Up until the end of the 1980s St Francis Bay enjoyed a beautiful wide beach even at spring high tides. Note the large area of mobile dunes plunging into the sea along the headland from launching site to the present-day harbour.   At the time of the photo, dune stabilisation was in progress in preparation for the development of Santareme. The hummock dune in the foreground, clothed in an indigenous dune grass (Thinopyrum distichum), is a sign of a healthy beach.

The same scene photographed this year. The beach has now eroded to a narrow strip, passable only at low tide. The hummock dunes, nature’s way of protecting coastal infrastructure, have been replaced by rock revetments. The mobile dunes along the headland have been replaced by houses as far as the eye can see. These dunes used to supply about 80 000 m³ of sand into St Francis Bay each year. Since that sand supply was cut-off, some 8.8 million m³ of sand has been lost from the sea floor of St Francis Bay. The amount of sand that is transported by longshore drift around Cape St Francis (Shark Point) – about 10 000 m³  –  and the amount derived from the remaining bypass dune near the point – also about  10 000 m³  – are inadequate to counter this loss.

View looking southwest from the junction of the boundaries between Cape St Francis Nature Reserve, Cape St Francis Village and St Francis Field (air park). Note the absence of houses east of the Cape St Francis Resort and the dense stands of invasive rooikrans (Acacia cyclops) in what is now the Seal Bay Nature Reserve.

The same scene today, above Duiker Street. The scene is now dominated by the houses of Extension4 of Cape St Francis but the fynbos in the foreground (part of the Cape St Francis Nature Reserve) remains intact and the Seal Bay Nature Reserve is free of alien rooikrans.

A report by Colleen Smith

Gladiolus hutonii

The lockdown, because of Covid-19, called into question whether we hold a Wildflower Chase this year or not. Dave Bowmer and I discussed it – there was no spectacular display of the pink and yellow Senecio’s that we had last year and we were not sure what we would be able to show off. The Cape St Francis Resort was not able to host a Wildflower festival and if we did do anything, strict protocols would have to be followed. But wild flowers never disappoint us and we decided to go ahead with a different version of the Wildflower Chase.

With help from Margie Middleton we put together a booklet with a comprehensive but by no means complete list of the flowers, shrubs and trees found on St Francis Field. We made labels for a small selection of them and we invited visitors to accompany us on a self-drive Chase. Posters were put up and an invitation was posted on various social media platforms.

Our next challenge was the weather. We chose 2nd to 4th October for the event and then weather reports predicted strong winds and rain for those days, neither which contribute to enjoyable flower chasing! So we shifted the days to the only two sunny days we could see for the next two weeks and persons who had already booked were phoned about the date change.

In the end, Dave Bowmer, Margie Middleton and Colleen Smith took four groups (22 participants).

The vulnerable Gladiolus hutonii and Pelargonium suburbanum were both out in full splendour, the endangered Satyrium princeps or red orchids were just coming into bloom and the near threatened Moreae australis were all open in the mid-day sun. Hosts of other varieties of flowers also gave a great showing and a highlight of the trip was the garden belonging to one of the homeowners on the ridge overlooking Cape St Francis.

This garden was planted last year by Dave on a sand dune splattered with builder’s rubble after the house was built. Plants were all indigenous, with the majority being those found in this area. Since then it has had almost no attention but has thrived despite plenty of wind and very little rain. This is a wonderful example what can be achieved and gave inspiration to many of the participants.

Proceeds from entrance fees went to F.O.S.T.E.R.

Wildflower Garden in St Francis Field

More information on FOSTER visit their website at http://foster.org.za

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U7qwgkpf8WQ&feature=youtu.be

It is a big congratulations to Manoa Robb, the official Round 1 winner of the Monster Combo. Manoa’s efforts see him win a R2000 Pollywog gift voucher and an entry into the final, with a chance to win R20 000 cash and his spot on an international surf trip with Matt Bromley and the Zag and Monster crews. Simone Robb feeling the good vibes too, banking R2k cash for her efforts behind the lens.

Our very first Monster Combo Round 1 Local Hero Award goes to J-Bay’s Cyle Myers for a series of in-the-pocket backhand man-hacks on

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yHOJsAaEGmk&feature=youtu.be

The window period for Round 2 begins today and closes 15 November. With only 2 months of competition remaining, don’t let a golden opportunity go a-begging. Grab your camera and drag your mate down the beach, get those combo’s down and send them in.

Here’s how the votes played out in Round 1: 

Zag: 

What a round. So many good entries. At the end of the day, ZZ went with Manoa Robb, chased hard by Dylan Lightfoot and Royden Bryson. Manoa took the win thanks to the punch of his combo and the fluidity between moves. The point of difference being Manoa’s large and lofty full rote straight out the barrel, displaying ingenuity, variety and subtle tweaks with no hacking or flapping in between. A pleasure to watch. 

Special mention to Adin Masencamp, Zoë Steyn, Ducky Staples, Royden Bryson and Faye Zoetmulder!

Monster:

We loved Gavin Roberts back to back man hacks, Royden’s upsidedown into barrel and repeat. Then there was Lightfoot’s absolute annihilation of an inside Supers bowl. Notable mentions need to go to Cyle Meyers for the decimation of the same Super’s car park bowl, Ducky’s threading of barrel into barrel into death float. Then there was Dries Millard’s inspirational story and what it takes for him to catch a wave, and Zoe Steyn’s backhand attack at her local spot. Still, we feel the timing, speed, and flow between a picturesque barrel and tail-high full rotation of Manoa Robb was precisely what the Monster Combo is all about. Therefore it gets our thumbs up. 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bhrF4VPR3UQ&feature=youtu.be

the Car Park Section. Cyle scoops a brand new custom Channel Islands surfboard and a toasty Billabong steamer wetsuit.

Matt Bromley:

Dale’s barrel on that first wave was super deep., but it wasn’t a linked-together combo. I was very impressed with Zoe Steyn’s wave, as she had amazing flow with critical surfing. Gav Roberts’ two massive turns to tube were really sick with that clean power. Royden’s was epic, along with Brad Scott’s, Chad du Toit’s, and Dan Thornton. Stevey Sawyer is so smooth. The barrels from Jacko, Dan Redman, and Josh Redman were insane, but not combos.

I think in 2nd is Manoa’s barrel to air. The barrel was really deep, and the transition was beautiful straight into that tail high air. Unfortunately, the wave wasn’t that solid.

The winner for round 1 for me is Dyl Lightfoot’s 3 turn combo. He did 3 mental manoeuvres, with so much speed, and flow, with hardly any hesitation between turns. The turns were hard, on the rail, with lots of spray and then holding that last bottom turn so long into that final, crazy, swooping carve. Loved it.

There were so many mental entries. Very impressed with SA’s surfing from all over the country. And Dries Millard, those two waves were epic. 

Billabong:

Dylan Lightfoot

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h5BuWccvaww&feature=youtu.be

We’ve already had 39 top quality entries. This year is set to be the busiest and most competitive Monster Combo ever. Onwards to Round 2 and some exciting announcements later this week!

Because it was a tie-break the public vote was decisive, with Manoa Robb edging out Dylan Lightfoot and taking the win purely based on public votes cast.

As for the Local Hero award, the votes were unanimous seeing Cyle ‘the man-mountain’ Myers smash his way and the lip into the pound seat!

The Rotary Club of St Francis officially presented a Defibrilator and Holter to the community of St Francis last week. The equipment is to be held at Dr Jean Malan’s medical practice at the St Francis Medical Centre where it will be used to benefit the broader community of St Francis, Sea Vista and the surrounding informal settlements

The donation was made possible through the generosity of a family foundation in the UK which has chosen to fund projects and causes identified and facilitated through the St Francis Rotarians.

Dr Malan is also the attending medical practitioner at the St Francis Clinic in Sea Vista.

Defibrilators are regarded as a basic necessity in most countries and are usually available in all medical facilities, shopping centres, sports clubs, gyms etc. However, the only one available in St Francis until this time is owned by the NSRI, and stored at their base in Port St Francis. Dr Malan has access to this but at great inconvenience to his patient and himself, losing valuable time in a crisis.

Dr Jean Malan explains, “An AED (Defibrillator) is used to save lives directly when someone passes out and then gets shocked to get the heart going again.

A Holter is a simple device to monitor someone’s heart speed and rhythm for up to a week and clips onto a belt that a patient can carry around. It is used on a daily basis because of the information it provides. The one device also supplements the other. Both these devices will benefit the local population tremendously and we are extremely grateful for this donation.  It is literally life saving!”

“We were delighted to be able to facilitate this important donation to our community’s well being, particularly as it coincides with Rotary International Annual Health Day on 15^th October,” said Santa Zeiss, Club President.

Dr Jean Malan, Dr Anina Ellis, Rotarian Tom Roux, Rotarian Brian Codling, President of Rotary Club of St Francis Santa Zeiss and Sister Caron Rossiter – Photo Lyn Aitken

Kouga residents and businesses have been urged to continue using water sparingly.

“Some much-needed rain has fallen in the catchment areas, but not enough to make a significant difference to the dam levels.

“This means we cannot relax yet and must continue doing all we can to save water,” cautioned Kouga Executive Mayor, Horatio Hendricks.

He said the level of the Kouga Dam had increased by almost two percent this month following some rainfall in the Langkloof catchment areas .

“The dam level was at 8,09% at the end of September. This climbed to 9,03% on Monday this week, with further inflow expected.

“While this brings some relief, the level remains dangerously low and is not expected to increase far beyond 10%,” he said.

According to the latest information from Nelson Mandela Bay Municipality, the level of the Impofu Dam inched up from 18,55% at the end of September to 18,97% this week.

The level of the Churchill Dam increased from 53,08% to 62,92% over the same period and the Loerie Dam from 29,97% to 44,84%.

Photo by Jacques van der Merwe: The level of the Kouga Dam has increased slightly over the past week.