MONDAY’S public vacation was once particular.

After my ordinary early morning ‘citizen scientist’ commute to the dolphin platform at Alkantstrand, the place humpback dolphins and whales confirmed up – in addition to a perfect garrick – the post-lunch problem was once to seek out one thing value gazing on TV.

I’m overjoyed that ESPN is again in power, particularly as it’s Primary League Baseball season.

Whilst looking ahead to the ‘play ball’ name, I came upon a very good documentary that took me down reminiscence lane and stuffed in lots of blanks on an historical tale which my career allowed me to be part of.

The doccie was once about Hawaiian browsing legend Eddie Aikau, who left college at 16 and turned into the country’s first lifeguard, saving smartly over 500 lives in his profession.

However he made his identify browsing at the sea coast that ceaselessly serves up waves of 10 metres and extra.

Sadly, there have been no world competitions in his ultra-long-surfboard heyday, and by the point the massive cash collection came over, it was once the cocky Aussies who arrogantly dominated the roost, to the purpose that they have been accused of disrespecting the island’s tradition and traditions.

This resulted in critical bodily assaults at the likes of Rabbit Bartholomew and handiest the intervention of Aikau actually stored him from dying.

Through the way in which, SA surf legend, the articulate Shaun Tomson, was once a power throughout that technology.

Speedy ahead and, willing to revive the reminiscence and recognition of the islands’ historic seafaring historical past, Aikau put his hand up when the Polynesian Voyaging Society referred to as for volunteers for a month-long, 4 000km adventure to observe the traditional course of the Polynesian migration between Hawaii and Tahiti.

Surroundings sail on 16 March, 1978 in a duplicate double-hulled canoe named Hokule’a, they have been quickly in hassle after it capsized after leaking throughout a fierce typhoon.

With the remainder of the team huddled at the overturned hull, Aikau tried a four-hour-plus paddle on a surfboard to get assist – forsaking the hindrance of his lifestyles jacket – and was once by no means observed once more.

The survivors have been rescued after an enormous air-sea seek.

Speedy ahead once more, and to at the moment a rebuilt Hokule’a continues to ply the arena’s oceans, preaching the gospel of marine conservation and taking good care of Mom Earth.

In 2014, she started a voyage to 26 international locations, guidance through the celebs and powered through the wind and the spirit of Eddie Aikau… and arrived in Richards Bay on 19 October 2015, escorted to the Small Craft Harbour through the NSRI to a rousing reception.

I used to be there to percentage it: simply one of the perks of a journalist’s process.

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