A new organisation has been formed in South Africa to work as a liaison between the offshore and coastal cruising community and the Government.

Published 4 years ago

The Ocean Sailing Association of Southern Africa (OSASA) has been formed by three South African cruisers – Peter Sherlock, John Franklin and Jenny Crickmore-Thompson and is supported by South African Sailing, the coastal yacht clubs and marinas, SABBEX and the marine industry.

OSASA’s immediate goals are:

1. to encourage local cruising in small vessels along the Southern African coast and further afield
2. to encourage foreign small vessels to visit South Africa and to cruise in its waters
3. to create an online portal, initially for entry registration but later for berth booking and other add-ons
4. to manage pre-notification notices with Dept of Transport and incoming small vessels
5. to negotiate smoother flight plans for local coastal passages
6. to encourage and motivate development of better facilities for coastal cruisers
7. to collate and publish current navigation information for the Southern Africa coastline
8. to popularise Southern Africa (Indian and Atlantic Ocean shores) as a cruising destination of choice, especially with the myriad of choices for land travel combined with cruising.

The Catalyst for OSASA

The COVID-19 pandemic affected billions of people in the most basic of ways. Not least amongst these were the international sailors who cruise around the countries and islands of the world exploring new shores and new cultures. Suddenly many of the traditional harbours and anchorages were closed, entry visas were refused and many independent small yachts were left stranded far from home in precarious situations.

Certain ‘corridor countries’ became vital in getting these small yachts from one ocean to another and opening a way for these cruisers to sail back to their homelands. South Africa is such a corridor country, enabling a passage between the Indian and Atlantic Oceans without having to sail through the Red Sea.

But South Africa was closed to yachts. Realising the problems,  South African cruisers, Peter Sherlock, John Franklin and Jenny Crickmore-Thompson stepped in and tirelessly lobbied key government authorities. This resulted in a Directive in October 2020 giving permission for the entry of small craft into South Africa for a 6 week period on Humanitarian Grounds, Marine Notice 50.

Over the next two months, this MN50 allowed the clearance of some 80+ yachts, both international visitors and local South Africans returning from abroad. The project extended on after the initial period, with small craft still being allowed entry into South Africa as the lockdown levels eased, provided they fulfil all the covid regulations.

A Clear Need for Liaison

During this time it became increasingly obvious that there was a clear need for a liaison body to work with government on behalf of the offshore and coastal cruising communities; to help them understand the world in which a “yachtie” lives, their needs, their limitations and just as importantly, the financial contribution they can make to a cruising destination or region. It also became evident that no national body in Southern Africa fully represented offshore cruisers and their unique set of circumstances.

There is much more to this story and we hope to share more with you in the next few months – watch this space!

Jenny Crickmore-Thomson
International Liaison
Ocean Sailing Association of Southern Africa

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Related Links:

South Africa: Stranded Yachts can now Enter South Africa Thanks to The Humanitarian Relief Project (November 2020)

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The opinions expressed in this article are the author’s own and do not reflect the view of Noonsite.com or World Cruising Club.