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Meanwhile In St Francis – How To Survive Winter In SFB
Winter has arrived properly in St Francis Bay.
The signs are everywhere.
People suddenly become deeply interested in weather apps. Restaurants start serving larger portions of soup. Surfers stand in car parks discussing water temperature with expressions usually associated with polar expeditions.
For newcomers, winter in St Francis can feel confronting initially.
The village remains beautiful, of course, but the conditions require adaptation.
Fortunately, local residents have developed several survival strategies over the years.
Here are a few of the most effective.
Leave Briefly
This remains one of the strongest winter strategies available.
A short escape to Durban, Mauritius, Bali, or literally anywhere containing direct sunlight immediately improves morale.
Returning residents often spend several days talking about “humidity” before reluctantly putting shoes back on.
Stand In Sunny Areas Like Wildlife
During winter, locals instinctively migrate toward patches of sunlight.
Coffee shops become highly tactical environments where seating decisions revolve entirely around sun exposure.
People will tolerate astonishing levels of wind if one shoulder remains warm.
Develop A Soup Routine
Every winter, otherwise confident adults suddenly become emotionally dependent on soup.
Conversations now include phrases like “You have to try the roasted tomato” spoken with complete sincerity.
Soup becomes less of a meal and more of a coping mechanism.
Pretend The Water Is Fine
This is a deeply important St Francis tradition.
No matter how cold the ocean becomes, local surfers continue emerging from the sea saying things like, “Actually quite lekker once you’re in.”
This statement is rarely supported by visible evidence.
Usually the speaker is shivering uncontrollably while attempting to remove a wetsuit with numb hands.
Accept That Every Conversation Will Involve Weather
Winter conversations in St Francis Bay eventually return to exactly three subjects.
Wind.
Rain.
Swell.
Residents discuss approaching cold fronts with extraordinary detail and seriousness.
Terms like “southwest pulse” and “berg wind” begin appearing casually during breakfast.
Still, winter has its charms.
The village slows slightly. The beaches empty out. Fireplaces return. Coffee tastes better.
And on clear mornings, St Francis Bay remains one of the best-looking places in the country.
Even if everybody is freezing.
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Meanwhile In St Francis: How To Survive Winter In St Francis Bay
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A humorous winter survival guide for St Francis Bay featuring cold water, soup, weather conversations, and seasonal local behaviour.
Newsflash: The St Francis Property Owners, including the SFPO Association and the SFPO NPC, Support The Thyspunt Alliance Opposition To Proposed Nuclear Development
The SFPO Association and the SFPO NPC have formally aligned themselves with the Thyspunt Alliance in opposition to the proposed nuclear development at Thyspunt.
As part of this support, the SFPO Association has contributed R50,000 towards the Thyspunt Alliance and its ongoing legal, environmental, and organisational efforts surrounding the proposed development.
We believe the Eastern Cape coastline represents one of South Africa’s most valuable long-term environmental, lifestyle, tourism, and economic assets.
More specifically, the proposed nuclear build raises significant concerns regarding the future viability of St Francis Bay. The town will sit within the EPZ (Emergency Planning Zone), defined as an area within a 16km radius of the nuclear power plant. Eskom will have the mandate to prevent future development in the area should Thyspunt proceed as a nuclear site.
St Francis Bay will, in short, be sacrificed for a nuclear power plant. This is a blatantly irresponsible decision.
South Africa has 2,798km of coastline from which to choose a site. Why place a nuclear power station just 8km from one of the premier lifestyle and tourism destinations in South Africa and on the African continent?
As organisations focused on protecting and enhancing the resilience, environmental integrity, and future value of St Francis Bay and the broader region, we believe it is important to support initiatives that encourage responsible planning, transparency, scientific scrutiny, and meaningful public participation.
The Thyspunt Alliance comprises a broad coalition of environmental organisations, civic bodies, conservancies, community associations, KhoiSan representatives, marine industry stakeholders, and regional interest groups who share a commitment to protecting the Eastern Cape coastline and ensuring careful consideration of developments with potentially far-reaching consequences.
The SFPO Association and the SFPO NPC will continue to engage constructively on matters that impact the future of our coastline, community, and local economy.
Thyspunt Alliance Organisational Members
- Afristar
- Cape St Francis Civic Organisation
- FOSTER
- Gamtkwa KhoiSan Council
- Gamtouer House of Klaas & David Stuurman
- Kromme-Enviro Trust
- Kromme-Geelhout Conservancy
- Kromme Joint River Committee
- Kouga Community Development Forum
- Oesterbaai Belastingbetalersvereniging
- St Francis Property Owners (SFPO)
- St Francis Property Owners NPC (SRA)
- Seal Point Boardriders
- South African Squid Management Industry Association (SASMIA)
- Rebelsrus Private Nature Reserve Landowners Association
- WESSA
Advisory Members
- Dr Shirley Pierce/Cowling
- Prof Richard Cowling
- Renee Royal
- Greg Christy
- Kobus Reichert
- Cheron Kraak
WhatsApp Group Admin
Peter and Lisa Mackintosh
Co-Ordinator
Trudi Malan
Law Firm
Cullinan & Associates
SFPO Contact
Lyn Aitken – Administration Manager
Phone: 042 294 0594
Email: info@sfpo.co.za
Office Address: 9 Philippa Place, St Francis Bay
Newsletter
Sign up for SFPO newsletters from this page.
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International Contingent Builds Momentum Ahead Of Rip Curl Vic Bay Surf Pro
Victoria Bay – The 2026 Rip Curl Vic Bay Surf Pro is shaping into one of the strongest early-season World Surf League events in recent years, with an impressive international contingent confirmed alongside many of South Africa’s top surfers ahead of the June tournament at Victoria Bay.
Presented by Rip Curl in partnership with the World Surf League Africa, the event will feature the Men’s and Women’s QS 2,000 contest, alongside the Pro Junior tournament, officially launching the 2026/2027 South African Qualifying Series season.
“The Rip Curl Vic Bay Surf Pro is an important event for the African region and continues to build real momentum for professional surfing in South Africa,” said Graham Stapelberg, WSL President: Africa Region and WSL President: Tours and Competition.
“There is genuine energy around the sport right now, with strong talent emerging and more high-quality events creating opportunities for surfers to progress through the regional pathway. Rip Curl’s ongoing commitment to competitive surfing in South Africa has played a valuable role in that growth, and Victoria Bay remains one of the country’s premier high-performance venues.”
International Talent Heads To Vic Bay
Morocco will once again arrive with strong momentum following standout performances at the Port Alfred Easter Festival earlier this year.
The Royal St Andrews Hotel Rip Curl Cup Rip Port Alfred 2026 Qualifying Series winners Lilias Tebbai and Teva Bouchgua have both entered the Vic Bay event, alongside fellow Moroccan surfers Ayman Gougali and Ninon Mattei.
International depth also includes Hina-Maria Conradi from Reunion Island, while experienced Australian campaigner Philippa Anderson adds significant experience and firepower to the women’s division.
Moroccan Teva Bouchgua © Kody McGregor
South Africa’s Top Surfers Entered
The event has also attracted many of South Africa’s leading surfers across both the QS and Pro Junior divisions. This includes the likes of Adin Masencamp, Connor Slijpen, and Teva Bouchgua, while the women’s field features Sarah Baum alongside Louise Lepront and Jessie van Niekerk.
Connor Slijpen at the 2025 Vic Bay event © Kody McGregor
In the junior men’s division, surfers to watch include Levi Epenetos, Ben Esterhuyse, and Kai Hall, while the junior girls’ division carries another strong field led by Leah Lepront, Emily Jenkinson, and Anastasia Venter.
Rip Curl South Africa Team Locked In
The Rip Curl South Africa team will also be strongly represented at Victoria Bay, with a talented mix of established competitors and next-generation surfers entered into the event.
The team includes Jack Erlank, Rylan Jarvis, Loghann Tilsley, Louise Lepront, Max Kauffman, and Ben Esterhuyse.
Strong Sponsor And Industry Support
The event has attracted significant support from both the public and private sectors, reflecting the growing momentum around competitive surfing and coastal lifestyle events in South Africa.
Support from George Municipality and George Tourism continues to strengthen Victoria Bay’s positioning as one of the country’s premier surf and tourism destinations.
A strong lineup of commercial partners has further boosted confidence around the event, with leading lifestyle and industry brands including YETI, Bilt Surfboards, Bliz Eyewear, Sir Fruit, Red Bull, and Betify aligning themselves with the event.
Hospitality partner Royal St Andrews Hotel and local supporter The Pottery further strengthen the community and lifestyle element surrounding the tournament.
The level of support around the event reflects broader positive momentum within South African surfing, with growing enthusiasm from athletes, brands, tourism stakeholders, and audiences ahead of the new Africa Qualifying Series season.
Strong Early-Season Momentum
With international surfers, established South African campaigners, and some of the country’s best junior talent all converging on Victoria Bay, the 2026 Rip Curl Vic Bay Surf Pro is already generating strong anticipation ahead of the opening heats.
The event is expected to deliver high-performance surfing, valuable early-season rankings points, and a strong showcase for African surfing at one of South Africa’s most consistent high-performance waves.
Watch Live
The Rip Curl Vic Bay Surf Pro will be broadcast live on WorldSurfLeague.com and the free WSL app.
Media Information
Complimentary high-resolution images are available for media outlets.
For Rip Curl South Africa media enquiries and photo requests, please contact:
Craig Jarvis
Truth Collective
e. craig@truthcollective.co.za
t. 082 376 4443
For World Surf League Africa media enquiries, please contact:
Bianca van Aardt
WSL EMEA Communications Manager
e. bvanaardt@worldsurfleague.com
t. +27 82 773 5407
Kouga Local Municipality invites all residents to join their Ward WhatsApp group to stay informed and in the know.
These groups are a quick and convenient way to receive important updates, including service delivery alerts, urgent notices, community news, and municipal developments that affect your area.
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