The week that was...

© Wayne Barnes

Nothing particularly interesting as far as surf went during the week. But the wind didn't disappoint. The weekend was a tad "breezy" with Sunday delivering 45 knots with gusts of up to 80 knots. And meant anyone living along the beachfront couldn't see a thing out their windows!

Windswept Maitlands © Richard Saunders

Chokka boats anchoring in the harbour to try escape the wind © Jill LOmbard

The sea was a churned up white frothy mess thanks to the howling onshore. Unfortunately the beach was also a mess. The brief dump of rain we had was enough to flush all of Summerstrands rubbish down the stormwater drains and onto the beach, and it was horrendous.

Millers on Saturday morning © Ken Bateman

Kudos to all those that made the effort to pick up some of the trash. Big shaka to Justin Devos who after his surf at Millers used his wetsuit bucket to go collect 3 buckets fulls of rubbish. Nice one!

Plenty of fast food outlet packaging in among that - wish the franchises would consider using biodegradable packaging instead of that polystyrene kak. Some good news at least is that 3 restaurants along the PE beachfront have decided to stop using plastic straws. Props to the Ocean Baskets at Brookes Hill & Summerstrand and the Algoa Bay Yacht Club who will be implementing  biodegradable straws.

One of Justin's buckets full of trash he collected

Flying burger boxes © Luc Hosten

Really was a week full of weather extremes. Hot as hades as well, which meant the obligatory morning fog episode. Turned the beachfront "pier-less" for a while.

But PE will never disappoint in the sunrise/sunset department, and as usual threw out a few good one's just to remind us why we love living in Africa.

Wildside © Paul Wright

The marine life in the bay didn't seem at all perturbed by the wonky weather and was out in full force. Heather Nel and her son Matthew were out with Raggy Charters and captured some spectacular shots.

© Matthew Nel

© Heather Nel

Africa isn't restricted to the obvious marine wildlife - sometimes you can get something rather unique - like this hippo surfing the waves in Gabon. Reckon you wouldn't argue with him about dropping in!

Whilst there wasn't much wave-wise this week, Seals local Grant Beck was locking into some kegs in Nicaragua - his new "office". Ironically it's a right when Nica is known for it's lefts.

Clever work by the St Francis surf factory for recycling it's left over resin into coasters. So if you'd like a coupla funky resting possies for your beer, pop past and buy a few from them.

Speaking of recycling - how about Kelly Slaters new deck grip - no more petroleum based rubber, instead the world's first traction pad from algae foam. Made from the lil phytoplankton critters who give rise to the red tides.

The iconic Apple Express is back in action again, so grab your tickets for the next trip, over the weekend of 27th - 28th January 2018 and 3rd - 4th February 2018. Safe and Secure Bookings online NOW OPEN at www.appleexpresstrain.co.za

© Richard Saunders

Props to JBay local Matt McGillivray who claimed his maiden QS victory in Israel in some decent surf. You wouldn't imagine a country in the Med would get surf, but it does - and sizeable stuff too. Matt won the SEAT Pro Netanya presented by Reef.

Might be a bit of east swell around this week - just gotto catch it in the gaps between the east winds!

© Luc Hosten