Base showcase: Station 26 (Kommetjie)

The surfing hotspot just outside Cape Town is home to a small yet dedicated rescue crew.

David Smith’s passion for sea rescue is such that, having just moved to Kommetjie in 2012 with his family, he signed up to volunteer before he had even found a job for himself or a school for his son – and has since become the station’s commander since May 2022.

“Signing up was the first thing I did. Before I moved to Cape Town, I lived in Sodwana Bay on the north-east coast of KwaZulu-Natal,” David recalls. “I had a dive charter business and supported the NSRI by making a donation every month. I received the Sea Rescue magazine in the post and read all the amazing rescue stories, and got to know where all the stations were across the country.

“There were no rescue services in that part of the coast at that time, with Richard's Bay being the closest station, about 200km south of Sodwana. We had to conduct our own rescues back then, including recovery of lost divers, assisting capsized boats, drowning prevention and medevacs from ships. I gained valuable experience. Also, my boats were red and yellow RIBs, so holidaymakers often assumed we were the NSRI!”

An attractive haven for Capetonians looking for a slower pace of life or to ‘semigrate’ away from the city bustle, the small seaside town of Kommetjie is anything but sleepy for the local NSRI crew, since the long wide beach that runs northwards towards Chapman’s Peak and Noordhoek is a popular destination for surfers, swimmers and water sports of all kinds.

Founded in 1996, the station has operated from different locations over its 27-year lifespan, from humble beginnings in a garage behind the Stepping Stones Addiction Treatment Centre, it then moved to another garage on a property in Noordhoek, and again to a Shell petrol station in Kommetjie, before finally getting its very own brand new, purpose-built station at the beginning of 2016 at 6 Van Imhoff Way.

The Station 26 volunteers are a diverse bunch of 23 crew and eight coastwatchers, with backgrounds in IT, sales, marine biology, coaching, admin, engineering, tourism and more.

“At the moment we run two crews,” says David. “Every Monday evening at 6.30pm the duty crew do what we call a changeover, which consists of boat and base checks to have everything ready in case of a call out. Then we rotate the crew the following Monday. Every Tuesday we have training for our trainees and, now and again, night training. We also have training every Sunday for the crew and trainees that are on duty from about 8am to 2pm.”

Station 26 has two RIBs at its disposal – one 6,5m named Spirit of the Vines, and one 4,7m named IL Bathelo – as well as a Mitsubishi Triton 4x4 rescue vehicle and a quad bike.

David says that the most challenging aspects of his role are the same for all Station Commanders (statcoms): “Making sure all the crew do what is expected of them – looking after the assets, and attending training. It's hard work to recognise the strengths of different individuals and create effective and motivated teams that work well together.”

Yet, he is certainly achieving his goals. “Being a volunteer taught me how selfless people can be in giving up their time to help others. I’ve learnt a lot about leadership, especially on the Coxswain leadership course. It’s amazing to work with people that are passionate about serving their community. The biggest reward, for me, is to see people grow and achieve their goals. When trainees arrive, they’re usually very quiet, lacking in confidence. As a station commander, I get to support and witness their journey to becoming crew, and eventually Coxswains and or controllers.”

Class 3 Coxswain and crew member Daniel ‘Dani’ Jegels joined Station 26 in May 2015. He always loved the ocean, and having just finished a stint with the South African Sea Cadets (a non-profit organisation dedicated to training and preparing school-going boys and girls for a career in the maritime industry) at the age of 17, Dani’s mother prompted him to join the local NSRI station. “She went to Ian Klopper, the statcom at the time, and asked him how it works. On my first visit to the station, I dressed in a full suit and tie! Klopper told me to go home and bring shorts and a shirt. I did, and had the time of my life.”

Dani credits Sea Rescue with teaching him patience, self-belief, curiosity, helpfulness, pride and humility. “The smile and sense of relief on the faces of people I've rescued is so rewarding. My first time as a Class 3 Coxswain, taking charge of a callout, has been the highlight of my time at the NSRI so far. There were no challenges in the rescue, but the feeling I had tops any feeling I've ever had. It’s impossible to describe.”

Currently, David is looking to grow his volunteer base from two crews to three: “I would like to see more people joining our station.”

In the meantime, his vision for the future is focused on those currently under his command: “I’d like to see the young volunteers develop, to become leaders and to keep the legacy of the NSRI growing for the next generation. Something I learned from the late Allan Cramb [former Bakoven statcom and NSRI operations manager], is that we are all a link in a chain and working together, we are strong.”

If you would like assistance to organise a fundraising event in aid of Station 26, or any other NSRI community fundraising project, contact Renée Leeuwner renee@searescue.org.za