18 divisions – at the recent Sea Harvest Vic Bay GromComp presented by Rip Curl.
Both surfers put on outstanding performances to outpoint their competitors and take double wins in the excellent waves on offer at the iconic right-hand point break this weekend.
The competition had conditions ranging from perfect on Friday, to massive and unruly on Saturday, and finally ending up clean and highly contestable on Sunday. Despite these challenging conditions, Lepront and Dace emerged victorious, showing strength and adaptability in their performances.
“I had a good start to the U18 final and got a 7.5 ride, but then I couldn’t find another good one,” said Dace of his U18 Boys’ final. In it, Dace was up against Luc Lepront, Clayton Turrel, and Kai Hall. “Then, with about forty seconds to go, I found a good one, rode it through to the inside, and was awarded the score I needed to win. So stoked.”
A disappointed Lepront was pushed back to second place, with Clayton Turrell and Kai Hall coming third and fourth, respectively.
Absent Kai Hall – Photo Cally Taylor
Bolstered by her earlier U16 Girls win, Louis Lepront fought a hard battle on her backhand as waves poured through at Vic Bay, and the dynamic natural-footer Emily Jenkinson chased her hard. In the end, Lepront held onto her lead until the final buzzer to take the win from Jenkinson, with Anastasia Venter and Gabrielle Herbst third and fourth.
U18 Girls (L-R) – SSA’s Danielle Powis, Louise Lepront, Emily Jenkinson, Anastasia Venter,
Gabrielle Herbst – Photo Cally Taylor
Saturday had plenty of drama as huge waves bashed the coastline. Event officials decided to run the U16 Boys and the U18 Boys rounds, with the smaller waves on the forecast better for the younger divisions. Some surfers had tough heats, confronted by huge waves and challenging paddle-outs, but it was a battle of the fittest and the most determined, and those surfers came out on top.
On the finals day, Ben Esterhuyse from Cape Town put on his best performance ever in the U14 Boys final. Surfing with his back to the wave (right foot forward), Esterhuyse picked up a great-looking wave at the beginning of the heat to bank an excellent score of 9.0 (out of a possible 10) and start the heat off with confidence.
He then found another perfect wave and performed several high-risk moves that compelled the judges to award him a higher score than his previous one. He was awarded a 9.4, bringing his heat total to 18.4, the event’s highest heat total.
With a few surfers not in attendance at this event due to overseas commitments or injuries, as well as a few surprise eliminations on Big Saturday, the results of this event have seen a shake-up in the rankings, which can be found here – https://liveheats.com/surfingsouthafrica
U12 Girls
U12 Boys
U14 Girls
U14 Boys
U16 Girls
U16 Boys
U18 Girls
U18 Boys
Full heat-by-heat event results can be found on the LiveHeats Link.
The contest was a Surfing South Africa event supported by Eden Surfriders, George Municipality, Eden Sports Council, The Western Cape Government
The Sea Harvest Vic Bay GromComp, presented by Rip Curl, was the seventh SAST event of 2024. The following contest is the Sea Harvest Cape Crown Presented By Xcel Wetsuits at Long Beach on September 6 – 8, and the final Rip Curl GromSearch event presented by Sea Harvest at Seal Point on September 20- 22.
The junior surfing year will culminate in the SA Junior Championships at Lower Point in JBay
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Time is the true measure of real wealth, far surpassing material riches. While financial success can provide comfort and security, it is health that truly enriches our lives. No amount of money can buy good health, and it is through good health that we are gifted time—the most precious resource of all.
Health is the foundation of a fulfilling life. Without it, the ability to enjoy the fruits of our labour diminishes. All the money in the world cannot purchase the vitality needed to spend quality time with loved ones, pursue passions, or simply enjoy the everyday moments that make life meaningful.
Time allows us to be with the special people in our lives, creating memories and nurturing relationships. It gives us the opportunity to do what truly fulfils us, whether that’s traveling, engaging in hobbies, or contributing to our communities. The real richness of life is found in these experiences and connections, not in material possessions.
We have time until we don’t. This simple yet profound truth reminds us not to put off things we can do or say now, as we might not get the chance later. Whether it’s expressing love and gratitude to those who matter or pursuing long-held dreams, acting in the present ensures we don’t miss out on life’s most important moments.
Living on purpose, rather than on remote control, means making conscious choices that align with our values and goals. It’s about being intentional with our time, prioritizing what truly matters, and avoiding the trap of routine that can lead to a life unfulfilled. Purpose-driven living brings clarity and joy, making each moment count.
It’s never too late to take control of your life. Regardless of past choices or current circumstances, you can decide to focus on what truly enriches your life. Embrace a proactive approach to health and well-being, nurture meaningful relationships, and pursue your passions. This conscious shift can transform your life, bringing a deeper sense of fulfilment and true wealth.
I experienced this myself last week while fulfilling my Friday ritual of having a braai with family, I got thinking about my daughter who lives abroad. She had this week messaged me to say she may delay her planned trip home to visit us for another year to save money. I understood her thinking but also on my mind was a chat I had this week with someone who lost one of their children tragically and quickly. I called her to express why her planned visit was really important to myself and the whole family and that we would cover the cost of the air tickets if she would reconsider.
Time is the true measure of real wealth. Health grants us the time to enjoy life fully, to build meaningful relationships, and to pursue our passions. By seizing the moment, living on purpose, and taking control of our lives, we can ensure that our time is spent in ways that bring true richness and joy. Remember, the greatest wealth is not measured in Rands and cents, but in the precious moments that make life worth living.
Is this part of your plan if you have a plan? If the answer is NO to either question then you have work to do.
Dirk Groeneveld, Certified Financial Planner.
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