Page 104 - Bulletin 8 2004

101

The Wynberg Times: 16 April, 1904.

Boat Skipper Boat Skipper
Ringleader C. Hatwell Thistle W. Elario
Edith Annie B. Francis Springbok Abdol Joseph
Admiral G. Mills Powerful B. Orgell
Blue Bell E. Emandien St. James M. Michael
Maria H. Williams Violet J. Watson
Come Along F. Thomas Eileen R. Orgell
Flying Fish H. Poggenpoel Torpedo P. Gomez

Most of these boats were simple open boats with an average length of 24 ft., a 6ft. beam, a
crew of 6, with the skipper obviously at the helm and giving instructions to the crew. These

early boats were oar-propelled, and later large spritsails and jibs were added to enable them
to be sailed. Much of the fishing of this period was done within the confines of the bay. The

fishery at this time centred mostly on whaling and the traditional hand-line sector. It was

quite a physical task, one would imagine, of actually preparing the vessels for a fishing trip.
Although light in weight it still required one to be relatively fit in order to be part of a crew.

The beach area was open and these vessels were always at risk as far as the sudden change
in weather conditions was concerned, and there were frequent mishaps. (Figs. 3.1 – 3.3).

The Wynberg Times: 3 January, 1903

Local Observations

An exciting incident was witnessed on Saturday morning at St. James’ when a four-
oar’d boat was seen to capsize in a sudden squall of wind. The boat was close to shore
when she was struck. Luckily for the unfortunate crew, some four or five other boats were
making for Kalk Bay harbour at the time, and these quickly appearing on the scene, rescued
the men from their perilous position, not, however before one of the crew, quite a boy,
struck out for the shore. The skipper, Charles Hatwell, seeing that the distance was too
great for the boy to swim, pluckily went after him and brought him back to the up-turned
boat.