Port Owen
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'Port Owen' is a man-mademarina in the town of Velddrif, 145km from Cape Town on the West Coast of the Western Cape Province of South Africa. Velddrif, which has incorporated the village of Laaiplek has the lowest crime statistics in South Africa (according to the local police station.It comprises 100 hectares and has 3.5km of waterways.
The marina is surrounded on three sides by the Great Berg River and is one kilometre from the harbour mouth, where the river meets St. Helena Bay. This bay, the largest on the West Coast of Africa, offers the finest sailing conditions on the South African coastline due to its sheltered nature and orientation to the prevailing summer wind (South-east Trade, which blows off-shore). This has been confirmed by Bertie Reed, John Martin, Dave Hudson and many other leading South African sailors. In 1497Vasco Da Gama landed here and recorded that "The dogs here sound just like the ones in Portugal" and a monument was later erected on the shore by the Portuguese Government
The marina is adjacent to the fishing harbour of Laaiplek and is surrounded by salt marsh. The area is renowned for its bird life as well over 350 different sea, land and river birds can be found here.
Port Owen is named after H.Owen Wiggins Junior, who developed the marina and its residential plots. To achieve this he had to dredge approximately 1 million cubic metres of sand and rock over 15 years and construct 7km of embankment as well as many jetties and other infrastructure. He also established the Port Owen Yacht Club (which grew from Friday evening sundowners on Gideon Langart's 36' yacht Absolutely!, and set aside the Marina Centre which has become the commercial centre of Port Owen. Harbour Centre, the shopping centre has a health spa, pub, restaurant, hairdressing salon, cafe and estate agency. Owen Wiggins went on to create the Langebaan Country Club.
Port Owen was the first deep-sea, residential marina developed in South Africa. The waterways are controlled by the Port Owen Marina Authority.[1] For many years it was the home of Roamer, Bob Burn's boat on which he became the 32nd man to sail around the world single-handedly. The bell of Roamer is on display at Gideon Estates. Port Owen is surrounded on three sides by the Great Berg River, which limits its future growth making sure it remains restful and exclusive. In the heart of Port Owen is Admiral Island, a privately run security estate reachable only by the access-controlled bridge or from the water. The shoreline of Admiral Island is monitored by 24-hour-monitored security cameras and rapid response, armed security. The lifestyle on Admiral Island is very relaxed.[citation needed]
Port Owen has a slipway, three restaurants, a microbrewery and a gin distillery as well as shops. The river is navigable for 56km for shallow-drought boats.[2]
References
- West Coast Escape magazine, Langebaan, Western Cape, South Africa
The Islander, news magazine of Admiral Island Port Owen Handbook published by Owen Wiggins Trust Sunday Times Rapport Business Times Die Burger
- ^ "Gideon Estates - West Coast Property". www.gideonestates.co.za.
- ^ Port Owen Handbook by Gideon Langart