Bruce Gold - J-bay legend - Pic by Jeff Ayliffe

Last weekend, I was standing overlooking the hallowed Supertubes at J-bay, and I had the fortune to meet  a surfing legend. His name is Bruce Gold. A description written my Miles Masterton describes my first meeting with Bruce exactly, so i have quoted from his article whch appeared in an overseas webblog called 'Huck.com' -

"Jeffrey’s Bay, South Africa. A tall, old man appears quietly on the wooden boardwalks on the dunes overlooking the point, amongst the exploding orange aloes. He’s wearing torn, bright rainbow-hued pants, a leather waistcoat, and all manner of leather pouches and ankh-shaped artefacts which dangle under his straggly white beard. He greets a few locals and squints into the breaking day as a set rolls in. He then approaches you and a mutual friend and blurts out a vibrant “Shalom Chom!”

That is exactly as I recall my meeting with Bruce. And as Masterton also described, he introduced himself, and bumped fists. Bruce is 61, and has been living on the beach for  as long as he can remember. He sells artwork and old photo's nearby, from the garage of one of the houses, and is the longest full-time surfing resident, going back to the early 60's.

To use Masterton again, "if you are ever in J-Bay and see this friendly, unmistakeable old surfer, go and greet him and get him to tell you a story or a joke. He’ll be happy to oblige."

Ericsson 3 - high and dry for now - image by jeff Ayliffe

The Volvo Open 70's are elevated, nearly 14 000kg of state-of-the-art carbon racing boats silhouetted against the Cape Town skyline as shore crews prepare them for leg 2, Cape Town to Kochi. The Agulhas current could play a role. Over the shallows of the Agulhas Bank it meets cold water coupled with Westerly winds coming from the Southern ocean, and the result is a notoriously rough piece of water. Once throught this, its a push for the SE Trade Winds, the 'trades' will carry them to the doldrums, and tricky going all the way to Kochi in India. The distance is 4,450 nautical miles, an estimated 18 days at sea. Its amazing how a few short weeks can get one involved in a race to the point that I feel I will be saying farewell to some new friends next week.

Il Mostro - Puma Ocean racing - TLC after leg 1 - Image by Jeff Ayliffe

There are very few people in the general public who understand, truly, the answer to the above question. I have a basic idea, but never having been out there on a 70ft racing machine when the gods get angry,  I too have no real idea. But I urge you to visit the Volvo Ocean race Village at the V and A Waterfront, and then watch the short film in the dome tent, and you will get a closer idea. Then sit in the simulator and experience in HD quality a taste of what the crews see and hear, albeit safe in the knowledge that within a few minutes, or if the simulation gets too much, you can stop it. I have had the privilege of hearing the skippers describe first hand, the stresses and exhaustion that can be found out there, and I have seen the exhausted, battle-weary eyes of the crews as they step off the boats onto dry land for the first time. And that too, has brought me a little closer to understanding the courage and levels of skill, enduance and teamwork required to sail such a machine around the world. Its a rare opportunity to see and meet some true heroes, and I hope many Capetonians take the opportunity whilst this elite racing show is in town.

Ericsson 3 - being prepared for leg 2 - Image by Jeff Ayliffe

Exhauted but happy - E4 skipper Torben Grael - Image by jeff Ayliffe

Ericsson 4 sailed into Table Bay early on Sunday morning to take the win in the opening leg of the Volvo Ocean race, after having battled huge storms and wild seas in the Atlantic. Skipper Torben Grael and his crew were exhausted but happy to get E4 back in one piece, and they were welcomed by a flotilla of media and crew boats on a beautiful morning as they sailed over the horizon.

Images below, greeted by a perfect day, image by jeff Ayliffe.

Roxy Louw chilling out - all Pics by Jeff Ayliffe.

I cannot believe its been a whole year since Elbie and her crew popped into our studios to say hi! Well a year it's been, and today Elbie, Lera Kobyts'ka of the Ukraine and Roxy Louw chatted to Richard Hardiman on the 94.5 KFM Drive, and I happened to be doing the drivetime sport. The latest issue of the SA Sports Illustrated Swimwear issue hit the book shelves recently, and they shared a few of their lighter moments on the shoot.

Below, Elbie in studio with us for a 2nd year running.