New Year wishes from MSBWX and SAWXREP

We on the brink of 2015. Let's never forget that New Year is the time to unfold new horizons and realize new dreams, to rediscover the strength and faith within us, to rejoice in simple pleasures and gear up for new challenges. The New Year is a moment of quiet reflection. Reflect on the year gone by; of the happy gains and missed opportunities. Recount the good and bad of the past year. Introspect on your personal growth, and learn from the experience. New Year is the time to ensure that we bring balance to our life with positive influences overriding the negative ones. I want to wish everybody a Prosperous and Happy New Year and wish all MSBWX and SAWXREP readers/observers only the best for 2015.

“A Big Thank You” to all of the MSBWX and SAWXREP partners worldwide. Every year, I have the wonderful fortune to be able to work with some of the brightest, most dedicated, and most talented people in the world through my interaction with the MSBWX and SAWXREP around the world. Some of you I have known for many years through SAWDOS and SAWDIS, and some of you I have just recently had the pleasure to meet or interact with.  I offer you a sincere “Thank you,” and genuine wishes for an even better, more amazing 2015 together.

Make the best of 2015!!


Johan Terblanche
Founder: MSBWX. SAWXREP ex SAWDOS and SAWDIS
Mossel Bay 
South Africa

Mossel Bay Weather, Emergency and Disaster Observation Alert 2014/2015: Setting off Fireworks and Chinese Lanterns!!

Detonation of Fireworks during New Years Eve and New Years Day festivities

The new year is upon us and many parties have been scheduled for later tonight. Many of these parties go hand in hand with the detonation of fireworks to celebrate the beginning of 2015.

Last year several fires were started as a result of the public detonating fireworks in areas of the Southern Cape. Now I hear you say "So what......we are having fun". This attitude is absolutely irresponsible. MSBWX appeal to the public not to detonate fireworks in South Africa this year.  In Mossel Bay the detonation of fireworks are totally forbidden. Now this year the detonating of fireworks could have serious effects and could lead to run-away veld fires causing extensive damage. The Southern Cape experience a dry spell and vegetation is very dry.

Wildfires can cause major environmental, social and economic damages. The loss of plantations, wildlife habitat, homes and even lives may result from a devastating wildfire caused by fireworks. The wildfire that does not start is the one that does not have to be fought.

With the current fire risks across the Garden Route area due to dry conditions and increasing urbanization, now is the time to be more FIREWISE.

Chinese Lanterns during New Years Eve and New Years Day festivities 

MSBWX appealing to the public not to set off Chinese Lanterns. Chinese Lanterns are made out of a balsa wood or thin wire frame, a paper shell and a candle in the centre. The candle is lit allowing the generation of heat to send the lantern skyward where it floats through the sky (similar to a hot air ballon) until the candle burns out and then the baloon falls to the ground.

Once Chinese Lanterns are set off they are usually abandoned by the people setting them off and are seldom, if ever, followed by their owners to be properly disposed of wherever they land. It is widely believed to be near impossible to predict what they will do or where they will go once set off as they are at the mercy of the elements of the weather and wind conditions.

Chinese Lanterns are often mistaken by eye-witnesses as red distress flares. They are also feared to be a fire hazard – if they are caught in the wind and land in trees or dry grass fields or on buildings while the candle is still burning.

The NSRI strongly believe that, based on the potential risks that chinese lanterns may pose and based on the number of false alarms that the NSRI respond to, which turn out to be chinese lanterns mistaken to be red distress flares, that the practice of setting off chinese lanterns, into the sky, is irresponsible behavior and should not be practiced.

Do not detonate fireworks or set off Chinese Lanterns!!

-MSBWX + SAWXREP

SAWDOS and SAWDIS Blogs still being visited daily!!

The SA Weather and Disaster Observation Service (SAWDOS) and SA Weather and Disaster Information Service (SAWDIS) once the best weather and disaster observation blogs are still actively visited by visitors each day although given the fact that both these blogs are not being updated anymore. As the owner and founder of both these blogs it is hart warming and astonishing  to see the daily statistics of people visiting these blogs.  On the other hand I receive regular requests to grant permission for use of articles in educational mediums ranging from schools to universities or for general use. Unfortunately I am not the owner of some of the content published in these blogs making it difficult to grant permission to use certain articles.  Be as it may both SAWDOS and SAWDIS blogs are a great source for past weather and disaster observation information.  I trust that both these blogs will remain great sources that will still be used for educational and historical purposes in the future.

Here are the two visitor counters for the respective blogs:

SAWDIS  (Blog closed on 1 January 2012)  Total visits to date:

Link: http://saweatherobserver.blogspot.com/

SAWDOS (Blog closed on 31 March 2013) Total visits to date:

Link: http://sawdis1.blogspot.com/

Warning: Heavy rain on the way

GARDEN ROUTE NEWS - The Eden District Municipality's Disaster Management has been advised of the possibility of heavy rainfall in the region this afternoon.

According to Nandi Mgwadlamba, media spokesperson of Garden Route National Parks, this advisory was upgraded to a warning yesterday. 

"More than 100mm of rain is expected to fall within the region in the next 24 hours (Monday through to Tuesday)," she said.

"SANParks has already made a preparatory channel at the Sedgefield Mouth. The Knysna Municipality has ensured that a bulldozer will be on standby at the Swartvlei estuary mouth. "The current water level in Swartvlei is 1,54 m above mean sea level (amsl). SANParks will continue to monitor the levels and should the water level reach the required level (2,1m amsl), the mouth will be opened," said Mgwadlamba.

She added that the current level at the Touw River mouth is 1,72m. "The sand level is more than 2m amsl and hence a preparatory channel will be made as soon as the machine is on site. When the water level reaches the 2,1m level within the Touw River, the mouth will be breached."

- George Herald

Closure of Mossel Bay WX Facebook Page : 3 October 2014

For those who wondered what is or has happened with the Mossel Bay WX Facebook page, I provide a short explanation here:

1. As of the 3 October 2014 I could not lock into the Mossel Bay WX Facebook account. I was advised to use a web-browser to lock in.  When I was granted access to the account, I was informed that I had to change the current account to a page account as the account was not in the name of a private individual and that this is against the rules of Facebook.  I was literally forced to change to a page account.  Now this format I do not like at all.  To many advertising and boost buttons and the outlay is just plain commercial driven.  Mossel Bay WX is not interested in advertisements or options to boost posts nor to make money.  Mossel Bay WX is a non profitable organization!
2. As many should know by now I use Twitter (@SAWXREP) and the Mossel Bay Weather Observation Blog to post weather and disaster related articles.  I linked the Twitter account to Facebook to feed my Twitter messages to Facebook to save time having to re-post articles.  Unfortunately many Twitter messages were not posted on Facebook especially when the Internet seems to be fairly busy.  I do not know where the problem lies but do not have the time to re-post articles a second or a third time on Facebook.
3. Facebook as far as I am concern has it's uses but with so many weather alert services and other weather organizations I do not see why I should maintain a user unfriendly page as prescribed by Facebook.

Ok that is the three main reasons why I closed the Mossel Bay WX Facebook page.   I apologize for any inconvenience but this is not my fault.  I cannot understand why Facebook allowed the account to be registered and operated for  many months only to force me only now  to change to a commercial page format.  Be as it may all is not lost to all the friends on Facebook.  Come and join  SAWXREP and to get Weather and Disaster News as it happens.   Click HERE to go to the Twitter account.

Johan Terblanche
SAWXREP + Mossel Bay Weather Observation
Mossel Bay
5 October 2014

George Weather chief dies

Riaan Cilliers explains how the 360º vision from the top storey over the landing strip at the George Airport improves the accuracy of the information to the Civil Aviation Authorities. Photo Pauline Lourens

GEORGE NEWS - George Herald staff heard with great shock and sadness of the untimely death on Sunday 21 September of Riaan Cilliers, the head of the South African Weather Service in George.

Riaan ensured that the weather updates in all of Group Editors' papers appeared every week without a glitch.

Riaan (53) died in his sleep on Sunday evening after suffering a heart attack. His heart function was very poor and he had survived several previous heart attacks.

Riaan was passionate about his field of expe-rtise and extremely proud of the new state-of-the-art weather office at the George Airport which he introduced to the public in November last year. His career at SAWS spanned 33 years.

He is survived by his wife, Deidre and two sons, Adriaan and Stefan. The funeral is tomorrow (Friday) at 10:00 at the AGS Sorteria Church in Victoria Street, George.

- George Herald

Over Exaggerating of Weather and Disaster events - South Africa

I am rather concerned that weather predictions, forecasts, observations and disasters are being over exaggerated at times. Lately I observed the words massive and intense being used literally for every cold front passing by. I observed many examples where the worst scenario is being predicted or expected only to find later that it was a minor event. I am rather hesitant to exaggerate any event just to gain more publicity, hits, friends, followers, make money or for that matter any other reason in doing so. Over exaggerating posts is a very dangerous practice as the public will become reluctant to respond when a real severe weather incident occur and prior action is needed. Lately I also observed comments by the public: "they got it wrong again; I do not follow them or will not respond; Their forecast are useless" Do you think that this is indeed the case? Do many groups, organizations, private persons exaggerate predictions, forecasts and observations?

- SAWXREP + MSBWX

Information: Service Delivery Protest Action: Mossel Bay

Mossel Bay has been in the news recently due to a service delivery protest action in Kwanonqaba, Mossel Bay.  Mossel Bay Weather Observation Blog received several requests via social media for information and images relating to the protest action in this area.  The public wanted information on effected areas, safety, latest road closures etc. 

Mossel Bay Weather Observation has since its inception taken the decision not to publish any information on service delivery protest actions, political matters, religious matters, racist matters or any matter that can harm inter-relations amongst the people of South Africa.  Mossel Bay Weather Observation will only publish information on the weather, natural disasters and matters of an educational nature.

I am sure there is more than enough information being published in the local newspapers about the service delivery protest action in Mossel Bay.  I therefor advise the public to visit the following sites for more information:

Mossel Bay Advertiser Web-Page

Mossel Bay Advertiser Facebook Page

Johan Terblanche
MSBWX
15 August 2014

Updating of the Mossel Bay Weather Blog

I was unable to update this blog for the past couple of days due to a total breakdown in ADSL and Telephone services.  Apart from that Mossel Bay experience violent service delivery protests which also had an influence on updating this Blog, Facebook and SAWXREP pages.  Thanks must go to Telkom who under very difficult situations/circumstances were able to fix the breakdown quickly and efficiently.  Telkom used Twitter to communicate with SAWXREP which resulted in a speedy response.  I apologize for any inconvenience to the readers of this blog but the above clearly explained the lack of updates on this Blog. Let's trust and hope that the service will keep on working.  I will start updates tomorrow morning.

Johan  Terblanche
MSBWX, SAWXREP, ex SAWDOS and SAWDIS
14 August 2014

Updating of the Mossel Bay Weather Blog: 25 July 2014 - 2 August 2014

I will be leaving for the Eastern Cape early this morning.  The area I visit (bush) does not always allow me to update this blog via the Internet as connections are erratic and non existent at times.   I have therefor decided not to even try to update this blog during the above period.  I apologize for any inconvenience in this regard but this does not happen on a regular basis. (Maybe once a year.)

I will however try to update the @SAWXREP Twitter account and the MSBWX Facebook pages as and when I can establish a reliable Internet connection.

Here are the links to the various accounts:

@SAWXREP Twitter Account

MSBWX Facebook Account

Finally:  There are many other great weather sites that can be visited to get the latest weather information and updates.  Please feel free to visit them during the above period.

Johan Terblanche
Founder: MSBWX, SAWXREP, SAWDOS, SAWDIS
Mossel Bay
25 July 2014

Weather Outlook: 2014 National Aerobatics Championships in Mossel Bay 18 - 19 July 2014

The 2014 National Aerobatics Championships is taking place in Mossel Bay: 16 - 19 July 2014.  Here is the weather outlook for the next 3 days for those who would like to visit the Mossel Bay Airfield to watch the flying.


Mossel Bay 1 – 3 Day Weather Forecast Summary: Mostly dry. Very mild (max 17°C on Fri afternoon, min 11°C on Fri morning). Winds decreasing (fresh winds from the NW on Fri afternoon, calm by Sun night).

- Avenues Guest House  

 - Weather Forecast.com + WAFC London

George: Witfontein 'a disaster waiting to happen'

GEORGE NEWS - "The Witfontein Forest, in its current degraded state, is posing a fire hazard and is a disaster waiting to happen."

So said Patch Bonkemeyer, CEO of Cape Pine, on Friday during an interview with the George Herald. He added, "The Department of Environmental Affairs (DEA) was quite right in warning the Department of Agriculture, Fo-restry and Fisheries (DAFF) to get their house in order, and to immediately start maintaining fire breaks and prune their pine plantations."

Runaway fires
Industry players and the Eden Disaster Management recently issued similar warnings about the fire hazard situation. What makes the situation so precarious is that this state owned forest is situated right on the borders of George, and the annual warm August 'berg winds' can fuel runaway fires.

In 2005 Eden Disaster Management's fire crew had to fight a desperate battle to keep the flames from engulfing the northern and eastern suburbs of George.

Bonkemeyer was reacting to a report in last week's issue of the George Herald in which the repercussions of ignoring the degraded state of Witfontein was printed. The report highlighted a directive issued to the DAFF by Ishaam Abader, the environmental management inspector of the DEA, on 26 June stating that the failure to halt alien infestation at Witfontein has further aggravated the fuel loading.

"It would appear that the DAFF is in non-compliance with the provision of the National Environmental Management Act (Nema) in that there is a failure to prune or thin the plantation thus presenting a significant fire risk, especially considering the amount of dead undergrowth." Abader warned that the necessary 'enforcement actions' would be taken if the directive is not adhered to.

Mismanagement
But the state of dereliction at Witfontein, as spelt out by Abader, (the fuel loading and inaccessibility 'presents a clear hazard to the safety of the inhabitants of George and surroundings') is not the only crisis. Bonkemeyer sketched a grave situation about the economic effect of the absence of managing the local state forest. "The 360ha Witfontein Forest is on the brink of becoming totally unviable as a commercial forest."

When the Western Cape Regional Manager Susan Steyn and her head, Cyril Ndou, the DAFF director of forest management in Pretoria, were contacted by the George Herald for a response they stated that the directive had not reached them. The deputy director, Dr Nthabiseng Motete, was not available for a comment a week ago. Bonkemeyer said he wants to emphasise that Steyn and Ndou are both of good will, but they just don't have the resources to properly manage the forests.

Sound
In closing, Bonkemeyer said, "Make no mistake. I came here to put Cape Pine on a sound financial footing and it certainly is. We have contracts with Tsitsikamma to keep the sawmill going and have tendered for more contracts upcountry." Bonkemeyer and his wife are returning to Washington to be with their children. A successor has not been named yet.

22 000 ha lie fallow
In a George Herald report last April the DAFF announced it was determining a strategy to re-commission forestry in a competitive and sustainable manner in the Boland and George areas. It would now seem that the 22 000ha in those two areas have continued to lie fallow.

Cape Pine, which is majority owned by a US based investment firm Global Environment Fund (GEF) (formerly Safcol and MTO), has been managing the Southern and Eastern Cape plantations (excluding the Witfontein areas, in accordance) with a lease agreement with the DAFF. The Outeniqua plantation stretches from Garcia plantation near Riversdale to Kruisfontein in Knysna where Pinus radiata and Pinus elliotti pine trees species are grown on rotation. The George Sawmill is the primary mill serving this area where wood destined for the building trade and furniture industry is processed.

ARTICLE: PAULINE LOURENS, GEORGE HERALD JOURNALIST

Watching solstices and equinoxes from space

Why does Earth have seasons? It’s natural to think our world’s seasons result from Earth’s changing distance from the sun. But you can easily see that’s not the case, when you realize that Earth is farther from the sun in July (northern summer) and closer in January (northern winter). The fact that Earth’s Northern and Southern Hemispheres have their summers and winters at opposite times of the year provides a clue to the real reason for seasons: that reason is Earth’s 23-and-a-half-degree tilt on its axis. The photos and video on this page – from NASA – show Earth’s solstices and equinoxes from space. They can help you visualize why our seasons unfold as they do, continuously, throughout each year.

Earth’s seasons result from the tilt of our planet’s axis with respect to our orbit around the sun. Upper left: northern winter solstice. Lower left: northern summer solstice. Upper right: northern spring equinox. Lower right: northern autumnal equinox. Images via NASA

EUMETSAT‘s Meteosat-9 (a weather satellite) captured the four views above of Earth from geosynchronous orbit a few years ago. A satellite in geosynchronous orbit stays over the same point on Earth all the time. The images above show how sunlight fell on the Earth on December 21, 2010 (upper left), March 20 (upper right), June 21 (lower left), and September 20, 2011 (lower right). Each image was taken at 6:12 a.m. local time.

Around 6 a.m. local time each day, the sun, Earth, and any geosynchronous satellite form a right angle, affording straight-down view of Earth’s terminator line, that is, the line between our world’s day and night sides. The shape of this line between night and day varies with the seasons, which means different lengths of days and differing amounts of warming sunshine.

The line is actually a curve because the Earth is round, but satellite images show it in two dimensions only.
On March 20 and September 20, the terminator is a straight north-south line, and the sun is said to sit directly above the equator. On December 21, the sun resides directly over the Tropic of Capricorn when viewed from the ground, and sunlight spreads over more of the Southern Hemisphere. On June 21, the sun sits above the Tropic of Cancer, spreading more sunlight in the north.

What’s causing all this change? It’s tempting to image it’s the sun moving north or south through the seasons. But that’s not it. Instead, the change in the orientation and angles between the Earth and the sun result from Earth’s never-ending motion in orbit around the sun.
The axis of the Earth is tilted 23.5 degrees relative to the sun and the ecliptic plane. The axis is tilted away from the sun at the December solstice and toward the sun at the June solstice, spreading more and less light on each hemisphere. At the equinoxes, the tilt is at a right angle to the sun and the light is spread evenly.

Image Credit: NASA

Bottom line: A satellite view of Earth during its solstices and equinoxes during 2011 shows how the Earth’s tilt causes a change in seasons. The imagery was captured by the Spinning Enhanced Visible and Infrared Imager (SEVIRI) aboard a EUMETSAT weather satellite.

- EarthSky

Everything you need to know: June solstice 2014

Day and night sides of Earth at the instant of the June solstice (2014 June 21 at 10:51 Universal Time). The sun is rising in the U.S. and shining at zenith over northern Africa at this magic moment. Image credit: Earth and Moon Viewer

MSBWX - That beautiful time of year is here again in the Southern  Hemisphere, when the June solstice – your signal to celebrate the first day of winter. For us in the Southern Hemisphere, this solstice marks the shortest day of the year. Late dawns. Short days. Early sunsets. Long nights.

It comes on June 21, 2014, 10:51 Universal Time . See on the globe of Earth how it’s sunrise in North America and near sunset at the Asian Pacific Coast at the instant of this solstice? It’s high noon over Africa, with the sun at zenith – or straight overhead – near the border of Lybia and Chad.
A solstice happens at the same instant for all of us, everywhere on Earth. To find the time of the solstice in your location, you have to translate to your time zone.

Want to know the time in your location? Check out EarthSky’s article How do I translate Universal Time into my time? And just remember: you’re translating from 10:51 Universal Time, June 21.


What is a solstice?
When is the solstice where I live?
Where should I look to see signs of the solstice in nature?
Is the solstice the first day of summer (or winter)?
Why celebrate the solstice?
How does it end up hotter later in the summer, if June has the longest day?

Read more HERE.

- EarthSky

Great Image: KS Mothership Supercell - Flint Hills Invasion - Jon Stone

A shot of the Severy, KS mothership supercell. Would have loved a CG lightning strike with this, but this was the best the storm could muster.

Definitely an out of the world experience!

- Jon Stone

Be part of the SA Weather Reports to keep your local community informed of approaching Severe Weather and possible Disasters.

The effects of severe weather are felt every year by many South Africans. To obtain real time weather information, the @SAWXREP was established 1 April 2014 on Twitter.   Volunteers (members of the public, radio amateurs and the Media) help keep their local communities safe and informed by providing timely and accurate reports, images, photos and real time observation information of severe weather or disasters to SAWXREP.  The public is requested to provide vital real time weather observations in their area. SAWXREP is a non-profit organization that renders a FREE COMMUNITY-BASED SERVICE.

A Service by the Public for the Public. 

Die uitwerking van gure weer word jaarliks deur baie Suid Afrikaners beleef. Ten einde intydse weerwaarnemings inligting te bekom vanaf die publiek het die @SAWXREP via Twitter tot stand gekom op die 1 April 2014 via Twitter. Vrywilligers (lede van die publiek, radio amateurs en die media) voorsien SAWXREP van intydse weerwaarnemings ten einde hul plaaslike gemeenskap op hoogte te hou van gure weerstoestande dmv fotos, beelde, rapporte en inligting.  Die publiek word versoek om SAWXREP te voorsien van weerwaarnemings in hul area. SAWXREP is 'n nie winsgewende organisasie wat 'n gratis gemeenskapsdiens lewer.

'n Diens deur die Publiek vir die Publiek

Erratic SA weather patterns highlight need for effective business risk planning

The city of Johannesburg came to a standstill as a result of the heavy rain experienced in the region at the beginning of March, more than double the usual average for the month in less than two weeks. According to John Kerby, Corporate Accounts Director at RBS, these erratic weather patterns highlight the need for businesses across the country to implement stringent risk management policies, as it seems that traditional seasonal weather patterns are no longer dependable.

Kerby says that many business owners suffered millions of Rands worth of loss as a result of damage to property, loss of income due to business interruption and vehicle and fleet damage. “Should these businesses not have the correct cover in place it is unlikely that they are able to survive these losses.

“The recent unexpected and extreme weather patterns also highlighted the range of risks businesses are exposed to daily. These risks are extremely diverse and specialised, depending on the sector in which a business operates in. Such incidences have resulted in the term ‘risk management’ taking on a significantly new level of importance, especially as the country continues to witness changing weather patterns.”

He says as businesses in the Western Cape will soon face the usual extreme winter conditions, it is of utmost importance for businesses in the area to review insurance and risk management policies, in order to avoid the extreme losses that their counterparts in Gauteng recently encountered.

Kerby explains that there are some instances that a business is unable to manage or predict the risks over a period of time and this then calls for the business to cover every possible eventuality, which includes considering the focus and depth of the cover needed.

As an example, Kerby points to a recent announcement by Sun International during this period that due to the on-going rain and flash floods experienced at Sun City, the Gary Player Country Club, as well as the Lost City Golf Course were to remain closed for seven days due to extensive structural damage to both courses.

“In the case of a golf course, a loss of revenue would be experienced from having to both refund players for games booked that week, as well as not being able to accept new business. There could also be knock-on losses for associated facilities, such as for the establishment’s accommodation and food and beverage departments as a result of this occurrence. The establishment would also face the cost of having to repair property damage sustained by the weather.

Kerby says regardless of the business’s field, poor risk management policies may leave an organisation vulnerable to major long-term setbacks, or even worse, insolvency and bankruptcy. “Incorrectly structured policies and incorrect business interruption calculations could mean the business is underinsured, so it is advised that businesses consult an expert when putting these policies in place.

He says that while a business may manage to survive an initial loss as a result of business interruption, continued loss of revenue from the second, or perhaps third interruption could be detrimental to revenues. “It is crucial that the correct policies are put in place by businesses, regardless of the sector they operate in or size of business, and that the correct calculations are done in terms of depth and focus to ensure that the business is sufficiently covered,” concludes Kerby.

- Cape Business News,

Opvolg: Mosselbaai - Seiljag vergaan, een droom sneuwel

Terug in Hartenbos is Darrel en Hesta Hansen verlig om weer veilig bymekaar te wees, nadat Darrel se seiljag, die INGRID, Maandagnag naby Oesterbaai vergaan het. Foto: Nickey le Roux

MOSSELBAAI NUUS - "Dis die einde van hierdie droom, maar daar lê nog baie voor," sê Darrel Hansen (62), amper profeties, na die noue ontkoming waarin sy seiljag in stormsee by Oesterbaai vergaan het en hy dit ongedeerd, maar naak en sonder sy prostese, tot op die strand gemaak het.

Hy het 17 jaar gelede 'n been in 'n motorfietsongeluk verloor. Tog glo Darrel Hansen die Here het 'n plan met hom.
"Nou begin ons net weer van voor af."

Hierdie avonturier was voornemens om binnekort 'n wêreldreis met sy seiljag te onderneem en die vaart na Port Elisabeth was 'n oefenlopie.
"Ek het Saterdag uit Mosselbaai vertrek, op pad na Port Elisabeth. Ek het sedert Sondagaand baie wind en rowwe see beleef en het daarom besluit om Maandagaand skuiling in Oesterbaai teen die stormwind te soek. "Voordat ek kon anker gooi, het ek terwyl ek onder in die kajuit was, 'n vreemde dreuning gehoor. Buite op die dek, het ek omstreeks 22:00 'n wal water gesien aankom. Ek het die brander sien breek en geweet daar is nie wegkomkans nie.

"Op daardie stadium, het ek nog 'n harnas aangehad. Die eerste brander het my van die seiljag afgegooi. Ek het weer aan boord gekom en die harnas afgehaak.

"Daar was weer 'n groot brander op pad en ek het op die ingewing besluit om die sowat 300 meter land toe te probeer swem.
"In die water, het ek besef die oliepak wat ek aan het, trek my onder. Die golwe het my rondgeslaan en getuimel. Ek het van al my klere ontslae geraak en kon onmiddellik beter swem," aldus mnr Hansen.

Hy dra nie sy prostese aan boord nie, het mnr Hansen gesê.

Hy het omtrent 20 minute tot 'n halfuur gespook om die strand te bereik en het daar 'n plastieksakkie opgespoor wat hy ter wille van kuisheid om sy lyf kon bind.

"Ek was só moeg! Ek het Saterdagaand nie veel geslaap nie, en Sondagaand glad nie geslaap nie.
"Ek het later gehoor die baai is bekend vir baie sterk strome. Die krag waarteen die see terugtrek het my laat voel dis 10 tree vorentoe en 30 tree terug. Op die strand het ek aan die slaap geraak en het van die koue wakker geword."

Om warm te bly, het hy maar sy lyf met sy hande bly vryf.

Hoewel mnr Hansen die huise kon sien, en sowat een kilometer in die rigting van die huise gekruip het, kon hy nie die huise bereik nie.
"'n Oom en tannie wat langs die see gaan stap het, het sowat 08:00 Dinsdagoggend gehoor ek roep en hulle het die NSRI ontbied."
Weens die storm die vorige nag, het inwoners nie opgemerk dat die INGRID vergaan nie.

Volgens mnr Mark Mans, stasiebevelvoerder van die NSRI Oesterbaai, is vrywilligers omstreeks 08:00 op Dinsdag, 6 Mei geaktiveer om mnr Hansen by te staan. Hulle het mnr Hansen naak op die strand gekry. Hy is na die huis van mnr Choppie Lindström van die NSRI geneem, waar hy op 'n heerlike warm ontbyt getrakteer is.

"As daar maar meer mense soos Choppie Lindström en sy familie was; ek is hulle soveel dank verskuldig!" aldus mnr Hansen.
Van die INGRID, 'n 8.2 meter seiljag wat in 1952 vir die eerste keer te water gelaat is, en deur mnr Hansen as 'n 'classic' beskryf is, het niks oorgebly nie. Hy het die seiljag maar vyf maande gehad en sê sy was 'n 'stewige, seevaardige bootjie'.

Uiteindelik het mnr Lindström vir mnr Hansen tot by die tolhek op die N2 geneem, waar sy vrou hom ingewag het.

Hesta, mnr Hansen se vrou, sê sy het by haar skoonma van die voorval gehoor en het onmiddellik planne gemaak om in Oesterbaai by Darrel uit te kom.

Van hierdie droom het waarskynlik niks gekom nie, maar daar is weinig keer aan Darrel Hansen.

Puin van die 8.2 meter seiljag, INGRID, was oor die strand versprei en daar was nie veel wat gered kon word nie. Foto: Rowan Jackson

ARTIKEL: NICKEY LE ROUX, MOSSEL BAY ADVERTISER-JOERNALIS

George: Autumn rain welcomed

Martin Holtzhausen took this photo of the old oak that toppled over in last week's wet conditions.

GEORGE NEWS - Farmers in the George area are delighted with the generous downpour last week as their dams are full and winter pastures got a welcome kick-start.

Within three days, from Tuesday to Thursday, 92,6mm was measured at George Airport, bringing the total for the month to 140mm. This is about double the 69mm average for April as recorded by the weather office.

At the water purification works, 109mm was measured for the three days, and a total of 169mm was recorded for the month, according to Manager Fred Goliath.

Early warnings of heavy rain issued by the weather office ensured that Eden Disaster Management was on high alert and had taken pro-active steps to lessen damage to property, said Gerhard Otto, head of the department.

George Municipality's Directorate of Human Settlements, Land Affairs and Planning provided emergency relief to about 393 families by handing out Gunplast to seal the roofs of informal structures. According to Media Liaison Officer Chantel Edwards-Klose these homes will be revisited and assisted through the municipality's roof repair programme which is a long-term and more sustainable solution.
The Civil Engineering Department reported blocked storm water drains and pot holes in roads because of the rain. A tree was uprooted on the corner of Valley and Davidson Road as a result of the wet conditions and in Wilderness Heights a tree fell on a power line, causing a power failure in the area on Wednesday. The electricity was switched on the same day.

Eden Disaster Management assisted at the breaching of the Touw River on Wednesday afternoon. According to Nellie Grootendorst, the senior section ranger for the Garden Route National Park (Wilderness section), it was not necessary to use the bulldozer as the water had pushed out to sea after reaching the 2m mark (above sea level) at about 12:45.

Rain earlier this month had caused the Garden Route Dam to start overflowing on 9 April. The level dropped to 97,8%, but last week on Wednesday, it was overflowing again.

In Hoekwil even higher figures were recorded than in town. Agri Outeniqua Representative Carl Reitz, of the Tura Kina farm, says he measured "at least" 130mm over the three days. "It is a bit muddy, but we have not had any damage."

Dr Philip Botha, a specialist in pasture science at the Outeniqua Research Farm, welcomed the rain, saying plentiful rain this time of the year creates a reservoir of moisture deeper down in the soil. "During the dry winter months when we also experience berg winds that quickly dry out the top soil, water in the underground feeds the surface. There is then less chance of damage to harvests."
Winter pastures, that are planted in autumn, also get a boost which enables them to establish well before the dry season.

The Touw River mouth breached on Wednesday afternoon with a little help from SANParks rangers and Eden Disaster Management.

ARTICLE: ALIDA DE BEER, GEORGE HERALD JOURNALIST

Update 1: Power Outages - Blackouts in Mossel Bay. No problem at all? Just be prepaired!

A little birdie whispered in my ear that we must be prepared for power outages in the future the first possibly as early as May 2014. Be as it may I believe to be prepared and decided to build a self feeding rocket stove to be used when we experience blackouts.  However this gem of a stove can be used anytime and nearly anywhere. Examples: When going camping, in emergency situations, when power outages occur or just for the fun thereof.  The aim of the project was to build a small mobile stove for not more than R20.00 or if possible for mahala (free).

The following information from Wikipedia: A rocket stove is an efficient cooking stove using small diameter wood fuel which is burned in a simple high-temperature combustion chamber containing a vertical chimney and a secondary air supply which ensures almost complete combustion prior to the flames reaching the cooking surface.

A rocket stove achieves efficient combustion of the fuel at a high temperature by ensuring a good air draft into the fire, controlled use of fuel, complete combustion of volatiles, and efficient use of the resultant heat. It has been used for cooking purposes in many energy poor locales (notably Rwandan refugee camps) as well as for space and water heating.

A rocket stove's main components are:

• Fuel magazine: Into which the unburned fuel is placed and from which it feeds into the combustion chamber 
• Combustion chamber: At the end of the fuel magazine, where the fuel burns 
• Chimney: A vertical chimney above the combustion chamber to provide the updraft needed to maintain combustion 
• Heat exchanger: To transfer the heat to where it is needed (cooking pot or other load).

The fuel magazine can be horizontal, with additional fuel added manually, or vertical, with fuel automatically fed. As the fuel burns in the combustion chamber, convection draws new air into the combustion chamber from below, ensuring that any smoke from smoldering wood near the fire is also drawn into the fire and up the chimney.

The chimney can be insulated to increase the temperature and improve combustion; according to studies this can increase efficiency by up to two percent. In a rocket mass heater, the heat is passed to a heat exchanger to ensure the efficient use of the generated heat. For cooking purposes, the design keeps the cooking vessel in contact with the fire over the largest possible surface area. A pot skirt can be used to create a narrow channel that forces hot air and gas to flow along the bottom and sides of the cooking vessel. Optional baffles guide hot air and flame up the sides of the pot.

For space heating purposes, the heat is transferred to a heat store which can, in some cases, be part of the structure of the house itself. The exhaust gases then pass out of the building via the chimney. The design of the rocket stove allows it to operate on about half as much fuel as a traditional open fire, and it can use smaller-diameter wood. If the stove is insulated and raised from the floor, the danger of children burning themselves is reduced. Some more recently designed rocket stoves are self-feeding, using gravity to add fuel to the fire as required.

I am not going to go into detail here how I constructed this stove as the Internet literally have hundreds of ideas on how to build a rocket stove.  The images of the stove that I build in a few hours is published hereunder.   Total cost comes to R15.00 as I used some of the scrap metal that I had in the workshop.

Finally:  I test fired the stove this past Saturday.  It worked flawlessly but as per usual the camera was not on hand to take images.  Lookout for the video on how this stove performs.  It is furthermore a clean burning stove that is easy to carry around.  I say bring on power outages anytime.  It is great to be prepared and to enjoy a cup-e coffee anywhere/anytime.

I am currently building another stove design and will post the results/images and videos soon.

 - MSBWX