Stilbaai is not only a popular holiday destination, but it is also well-known among surfers as a surfing destination and advanced surfers prefer to tackle the waves especially at Morris Point. Here dolphins and even seals have joined surfers in the action.
Less experienced surfers prefer the softer breakers at Lappiesbaai while those with even more experience are regulars at the rough coast of Jongensfontein.
Here are the various surfing spots in Stilbaai and Jongensfontein according to www.wavescape.co.za, a South African surf forecasting and coastal lifestyle website that has been in existence since 1998. They also provide marine forecasts to the surf industry and the public and run the Wavescapes Surf Film Festival which screens the world’s best surfing and ocean conservation films. Stilbaai – a grinding right-hand point break with a classic mid-break section, and sometimes a deep, thick outside section for the stout of heart. When big, a strong rip pushes you down the rocks. Like many points along the east coast, Stilbaai likes a lined-up south to southeast swell. A huge west or southwest swell bends around the outside point and reforms a lot smaller on the inside, with much of its energy broken up. As the swell angle moves to southeast, the swell comes in straighter, avoiding the outside reform. Best in glassy seas or light westerlies on a pushing mid tide in clean four- to eight-foot swell. Dolfines Point – A gnarly, ledging right-hand point reef with some seriously hollow sections deep in wild fynbos. Needs a solid 10-foot-plus south swell before the swell wraps into the bay, or southeast swell of course. Needs light northwest to northeast wind. Only good surfers need apply. Skulpiesbaai – In the middle of the bay across from Dolfines Point lies a small triangular reef with good right-handers in clean groundswell and light winds. On the eastern side of the bay, which is in effect the reverse side of Stilbaai Point, some good lefts break off the rocks. Best when a powerful five- to eight-foot southeast swell is running.
Jongensfontein – When you’re headed to Stilbaai in the mistaken belief that it will be firing, Jongens might appease you. Jongens prefers a two- to five-foot southwest to south swell, and breaks off a reef running right. The northwest to west wind is offshore, but it needs to be light.
Kakgat (Jongensfontein) – Triangular-shaped reef with right-handers peeling off the top of the reef, sometimes running up to a shore-break close-out. Prefers light west to northwest wind and clean three- to five-foot groundswell. Careful when pulling off the floater at the end. You might get a sand enema you won’t forget. On the scatological theme, Kakgat was named in the 1980s when former Springbok rugby player Rob Louw took a dump into an underground municipal sewage tank at the break.
Surfing action at ‘Kakgat’, Jongensfontein (2016)
Ramyatoolies – A fast, powerful left-hander off some rocks further down the beach. It was first surfed in 1984 but the locals did not have a name for it. Then someone told a derogatory joke – which we decided not to publish. Please visit www.wavescape.co.za for the story… – but the name Ramyatoolies or ‘Toolies’ stuck.
According to www.wannasurf.com the normal length of the waves at Morris Point is 50 to 150 metres and on a good day, the length is 150m to 300 metres. The swell size starts working at 1.0m to 1.5m / 3ft to 5ft and holds up to 4m+ / 12ft. The best tide position is mid and high tide.
Says popular surfer and model, Roxy Louw, who enjoys holidays in Stilbaai with the family: “Whenever I paddle out in Stilbaai, I take a step into my childhood. I still get butterflies and a warm feeling out there. It’s one place I truly feel safe. One having surfed it for years and secondly that I have dived the whole reef and collected “allekrik” and fished the rocks as a child. I know every rip-tide, but it also holds close to my heart as my dad was one of the first guys to surf Stilbaai and named “Kakgat” after a boys trip. My ‘oupa’ Matt who recently passed at 94, was a fond body surfer and his ashes will be thrown into the surf following his wishes. He always called Stilbaai ‘heaven’ and us youngsters have come to have a slice of it too. I will forever spend endless surfs and also teach yoga over the holiday season there at the local health studio.”
Sufer and Kfm surf reporter, Deon Bing, about surfing in Stilbaai: “You’re a little surfer out there in a big ocean…”
The 18th Vintners Surf Classic took place at Stilbaai’s Point earlier in August and despite the wet weather, it was enjoyed by all the winemakers, the marketers, families and supporters. De Kleine Wijn Koöp was at the event and produced this awesome videothat shows spectacular waves and great surfing.
The annual Vintners Surf Classic, held for the 18th time this year and taking place on Friday (11 August) at Stilbaai Point, was one for the books.
Looking back, this is what they had to say – from www.vintners.co.za: “On 11 August 2017, a day that will long be remembered, the 18th Vintners’ Surf Classic was held in huge surf on Stilbaai point, testing the competitors’ courage and strength. It was a day of excitement and high drama – but happily concluded with everyone safe, just drained of every ounce of energy…
This ever-growing competition saw over 75 surfers battling it out, which meant that the first heat took to the water at dawn in 6 degree air temperatures. While the sea felt warm in comparison, it was far from welcoming… indeed the surfers who actually made it out to the backline and caught one wave often won their heat outright, so hard going was it fighting the surging surf. In addition, the ever-strengthening current later saw one heat of four surfers swept from the top of the point right down to the lighthouse without even getting a wave!
Meanwhile, on land, a drizzle set in that lasted all day and turned the spectator zone into a mud-pit – adding to the gritty drama of the event – but no-one dared leave, so riveting was the drama that was playing out in the ocean. Huge take-offs, big wipe-outs and some long rides kept everyone entertained, even if the wives were more than a little nervous…The awards event later that night was in turn a huge celebration, with great stories to tell and superb wine to share them over. Along with fun spot prizes, over R15,000 was raised for the Surf4Life charity in an auction. Fellow waterman and wine-lover, Allan Mullins, was also presented with his very own custom surfboard, which allows him to surf even though wheelchair-bound. “I haven’t words to express the emotions and gratitude that whipped through me when I was handed my personalised surfboard… I cannot tell you how much it meant and how it lifted me to yet another plane,” Allan said afterwards. “Let me just say thank you from my heart!”
And so another fantastic Vintners’Surf Classic was concluded – and to the victors’ went the superb prizes, courtesy of the very generous sponsors. Juniors
1. JT vd Westhuizen / 2. Jan Solms / 3. Markus Sadie / 4. Brad Gold Seniors
1. Nicky de Villiers / 2. Duncan Savage / 3. Gunter Schultz / 4. François Hanekom Women
1. Trizanne Barnard / 2. Nadia Barnard Veterans
1. Miles Mossop / 2. Cobus Joubert / 3. Anthony de Jager / 4. Steve Rogers Sponsors: Ross Lindsay / Mat Marias / Micky Lindsay / Johan Rademan
The organisers would like to thank the generous headline sponsors RR Wine Technologies and Reef South Africa as well as the contributions of Thales Wine Services; Winetech; Consol Glass; Anthony Lane Design; WinPak; Cool Dandy; Cult Premium Bottling; Vineyard Connection; Rolling Wood/WAWA; Country Digital; Thys Lombard Photography; The Best Tile Company; Spec Systems; Stance Socks and M.A.T Surfboards.
Also a huge thanks to the Stillbaai community to allowing the event to be held on their shores!”
Surfing for a good cause: The Vintner’s Surf Classic also supports a good cause – Surf4Life that was founded in honour of the late Taryn Pratt to help continue her legacy of assisting people in the community through surfing and fundraising events. So, every year, all the Vintner’s Surf Classic winemakers supply delicious red wines and these are crafted into a collector’s wine called BIG RED, always bottled in magnums. Some of these bottles are auctioned to raise money for the Surf4Life Campaign and others will soon be commercially available for sale. – The Vintner’s Surf Classic
Derek and Jacomí Odendaal have made Stilbaai their home and they are already of service.
The Odendaals recently relocated from Sedgefield and they are sure that their experience in lodge management and tourism, as well as their love for art, woodwork, nature and the outdoors, can be put to good use in Stilbaai and the Hessequa area.
DEREK ODENDAAL – OOSWES
No challenge is too big or too small for Derek who specialises in woodwork (benches, stairs, partitions, decks, pergolas etc), built-in cupboards, home renovations and maintenance. He believes in good client service and trustworthiness. His recreational passion is hiking and mountaineering, in which he has been active for decades.
Contact Derek (OosWes) for free quotations and advice.
JACOMĺ ODENDAAL – INDIGO MOON
Jacomí is an artist and freelance graphic designer. She specialises in a variety of art forms and is also looking forward to teach children art and creativity. Pre-school and primary school children who would like to learn art, are welcome to contact her to enquire about the classes.
She is a painter and prefers acrylic as a medium. Her other art work includes stained glass work, mosaic, sculpting and drawing and she has 15 years’ experience in ceramics. Jacomí also creates life size flying birds and butterflies and even fish from obeche wood.
In 2014 she held a highly successful exhibition (acrylic paintings) at the Poetry Coffee Shop in Oudtshoorn.
Derek and Jacomí Odendaal hope that their work and enthusiasm will contribute positively to Stilbaai and the area.
The 26th Stilbaai Galjoen Derby that took place on Saturday (5 August) was sponsored by Agio Baits and was the biggest to date with 432 anglers in 71 teams (a new record for this event) competing for prizes worth more than R130 000.
Anglers tried their luck from Stilbaai’s western shores all the way to Heuningnesbaai at Jongensfontein and despite conditions that were less than ideal, 104 galjoen were caught with 103 that were safely released again. This confirmed again that this event is still the biggest catch-and-release derby in the country.
According to Chris Nolan from Stywe Lyne Tight Lines magazine, who covered the event for a feature article, the southerly and south-western winds brought the icy cold, rainy weather while it also caused huge swells and under currents resulting in the galjoen keeping to the deeper waters. These conditions did, however, not stop the anglers from doing what they love at the derby: catch (and release) fish.
Two Oceans Aquarium was also involved and did DNA sampling and tagging of the galjoen, also known as the black bream or blackfish (Dichistius capensis). Says Graeme Forrer (@yo_fishing on Instagram) : “It is great to see these organizations siding with anglers to protect our future stocks.” Forrer’s team, Anysberg Biltong, scored bronze medals at the derby in conditions described by them as ‘super tough’. The Galjappers walked away as the winners with the Kinky Goblins finishing second.
According to Xander de Beer, organising member of Stilbaai Rots- en Strand Kushengelklub, the majority of the fish were not big and averaged between 38 to 40cm. The winning galjoen was caught by Stilbaai angler, Chris van Zyl from Team Galjappers. It measured 51cm and weighed 2.531kg. Anneliese van Lil (Team Guppies) was second with her galjoen measuring 49.1cm (2.248kg) with E. Tenggren (Team Swellendam Super Six) rounding off the podium with his 49cm galjoen that weighed 2.234kg.
A special mention goes to Celena van Zyl, a young lady angler that formed part of the team entered by Stilbaai’s Bertie Barnard Primary School – the youngest team to enter this competition – whose galjoen measured 46.8cm earning her the ninth place overall.
Lastly, some information supplied by Graeme Forrer for the ‘foreign fishing enthusiasts: “Galjoen is South Africa’s National Fish. They are caught from shore on a variety of baits, some including #polychaetes, #molluscs, #crustaceans and the very smelly and famous #redbait. They are strong, tough little fighters that can handle storm surge seas and are traditionally #braai‘d or baked in the oven. It will undoubtedly rival some of the tastiest fish in the world. Be sure to make a cast for one if you ever find yourself fishing our rugged coastline.”
The organisers would like to thank all the sponsors, teams and supporters and everyone who played a role in the success of the 2017 Agio Baits Stilbaai Galjoen Derby.
Stilbaai’s Rots- en Strandkushengelklub (‘Rock and Shore Angling Club’) is hosting the annual Galjoen Derby for the 26th consecutive year and it takes place on Saturday, August 5th, in Stilbaai.
A total of 71 teams (six members per team) from all over South Africa have entered this year’s competition where it is about big prizes, but it is also very much about catching the biggest galjoen on the day. Anglers will now keep an eye on the sea and the weather and will hope that the sea will be ‘on’ (that it will not be too clear and with lots of foam) as these are the ideal conditions to catch this shy fish (Dichistius capensis) that is also South Africa’s National Fish.
The Galjoen Derby, this year called the Stilbaai Agio Baits Galjoen Derby, is not only the biggest angling derby in South Africa, but it is also the biggest catch and release event. Almost all the fish caught on the day are being tagged and safely released after it has been weighed and measured according to the rules of the competition. The anglers are, however, not only catching galjoen and the weight of other fish brought ashore, also count towards calculating the winning team while there is, of course, a prize for the biggest galjoen.
Stilbaai welcomes all the visitors and trust that this event will, once again, be a great success. Good luck to all the local anglers participating in this event.
For more information about the Stilbaai Agio Baits Galjoen Derby, visit www.stilbaaigaljoenderby.co.za or visit Stefan van Huyssteen at Stil Fishing in Stilbaai.
End
Participating anglers will try their luck on the shores from Stilbaai to Jongensfontein.
The awards event later that night was in turn a huge celebration, with great stories to tell and superb wine to share them over. Along with fun spot prizes, over R15,000 was raised for the Surf4Life charity in an auction. Fellow waterman and wine-lover, Allan Mullins, was also presented with his very own custom surfboard, which allows him to surf even though wheelchair-bound. “I haven’t words to express the emotions and gratitude that whipped through me when I was handed my personalised surfboard… I cannot tell you how much it meant and how it lifted me to yet another plane,” Allan said afterwards. “Let me just say thank you from my heart!”
