Page 56 - KBHA BULLETIN 4

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removing only their shoes, diving in fully clothed, and racing each other to get to the drowning

person first.

Regattas

I can recall one or two occasions witnessing regattas here at Kalk Bay but they were then a dying
tradition. They were a tradition at New Year around the turn of the century and were still popular

in the 1930s. (Fig. 2.32.) I was told that in the days when all the boats were more or less of

similar size and the same horsepower engines, there was great enthusiasm amongst the skipper /
owners who would engage the most knowledgeable engine attendants (called drivers) in the fleet

and hire them like well paid jockeys. Five pound or ten pound notes would be pinned on flags

flying from the boats to encourage or challenge a bet from other boats. The winning skippers
would usually end up in the pub to celebrate with crew and friends.

Swimmers

I also remember seeing Peggy Duncan, the renowned Robben Island and long-distance swimmer

who lived in Kalk Bay, practising in Kalk Bay swimming pool, but I had to watch her from the

station platform because the pool and beach was taboo for our Community. I remember watching
Noddy Grinstead, the South African long distance swimming champion who lived in St. John’s

Road, practising in the harbour. A young fisherman whose dad was a full-blooded Filipino -
Pablo Almazan - once joined him in practice and after many lengths started to outpace him, and

after a few more lengths Noddy left the water and never practised again in the harbour.

The beach

Our beach was divided into three parts. The southern and largest part up to the stormwater drain

pipe was called the ‘Grootstrand’ where boats once off-loaded their catches and sold fish. The
rest of the beach up to the North Mole was known as ‘Die Kleinstrand’ where a number of boats

were also beached and where the Kalk Bay youngsters learnt to swim and dive off rocks with

names such as ‘Hofie Klip’ and ‘Springbok Klip’. But today the harbour has become so silted up

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