Navy News – SA Surfski Champs and the Prescient Freedom Paddle 2026
Today we salute the Salty Sea Dogs and the boys and girls of our Transvaal Navy.
The SA Surfski S1 Champs took place on Friday from Simons Town to Millers Point and back to Fish Hoek on a sunny, calm day with some calling it a warm–up for the Freedom Challenge. Nic Notten, having spent the last few months in a canoe on Emmarentia wasn’t too rusty, he was second off the sea just behind Uli, so we were quick to congratulate our new Vaalie (although the organisers put him down as a Peninsular Paddler) who beat the seasoned Hank McGregor into third place.
Then on Sunday it was the iconic island paddle. As usual in the days before all eyes were on the weather apps andconditions didn’t look great. Fortunately on race day the predicted rain didn’t arrive, and the wind wasn’t as strong as expected, but it was a cold and cloudy day, the swell was massive, and there was a big cross shore side bump to make things tricky, even for the real salty sea dogs. Most said the paddle out to the island wasn’t too bad, but all had big eyes when they saw the size of the waves and the swell on the other side, and it was from here that the race was won and lost, when some racing snakes took tighter lines, while some back markers swam further out, got cold and never recovered.
In guys race, Josh Fenn & Andy Birkett were leading, but going around the back of the island, the Mocke father & son crew of Dawid & Sam took the tiger line and were followed by the youngsters Mat Coetzer & Luke le Roux who then put the hammer down and went on to win, as in the words of Josh, he “Fell off a cliff” and with that they had to settle for second while the Mocke’s took third. Defending champions Nic Notten & Kenny Rice were fourth, the Natal school boysKegan Vogt & Riley Smith were fifth, followed by Uli Hart & Clint Cook who just beat Pippa & Hank McGregor while Riccy Talevi & Shaun Rubenstein were ninth. So, once again we had a few Navy boys in the top 10, making the Admiral proud. In the ladies race Kira Bester & Melanie van Niekerk held off a determined challenge from Saskia Hockly & Rosie Edwards to successfully defend their title, finishing 14th and 16th overall. Respect.
From the (rather small) Navy contingent we also had Sibusiso Zulu & Sandile Menjenjalo who made the top 50, well ahead of Washy & his brother Alan Neate. Then there was Chris Carnegie & Donald Voysey ahead of Bob Macfarlane & Sarah Field, who beat her mom Karen, but Karen along with Tarryn Dietrich & Bronwen Jillings made a bit of history as the first ladies S3 Freedom finishers. Well done the Veltie girls. Neil Barrow was our only S1 finisher, he said it was “just tap, tap the whole way trying to stay in boat.” Unfortunately we also had a DNF and a DNS; sorry boys – but well done to all who managed the testing conditions, and respect to the one guy who Supped around the Island.
Well done also to Robin Tindall and Richard Kohler on pulling off another successful event with a record of 233 craft and almost 400 participants (from Skis to Coastal Rowers to SUPs on both the long and short courses) and thanks to Prescient and all the other sponsors for the support.
Next up for the Navy – a trip to Mozambique, with a warm up on the Vaal Dam. Organised by Raoul and Moolies, it will be interesting – go and enjoy!
Till next time – Go Dabs!