MyPE

Community Business Directory, Event Listings, News and Views from Gqeberha, Nelson Mandela Bay

Okay What Idiot Actually Thinks that Port Elizabeth had a Tsunami?

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I have had a number of people forward an e-mail to me with images that are purported to come from a ‘storm yesterday in Port Elizabeth’.

Just to set the record straight – these images are from the gale force winds we had in Port Elizabeth during August 2008. I remember them well for one reason – I traveled back to Port Elizabeth towing a 26 foot yacht, from the Lipton Cup, with the winds accompanying me for the two days it took us to travel back. The last major gale in Port Elizabeth was in October 2009 which destroyed the ABYC Marina.

The only time we have ever been affected by a Tsunami was in December 2004 with 30 minute tidal changes and the death of a swimmer at Beachview.

And now some numbskull looking for grey matter has gone and posted the self same 23 images that have been fooling a number of our august citizens, onto Flickr saying that they are from a Tsunami in Port Elizabeth.

The final image in the series of 24 contains and image of a vervet monkey with the caption; “Kgabo, rona Bakgatla re ana yone!” – now my Setswana is non existent and I would desperately like to know whether this is a wonderful comment on the stupidity of people who forward e-mails without verification or maybe a reference to a relation of the poster of this misinformation.

See the Vervet Monkey here: seremi1 and then look at the “tsunami images from Port Elizabeth”.

If you can translate “Kgabo, rona Bakgatla re ana yone!” please let us know in the comments below.

ABYC Marina Aerial October 2009
An aerial view of the damaged ABYC Marina taken by Club Member and well known photographer, Mike Jones.

On 26 October 2009 a Gale Force wind ripped through Port Elizabeth with confirmed reports of 164 kilometres per hour gusts.

As the wind was from the East the Algoa Bay Yacht Club Marina took the full brunt of the wind and waves.

Damages amounted to millions of rand. Four boats sank and many others were severely damaged. This was the second major disaster to hit ABYC – the first being in 2006 when the clubhouse burnt down.

Old Timers were saying that in 40 years they have never seen such strong winds lash Port Elizabeth and compared the loss to the Great Gale of 1902 when a number of old wooden sailing ships went aground on the North End beach.

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Alan Straton

Chief Cook, Bottle Washer and Broom Mechanic at MyPE
Passionate about Port Elizabeth and definitely NOT packing for Perth. Alan's ethos is epitomised in the words of Nelson Mandela; "I have fought against white domination and I have fought against black domination. I have cherished the idea of a democratic and free society. If need be, it is an ideal for which I am prepared to die." See more articles by Alan.