Close Call

Even when we are windsurfing in sharky locations we tend to put them to the back of our minds and focus on the great conditions instead. Besides out of the 1,000s of people in the water each day you barely hear of a sighting yet alone an attack. 

Cape Town is a popular location for the world’s top pros during the winter months, but it also extremely popular with Great Whites with False Bay, in particular Seal Island, being the winter hunting ground for them. Everyone is aware that they are there, but how would you cope if you were face-to-face with the deadliest predator in the ocean? Lena Erdil (Patrik / Point-7 / Mystic / AL360) faced exactly this situation and tells all below:

Lena Erdil: “Every year when I tell people I’m going to Cape Town for my winter training, one of the first questions I get asked is are you not scared of sharks? I always say nah not really I never really saw one in 5 years of going there. Well this has now changed, yesterday I had my first 1 on 1 shark encounter in Cape Town and yes I was sooo scared — I think I have never been that scared in my life! 

I actually managed to hit what I am pretty sure was a Great White and catapult pretty far out at Sunset Beach, I was properly screaming then sitting on my board trying to keep my limbs out the water. I saw the fin of what I presume was the same shark I hit about 5 meters away from me swimming up and down. I was just paralysed sitting on my board wondering what to do and just quietly swearing trying to keep calm and not freak out completely. With of course no up-haul, super light wind and my kit totally in the wrong position, I was just looking around to see if I could wave another windsurfer over to give me enough courage to jump in and waterstart…

No one there unfortunately except one other guy, who had also seen the shark and was not going to stay with me. With the next gust I finally managed to waterstart and made my way back to the beach. Luckily I didn’t see the shark again. I was soo happy reaching the beach I think I had a big grin on my face, pure relief and happiness of surviving this. 

I don't want to sound overly dramatic but I still cant believe that this actually happened to me! So the next time someone asks me about sharks, I now have a proper shark encounter to tell, and I am pretty happy to know that it didn't attack even though I didn’t hit it…

And yes I am sure it was not a seal, a dolphin or a moonfish as I have seen plenty of those and was obviously trying hard to see one of them rather then a shark after hitting it!! On the brightside it looks like Cape Town sharks are totally harmless ;)… so i'm totally looking forward to the once again awesome forecast of the next few days and I am actually strangely not scared to go back in the water at all!! Anyone else have a similar encounter here in Cape Town?”

You can stay up to date with all of Lena Erdil’s adventures via her Social Media Networks:

Facebook: Lena Erdil
Instagram: @lenaerdil
Twitter: @LenaErdil