This surfer’s paradise in the Eastern Cape, affectionately known as "JBay", is serviced by a dynamic rescue crew.

Originally founded by Rieghard Janse van Rensburg in 2010 as a satellite to Station 21 (St Francis Bay), Station 37 is now a surf launch station in its own right. “We typically deal with drownings in the surf zone, lagoons and the occasional yacht tow,” says current station commander Paul van Jaarsveld. “We’ve also done some medivacs from fishing vessels, as well as searches for missing persons on land and sea, and assisted Station 21 to re-attach a tow line between a tug boat and a ship that was drifting towards our shore. Apart from rescuing people, we are also involved with a lot of animal rescues including marine mammals, turtles, sea birds, and whale disentanglement operations.”

Station 37 has won the Most Improved Station Award on two occasions, in 2014 and again in 2021, and also the RIB Station of the Year award in 2018.

Paul has been with the NSRI since 2014, and was voted Station Commander by his crew in 2021. “The ocean and the dynamics of working with a group of diverse individuals, as well as the feeling of pride and satisfaction I get when I am instrumental in a rescue, has kept me going. My years in the NSRI have developed and grown me as a person, and exposed me to many exciting opportunities and relationships I would never have encountered otherwise.”