The teams had an awesome day today. Lots of fish were measured and released and the weather out there was amazing. To be able to go out three days in a row is wonderful but really exhausting for our intrepid anglers.
The radio communications went well with Andrew Perrins, from England, handling the proceedings on 82 Delta, Earl and Trevor, of course, were here in Struisbaai and Agulhas to pick up any gaps that might occur. There was a hiccup when one of the boats lost communication but luckily they were able to communicate with a tanker in the area who reported having seen a fishing boat on the 12-mile bank. He was not in distress but his radio had malfunctioned so he could not check-in for a while.
Here are some of the highlights of the day
The Border Boys returning on Stompie 2Great Team Spirit from the Border Boys on Stompie 2The lovely Western Province Ladies on Rapidcat Adele Palmer, Amanda van Staden, Karla RautmannRelentless had a good day with The SADSAA TeamEastern Cape rejoicing after a day on Piromero Tails-Up brings the Barbarian Girls homeMichelle, Bronwen and Mable after a great day at seaThe Under 19 SADSAA Team were @Work all day today And these are the results of their hard work -Chais Gaul, Rick Kuisis (Skipper of @Work) Werner van Zyl and Jan Harm du Plessis Eastern Cape happy with their catch Kevin Clark, Ben de Bruyn, Jan Peinke
Thursday 14 October 2021
Because of poor weather and sea conditions, today has been declared a rest day. It is uncertain whether the teams will fish tomorrow and therefore I cannot post the latest results until this decision has been made. The final results are always kept secret until the closing function.
Should they be announced after the weather call I will do a brief post to let you all know. Otherwise, the next report will be after the closing function.
What a great day our anglers had yesterday. The scores have been tallied and hereunder you will see how our teams are doing.
Team
Day 1
Day 2
Total
Western Province
263.0
371.16
634.16
Eastern Province
429.14
149.58
578.71
Southern Cape
342.56
122.09
464.64
SADSAA Master Green
237.40
197.21
434.61
Eastern Province Ladies
20.13
253.13
273.26
Natal
97.02
162.88
259.91
Border
104.24
152.15
256.38
Western Province Ladies
59.55
168.25
227.80
Border Ladies
115.78
111.83
227.61
SADSAA
106.44
111.28
217.72
SADSAA Under19
17.91
193.53
211.44
Barbarian Ladies
104.15
11.44
115.59
SADSAA Masters Gold
43.96
53.36
97.32
Free State
62.61
20.57
83.18
SADSAA Bottom Fish Nationals Score Sheet Day 2
We did not get the golden dawn of the past two days this morning but our anglers were still in good spirits and ready to greet the rather chilly start to the day. There was a cold wind blowing and the skies were overcast.
Because of the poor light, I was not able to get portraits of all the boats today so I will quickly list which team is on which boat. There are, of course, also a few photos of the launch.
Boat
Team
Sea Dodger
SADSAA Master Green
Rapidcat
Western Province Ladies
Relentless
SADSAA
Zeeman
Free State
Piromero
Eastern Province
Moelas
SADSAA Masters Gold
Bayswater
Western Province
Stompie 2
Border
Booby Trap
Eastern Province Ladies
Tails Up
Barbarian Ladies
@Work
SADSAA Under 19
Capetonian
Southern Cape
Wee Nenya
Natal
Double D
Border Ladies
Current Scores
Boats also get points for how well their teams do. The Skipper with the least number of points will be in the lead.
Boat
Skipper
Day 1
Day 2
Total
Double D
Erik Dahl
2
6
8
Rapidcat
Brian Haywood
5
3
8
Relentless
Daniel Hughes
4
5
9
Tails Up
Harry Botha
7
2
9
Zeeman
De Wet Zeeman
6
4
10
Booby Trap
Owen Pretorius
5
7
10
Bayswater
Piet Wessels
1
12
13
Stompie 2
Riaan Swart
12
1
13
Wee Nenya
Bryan Fitchat
8
9
17
Moelas
Chris Moolman
10
8
18
Sea Dodger
Roger Marais
9
10
19
@Work
Rick Kuisis
11
11
22
Capetonian
Hubert Meyer
13
14
27
Piromero
Robin Vermaak
14
13
27
Boat Scores
Boats queueing to enter the harbourAt Work looking stunning in the dawn lightCapetonian at the readyBorder Boys on StompieSheena Gerber (EP) waiting to boardKarla Rautmann (WP Ladies) with her mom, JacquiEaster Province’s Ian PeinkeIan Peinke, Ben De Bruyn, Kevin Clark with skipper Robin VermaakFree State Team – Martin du Plessis, Andreas Papachristoforou, Ruan Coetzer
During the day as we listened to the reports coming in on the radios, we could tell that a great day was being had by all the anglers. Both skill and luck go into every competition but the important thing is that a lot of fun is had by all.
By the end of the week, the winners will have caught a variety of species, and the more species they bag the better their chances of winning are. It is difficult to gauge in the beginning how well the boats are doing because it is not dependent on the number and weight of the fish caught. Of course weight counts but the variety of species is more important. Most of the species caught are measured, photographed, and then released. Only a few species, therefore, are brought to the scales to be weighed and those fish are kept for eating. The competition is definitely on right up until the end!
Border Ladies Belinda Fischl, Jaqueline Leuf, Sue BothaWestern Cape Ladies Amanda van Staden. Adele Palmer, Karla Rautmann with Skipper of Relentless, Daniel HughesEastern Cape Ladies Jennifer Tanner Nelson, Sheena Gerber and Vanessa GerberBarbarian Ladies Michelle Richards, Mable Liebenberg and Bronwen SingletonWestern Province Men on Stompie 2 Colin Joubert, Iaan Viljoen, DP Burger with skipper Riaan SwartBorder Ladies posing with their catch and skipper DP Burger with his catchWestern Province men with some of their catch – DP , Iaan and ColinSADSAA Under 19 boys with their catch – Werner van Zyl, Jan Harm du Plessis Junior, Chais GaulEastern Cape Ladies had an excellent day – Sheena Gerber, Jennnifer Tanner Nelson and Vanessa Gerber- Jen’s cob is possibly a lady’s record. And at the harbour this afternoon the stingrays could not resist a visit to see what was happening.
Day 2’s results will be published in tomorrow’s report.
Here are few more photos of some of the boats returning this afternoon.
Once again the teams woke to a beautiful morning and were ready to enjoy another exciting fishing day.
So far the results look like this.
Eastern Province
439.14
Southern Cape
342.56
Western Province
263
SADSAA Masters Green
237.4
Border Ladies
115.78
SADSAA
106.44
Border
104.24
Barbarian Ladies
104.15
Natal
97.02
Free State
62.61
Western Province Ladies
59.55
SADSAA Masters Gold
43.96
Eastern Province Ladies
20.13
SADSAA Under 19
17.93
SADSAA Bottom Fish Nationals Results Day 1
There was an expectant air of excitement at the harbour this morning as upbeat music blasted from one of the towing vehicles as the teams waited for their boats to arrive.
Soon the signal was given for the launch to start and by 06:00 the last boat, Stompie 2, was launched and they all set off to the deep.
A stunning sky again this morningBait ready and waiting to be loadedOff to wait for the rest of the fleet at Borrelgat@Work has SADSAA on board todaySADSAA Gold is on BayswaterBooby Trap has the Border BoysWith Capetonian today are the Natal LadiesNatal Men on Double D todayHere they are all ready for a good day at seaEastern Province Men get to go with MoelasChris Moelman, skipper of Moelas with the Elephant Province BoysFree State team is on PiromeroSADSAA Green get to go on RapidcatWestern Province Ladies all set to fish on RelentlessBorder Ladies are with Sea DodgerOn Stompie 2 we have the Western Province MenThe Eastern Province ladies are setting off on Tails UpWee Nenya has Team South CoastThe South Coast boys with Skipper Bryan FitchatZeeman is ready to go with SADSAA Under 19 team.
Earlier today I posted some photographs of the start of the competition. At 16:00 it was lines-up and then the weigh-in of some of the fish caught. Most of the fish were measure and release and teams did well. I am just posting some group photos here. The teams reported having had an awesome day’s fishing. The sea was calm and it was hot!
This is a species competition and so the aim is to get a variety rather than the highest volume of fish in any catch.
I am posting just a few highlights of the day. There will be more as the week progresses. Captions will be updated as the names become known to me.
Natal Barbarians Ladies’ Team – Michelle Richards, Mable Liebenberg, and BronwenSingletonOne of the lovely fish caught I think it’s a SanterThe Western Cape Ladie got a bak full of fish – Karla Rautmann, Amanda van Staden and Adele Parman (Captain)SADSAA Green with some of their catch SADSAA Under 19 Team – Werner van Zyl, Jan Harm du Plessis, Chais Gaul Eastern Cape Ladies Team Natal with their skipper, Roger MaraisThe only yellowtail caught today! Well done, Eastern Cape!
What a stunning day to begin this year’s SADSAA Bottom Fish Nationals. Breakfast and Boat Pack Collection began at 04:45. The weather call was made at 05:00 and all was well so the teams could buy their bait and then be at the slipway to launch a 05:30.
After the blessing of the fleet, they all set off together to enjoy a wonderful competitive day at sea. Jacqui Rautmann, mother of the youngest competitor, Karla Rautmann was there to see them all off and took the most amazing photographs with her cell phone. Thank you so much Jacqui for allowing me to post them here.
Later today or early tomorrow I will post some of the competitors’ photographs and some of the weigh-in that will take place this afternoon. Lines up is at 16:00.
Struisbaai Harbour in all its sunrise glory
Sea Dodger with the Natal team on board
Capetonian has the Eastern Province Ladies today.
Aboard Double D we have the Southern Cape team
Relentless with SADSAA GreenRapidcat took the Border Ladies to sea todaySADSAA Under 19 team is on PiromeroWhat a stunning skyAboard Zeeman was the SADSAA TeamRelentlessStompie 2 has SADSAA Gold on boardWestern Province was held on Booby TrapOn Tails Up Border is ready for actionWestern Province Ladies are happy @Work
Ready for a Day at Sea
Free State with their skipper on MoelasAre you ready for this, Border Boys?Team Eastern Province is definitely excited to be on BayswaterStompie 2 has SADSAA Gold
This week Suidpunt Deepsea Angling Club is hosting the Bottom Fish Nationals competition. A great deal of effort goes into preparing for a tournament such as this and the organizing committee has done an awesome job.
Last night we had the opening function at the club. The most delicious spit-roasted lamb was served along with some awesome side dishes.
I have posted photographs in this report and captioned them with names of those that I know and as soon as I can I will add those that I do not.
A Wonderful Spread
This is mainly a measure and release competition with just a few species being brought in for weighing.
Below is a list of all the participating teams
SADSAA MASTERS – GREEN
John Lueff (Captain)
Gary Truluck
Wayne Gerber
SADSAA MASTERS – GOLD
Allen Ford (Captain)
John Watkins
Francios Beukes
SADSAA
Louis Becker (Captain)
Kobus Koekemoer
Abed Khan
SADSAA U19
Jan Harm du Plessis junior (Captain)
Werner van Zyl
Chais Gaul
NATAL
Riaz Hussain (Captain)
Jan Harm du Plessis senior
Sayed Cassim
BORDER
Everitt van Loggeren-Berg (Captain)
Andrew Harris
Gary Lunt
SOUTHERN CAPE
Chris Schorn (Captain)
Johan Slabbert
Johann Crouse
EASTERN CAPE
Kevin Clark (Captain)
Ian Peinke
Ben de Bruyn
FREE STATE
Andreas Papachristoforou (Captain)
Martin du Plessis
Ruan Coetzee
WESTERN CAPE
Colin Joubert (Captain)
Iaan Viljoen
DP Burger
BARBARIAN LADIES
Michelle Richards (Captain)
Bronwen Singleton
Mable Liebenberg
BORDER LADIES
Jacqueline Leuf (Captain)
Belinda Fischl
Sue Botha
WESTERN PROVINCE LADIES
Adele Palmer (Captain)
Amanda van Staden
Karla Rautmann
EASTERN PROVINCE LADIES
Sheena Gerber (Captain)
Vanessa Gerber
Jennifer Tanner Nelson
At the opening ceremony last night some of the competitors we awarded their provincial colours.
Before the proceedings, Earl Fenwick read the Fisherman’s Prayer.
Karla Rautmann (16) Western Province
Amanda van Stadan (Western Province)
Vice Chaiman of SADSAA Chris Schorn and Abed Khan (SADSAA)
The further south we travelled the colder it became. We were on our way back to winter! This morning at 06:00 it was 5 degrees C and it didn’t rise very much until midday.
We all felt that we’d come to the end of the lollipop and our hearts went plop! The road trip was over. This last leg of the journey was the shortest drive we had to do. We followed Route 62 and stopped at Barrydale’s Country Pumpkin for breakfast. The sun was shining and it was warmer to sit outdoors at a sunny table than inside where it was very cold. We ordered our coffees/teas and enjoyed the warming effect of the hot liquid. When the waitress took our breakfast order she informed us that as we were caravanners we got our first cup free! Good on you Country Pumpkin for being so nice to caravanners! I was the only one to order a second cup. We all had omelettes which were absolutely delicious . They were served with sweet potato crisps and a small pumpkin fritter.
Two Geckos parked outside The Country Pumpkin in Barrydale
From then on we travelled the picturesque Tradeaux pass and it was once again a pleasure not to play dodge the pothole! Western Cape roads are in good condition.
Finally we turned onto the homeward road.
When we got to Bredasdorp we stopped to say an emotional goodbye before splitting to go to our respective homes in Napier and Struisbaai. You really become close to your friends when you spend forty-four days together!
Other friends, Yolandi and Carl and their daughter, Lisa had been staying in our house while waiting to move into their new home in Napier. Yesterday Yolandi sent a cryptic message to the Earl, “Ollie and Benji can’t wait to meet you.” Who were Ollie and Benjy? Hint – The Earl is a bunny hugger!
Hello, We love your garden. Please can this be our new forever home? Benji in front Ollie behind
Of course the Earl was over the moon. I was less so – who would look after them when we travel? We have been assured that a bunny-sitter, living nearby has already been found.
We like it here!
What a lovely end to our adventure.
Thank you all for following our adventure. I hope those of you who have never been to KNP feel the urge to put this wonderful reserve on your bucket list. Should you wish to find out more about booking a Sanparks Holiday, see my tips here.
Dankie aan al die Gecko Familielede wat elke dag saam met ons gery het. Dankie vir die pragitge kommentare op WhatsApp en FaceBook. Ek hoop dat die inligting wat ek ingesluit het, nuttig is.
Tot volgende keer – Totsiens.
PS A fellow blogger, Bushboy, from Australia asked what Bobotie (which I ate for dinner last night) is, so for my non-South African readers here is a brief explanation.
Bobotie is a curried mince dish with a milk and egg custard poured over and baked in the oven. It was imported from Indonesia in the seventeenth century then adapted by the Cape Malay community whose origins are from Indonesia and Malaysia. Click on the caption for a recipe.
Our route took us through the towns of Colesberg, Middleberg, Graaff-Reinet and Willowmore to Oudtshoorn where we are spending the night at Kleinplaas Caravan Park. The roads were amazing and we did not have to play Dodge the Pothole or Pass the Truck.
We filled up with fuel at Caltex Colesberg, found their restaurant and shop closed so continued to Shell Ultra City for breakfast at their Steers. The further south we travelled the cooler the weather became. It was lunchtime when we arrived at Willowmore where we filled up at Engen and then went to a quaint little coffee shop called Kapoet. Some of these small town have the loveliest ideas when decorating their shops. This coffee shop sold a variety of crafts, beauty products, confectionery and jams etc. The Earl and Alec went straight over to the confectionery section to see what was on offer. There were so many wonderful things in the shop that the Earl ended up spending more money than he intended on some specialty meats. Finally we sat down to tea/coffee and pancakes – cinnamon for Cathy and Alec and Spinach and Feta for the Earl and me. If you’re travelling through Willowmore with a caravan there is enough room to park in the street outside and Kapoet is well worth a visit.
Kapoet is an Afrikaans word which loosely translated means finished, at the end of your tether, defeated, So here you can refresh yourselfLots of tempting products on offerA wonderful place to stop and relax and enjoy a snack
We arrived at Kleinplaas at 16:00. Kleinplaas has lovely well-laid out, shady campsites. At reception they suggested we share a campsite so it cost half of what it would have. You are given a key to the ablution block and they are pristine. Kleinplaas is highly recommended as a stopover place in Oudtshoorn.
It was a little drizzly and cool so we decided not to order pizza and sit outside to eat as we did the last time we stayed here. Instead we went to Nostalgie. Alec was not feeling well so he did not accompany us. Cathy had the lamb shank – delicious. Earl had an ostrich fillet burger – divine and I had the best bobotie I’ve ever eaten. The restaurant is an old 80 year old converted house consisting of different rooms so when one is full they open another. The service was friendly, quick and efficient and you felt you were being entertained in somebody’s home. We just loved it.
Old hats decorating the walls of the room we had at Nostalgie
Tomorrow will be the last leg of our long, wonderful holiday.
Sorry everyone but I got the name of the place we stayed at wrong in my post yesterday. It is not Sonop but Moreson which is 10 km outside the town of Vrede in the Free State. I have made the corrections.
As I stepped out of the caravan this morning, I spotted a little scrub hare hopping across the path and into the bush. It was a lovely start to the day.
The Earl got a lovely shot of the sunrise
We were on the road by 07:15 and once again rattled over the awful road until we joined the R34 then R103 to Warden. From there we travelled the R714 to Bethlehem before turning onto the N5 to Senekal and on to Winberg where we took the N1 to Gariep. On all of the R roads we played Dodge the Pothole, a dangerous game that was no fun at all. But we survived and changed the game to Follow the Truck and Pass When You Can which was frustrating as you simply couldn’t win but it was a tad less dangerous than the previous game.
A highlight of the trip, though, was our stop at Senekal Padstal. It is right on the N5 and has plenty of parking for caravans. The men were delighted to find a variety of confectionery on sale and indulged a few packets of crunchies, ginger snaps and soet koekies. Our breakfast was fluffy scrambled eggs, delicious pork sausages, bacon, tomato and toast at a very reasonable R60 per person including large mugs of excellent coffee.
It was indeed a long walk to the toiletsA lovely spot with a shop selling confectionary and craftsA relaxing place to chill and have a meal after a long drive
At Winberg a fellow Gecko owner who was not towing his caravan passed us and posted a message on the Gecko Family Whatsapp Group. The Earl noticed that a Ford Ranger with a CCC registration had zapped past us. He is observant that way! Nice to meet you Charl and Tillie. Hope you found a lovely place to stay over.
We arrived at Forever Gariep at 15:00, checked in and found two level caravan sites near the wonderful ablutions for which this camp is famous.
Two Geckos at GariepGariep Dam
In the evening we went to the restaurant for dinner. The service was a little slow but the food was fine. The Earl had rooibok shank, Alec had chicken schnitzel and Cathy and I had Chicken Breast de la Casa. All were served with chips and salad.
Gariep Forever Resort is highly recommended as a stopover or a holiday destination. The facilities are great and there are many activities on offer for adults and children.
Adventuring into Retirement 