Coastal Quayside - 3 September 2004
History of the Harbour Open Day and Trawler Race
The Trawler Race originated from an idea that former Port Captain and Rotary Club member, Keith Burchell had after hearing of a similar event (once off) held in Cape Town. The Cape Town event was based on an event held in England at the end of each fishing season in which the fish harvest was celebrated.
The proposal was put to the Rotary Club of Walvis Bay, an agreement was reached and to go ahead, and an organizing sub-committee was formed.
According to Walvis Bay Rotary President, Bruce Stewart – who gave Namib Times a bit of background on the annual event, a trawler race seemed to be a really good way of ending off the Namibian Fishing season. Bearing in mind the economy of Walvis Bay depended on the fishing industry to a large extent over the years. He said the involvement of the community at the same time seemed appropriate.
This lent itself to fund raising and besides Rotary, it gave other organizations such as SRIN, an opportunity to raise funds, he explained. The first Trawler Race was held in September 1989 in a shed at United Fishing Enterprises. Another Rotarian, Hartmut Rotter, was the Technical Manager at United Fishing Enterprises and was able to facilitate the arrangements for the Trawler Race.
As Keith Burchell was the Port Captain and Bill Wilson, yet another Rotarian was the Department of Transport Surveyor at the time, and together with Hartmut Rotter, they were able to oversee and organize the land based and the sea going sides ensuring all safety aspects at the same time. The event in the Store included prize giving in the afternoon and food and drinks all day and night, a dance took place in the evening.
The second Trawler Race in 1990 was organized by Jens von der Fecht, a Rotarian and also the new Walvis Bay Port Captain and followed a similar format to the first Trawler Race. The third Trawler Race in 1991 moved to a shed at the Port of Walvis Bay, which included an open day to the Harbour/Port Area. Including the 'Open Harbour/Port 'with the Trawler Race seemed a good idea at the same time as the public is invited to move freely around most of the harbour area and to explore what is only accessible with an entrance permit.
During the Open Harbour Day it is possible for the public to acquaint themselves with the workings of a major harbour and at the same time enjoy the fellowship of the fishing community, said Stewart. The Rotary President said that although fishing in Walvis Bay now takes place throughout the year, there has been little need to change the original format of the Open Harbour Day and Trawler Race, which has 'largely retained its them and character."
For 15 years the Open Harbour Day and Trawler Race has grown to become a well-attended event supported by the entire community of Walvis Bay, Stewart concluded. The original objectives of the event are still being achieved today, being a celebration of fisheries harvest, rather than the end of the fishing season, as well as the opening of the harbour to the public for the day hence an opportunity to raise funds for deserving Walvis Bay Charities.