Plett Ocean Festival news
Text by Sue van der Gaast and Daron Smit
Plett Ocean Festival incorporating this years Surfers Ball, Surf Competition and Fun Corporate Relay run / walk kicks off in 2011 all for an excellent cause
The tragic and untimely death of Tim van Heerden to a shark attack in Plettenberg Bay on the 23rd of August this year brought about shock, horror and the most unexplainable sadness to all of Tim’s friends and family but this tragedy has to be turned around for the greater good of our beautiful town and so the Plett Ocean Festival and the Shark Attack Fund have been borne.
All starting with the organisers of the annual Surfer’s Ball asking Tim’s loud mouth friend Sue van der Gaast if the ball could be held in memory of Tim and then the hard work started, but not alone, Sue quickly found some old and new friends to rope in.
The beneficiaries being a no-brainer – NSRI – Station 14 Plettenberg Bay and the Plett Lifesaving Club the Plett Ocean Festival in conjunction with the Shark Attack Fund came about which will become an annual festival although it will be moved next year into the October school holiday and many more ocean type activities will be incorporated but first more about this year’s event.
The Plett Ocean Festival will be held as a one day event on the 12th of November this year and will incorporate a Plett Ocean Festival Surf fun competition organised by Brian Salter, surfers will meet at Central Beach at 08h30 and the surf competition venue will then be decided, the divisions are as follows: Knee Board, SUP, Retro, longboard, Ladies Longboard, Under 12, Under 15Under 19, Open, Ballies and Ladies and will cost R50-00 per division. The prize giving for the winners of each division will take place at the Surfer’s Ball on the evening. Please contact Brian Salter for more info on 082 569 6278
A Body boarding fun competition will be held at The Wedge and all nippers are encouraged to enter, the prize giving for the fun body boarding competition will take place at the Plett Lifesavers Club straight after the event of Saturday the 12th of November.
The Plett Ocean Festival corporate fun walk/run relay will take place on the same day, 12th of November; registration will take place at the Plett Life Saving Club, Central Beach at 09h30. Teams need to consist of 4 members and costs R400-00 per team. Prizes will be awarded for best dressed team and best baton – baton’s must represent your company i.e. if you are an estate agency you can run walk with a show board, if you make bricks then you need to run with a brick and so on. The prize giving for the Plett Ocean Festival Corporate run/walk will take place at straight after the event at the Plett Lifesaving Club. For more info on the fun corporate relay please contact Daron Smit on 083 775 1340
Then at 7pm on Central Beach the Plett Ocean Festival Surfer’s Ball kicks off and of course you do not need to be a surfer or even sporty to come and enjoy the ball, it gives the ladies a chance to dress in their finery if they wish and the gentlemen are requested to wear boardies and a tux or at least a smart shirt. Tickets cost R150-00 each and include a meal (of which you have a choice from a menu), live music by the Stuart Brink – climbing MC90.3FM’s chart toppers at the moment, music by DJ Vix, an auction, spot prizes, lucky draws, a cash bar whilst all going towards an excellent cause. For tickets and info with regards to the ball please call Sue on 073 845 4141
All sponsors/cash beneficiaries will have their names or the names of their companies mounted on a surf board which will find a special place to be mounted until 2012 when we add to it and of course will get media coverage on MC90.3FM, CX Press, Show Me Plett and on Radio Today on Gordon Hoffmann’s breakfast show Mondays-Fridays 06h00-09h00.
On a more serious note, although this Festival has been created out of an enormous tragedy the trustees of this event and the Shark Attack Fund have a long term vision to grow this into an annual event – great for our town but more importantly the beneficiaries of this event and fund will have the opportunity to work together for the greater benefit of us as a coastal town. The idea behind this is to educate our local PDI’s in ocean skills whether it be through our life saving programme, learn to swim programme or as shark spotters and ocean guides with the emphasis on ocean activities. These guides will double up as shark spotters and trained lifeguards with Surf proficiency awards, shark bite kits will be purchased and be accessible at popular Plett surf spots. The fund can also be used to assist any person showing exceptional ocean skills to further their career in the field they excel at. Uniforms, wetsuits and so on will not go amiss either
Guard huts established at pivotal points along our beaches with trained life guards will assist swimmers, surfers and general bathers.
The Shark Attack Fund has already provided a fresh water shower at the Lookout View Point.
Should you wish to contribute to the Shark Attack Fund, no amount is too small kindly deposit into the following account: Please use your name/name of company as a reference should you want to be recognised as a benefactor
Shark Attack Fund
Nedbank, Plettenberg Bay
Account No 2003 111 468
Branch code 1090 1400
For info please call Sue on 073 845 4141
Plett Ocean Festival:
Source: Ocean Skills Development & Education Trust