Smooth sailing towards a vibrant ocean economy
Booming boat-building industry training disadvantaged Cape Flats youth
In 2019 Vanessa Davidson learned that boat building in South Africa was a R2.2-billion industry, growing at a yearly rate of 19%. She immediately saw an opportunity to support skills development and transformation and remove industry barriers. Today, Davidson is one of the founders of Blue Cape, a non-profit organisation in Cape Town that aims to contribute to a resilient ocean economy. In partnership with the City of Cape Town and the V&A Waterfront, the NPO wants to tap into opportunities of a growing blue economy and promote economic growth, job creation and employment facilitation, social upliftment and skills development.
Surf’s up!
Davidson says it all started with research into the value of the surfing sector in Cape Town, and they were “blown away” by the results. With the support of Invest Cape Town, they expanded their research into the economic contribution of the ocean sports economy, which revealed myriad opportunities for job creation and specialised skills training.
The increase in the number of superyachts visiting the V&A Waterfront also grabbed their attention. This, along with the V&A’S commitment to build new infrastructure for these visitors, the increased economic opportunities and the extensive superyacht network that exist globally, were all contributing factors.
Then there were the international boating industry studies about the growth of the sector, which is experiencing a growth boom. “After an initial downturn during hard lockdown, order books are now full for the next three to four years,” says Davidson.
On top of this, there is a national shortage of boat-building skills. This is where Blue Cape decided to step up and fill the gap by empowering the local community.
Filling the gap for people and planet
Davidson is very clear about one thing: “It is very important to us that skill provision is linked to a job for life, to a real, tangible economic opportunity that will transform a person’s life and family circumstances.” This is the principle that underlies the work they do across their wide range of training programmes for people aspiring to enter the world of ocean sport, boat building and superyachts.
In the absence of formal training for sailmakers, mastmakers and riggers, the NPO offers on-the-job training to hone these specialised skills.
In an industry where consciousness about the protection of the marine environment is increasing, a lot of care is put into the building of boats, in order to ensure that the products align with the direction of the market. Davidson says today’s boat buyers are concerned about the environment, sustainability, circularity and the health of the ocean. “A recent catamaran buyer had an ocean monitoring device installed on the new boat so that she can provide data from remote areas that are not sampled by traditional ocean research groups,” she says.
According to her, this buyer is not an outlier or an exception to the rule; buyers are well informed about sustainability trends, which leaves the industry with little option but to follow suit. “It is a wonderful story of the power of ordinary people and their civic duty and stewardship of our oceans,” she says. “Also, the data that will be collected as they sail remote areas in the globe will be invaluable in strengthening the science of our oceans, and better understanding pollution in particular.”
It takes a village to raise a child
Blue Cape’s focus is not limited to boat building: the NPO is creating a vibrant, inclusive ocean community in a previously white-dominated sector. The NPO works alongside various organisations that promote diversity and champion people and communities who previously lacked access and opportunity, especially where ocean sports are concerned.
Some of the organisations they work with include the Royal Cape Yacht Club Academy, Waves4change and Sail Africa. “These organisations provide training to previously disadvantaged youth, teaching them how to swim, and raising awareness about ocean safety and career pathways to the ocean sports sector through quality educational experiences,” says Davidson.
She is particularly proud of the Beach and Pool Lifeguard training, in partnership with the NPO Oceans Alive. To date, they have trained 62 candidates who can now use their newfound qualifications to help gain employment and better their lives. International accreditation means a whole world of opportunities open up for graduates of the programme to work abroad or on cruise ships.
Further from the main hub of Cape Town, Muizenberg is also becoming a hive of youth empowerment activity. The Beach Surf Lifesaving Club has recently been established to provide professional lifeguard training to Cape Flats youth. Davidson says they were also involved in the upgrading of the beach huts on Muizenberg beach, which are now being made available to oceanbased organisations and beach cleaning initiatives for use as a base of operations.
South Africa’s boat industry is growing faster than ever before; it is also a sector uniquely positioned to facilitate individual growth, community empowerment, social upliftment and economic development within the spaces that need it most.