Every year on Boxing Day (24th December) in St Francis Bay, Eastern Cape, the local Station 21 of the National Sea Rescue Institute hosts Father Christmas. He arrives by boat at a predetermined spot on the canals at Marina Glades with bags full of presents for the kids! These presents are delivered to the NSRI boathouse the day before by parents who give a donation to sea rescue.
It’s such an exciting event for the kids and over the years on I’ve seen the same children, now grown up, bringing their children to this event! This tradition was started in the seventies, not long after the inception of this rescue station.
It originated one day when a canal plot owner asked whether Father Christmas could deliver presents to their private jetty for their kids. Today it has become so popular that it is physically impossible to visit each property and so a central spot is chosen such as a public basin.
It is a very unique event on the summer calendar here and one that is supported well. The NSRI are always looking for ways to raise money for the upkeep of their rescue boat and equipment. Their crews are volunteers that are willing to drop everything and go to sea when there is a rescue call out – very often they risk their lives in treacherous conditions!
Credit: My own blog and photos