SA Navy Festival - 01 - 03 April 2011

The South African Navy Festival has a new name for 2011 and will now be called the “SA Navy Birthday Festival”. The SA Navy was established on the 1st April 1922. Next year's festival will coincide with the SA Navy's 90th birthday.

The South African Navy will open its doors to the people of South Africa to come and explore the navy culture and environment at the East Dockyard in Simon’s Town.

Entrance to the festival is free and gates will open daily from 10am until 6pm. There will be various events in the main arena and around the dockyard that both young and old will find entertaining. It is recommended to stay in Simon’s Town due to traffic or get there early. Contact Cape Point Route for accommodation availability. Tel" 021 782 9356

Here are some of the standard attractions to look forward to during the festival:
• Ships and Submarines open to the public
• Tug Rides
• Flea Market
• Entertainment for children and a Tea Garden
• Please note that the popular tea garden and children’s entertainment will move to the I.C.E. workshop next to the pump house

The following events will take place in the Arena area:
• Gun Run Display
• Navy Band performance
• Fire Fighting Display Competition
• Dog Display by the SA Navy’s Dog Unit
• Mast Display
• SA Navy Precision Drill
• The Sea Cadets Precision Drill
• Izivunguvungu Youth Band.


There will be Various Live and Static Displays such as:
• Ship boarding display by the Maritime Reaction Squadron
• Lynx & Oryx Helicopters Display
• Live Canon Firing
• South African Navy Diving Display
• Tug ‘ballet’
• Silver Falcons
• Coca Cola SA Navy Talent Show
• Coca Cola SA Navy 5-a-side Soccer Tournament
• Diver’s Exhibition and Divers Tank
• Submarine Museum SAS Assegaai – Adults R20 and Children R10
• SANAD Gun Display

Major Events: SA Navy Birthday Festival 01 – 03 April 2011

01 April: 09:00 Right of Entry parade through Simon’s Town
01 April: 20:00 Dry Dock Concert at East Dockyard (free entry)
02 April: 09:30 – 10:00 Unveiling of SS Mendi Plaque, Jubilee Square
02 April: 17:45 Navy Choir performance in SAS Simonsberg Cinema Hall (free entry)
02 April: 10:00 Night Gunnery Shoot from Lower North Gun Battery
03 April: 08:00 – 09:00 Navy Remembrance Parade, Fleet Command HQ
03 April: 17:20 – 18:00 Retreat Ceremony, East Dockyard, Arena area

BRING YOUR FAMILY AND FRIENDS TO EXPERIENCE SOME NAVY CULTURE.
Enquiries: Sub-Lieutenant Leverne Benjamin Telephone: (021) 787 4620

LOGISTICS: Getting to Simon’s Town

Take the train! The Simon’s Town Line is OPEN and you will beat the traffic!

Or take the train to Kalk Bay and Catch the Water Taxi to Simon's Town

DRIVING: OPTION A:
M3 highway – at the t-junction at the end of the highway turn left to Main Road (M4)
Continue along the M4, through Fish Hoek (bearing left at the traffic circle) until you reach Simon’s Town
(please note that the M4 between St James and Kalk Bay is southbound traffic only)

DRIVING OPTION B:
M3 highway – at the t-junction at the end of the highway turn left to Main Road (M4)
Turn right at Boyes Drive (near Westlake arms) for the scenic drive above Muizenberg.
Turn right onto Main Road when you reach the T-junction with the M4 and continue as above.

DRIVING OPTION C:
M3 highway – at the t-junction at the end of the highway turn right.
Bear left at the Ou Kaapse Weg (M64) turnoff, travel over the mountain and past shopping mall on your right once you are over the other side. Travel through 2 sets of traffic lights, then climb over the hill on the Glencairn Expressway.
At the T-junction with Main Road (M4) turn right in direction of Simon’s Town.

DRIVING OPTION D:
M3 highway – at the t-junction at the end of the highway turn right.
Bear left at the Ou Kaapse Weg (M64) turnoff, travel over the mountain and past shopping mall on your right once you are over the other side.
At the 2nd set of traffic lights – turn RIGHT onto Kommetjie road (M65) and follow the road, Before you reach Kommetjie , turn left after Ocean View.
Follow the road through Scarborough and continue for approximately 3km.
At the Red Hill/Scarborough/Cape Point intersection – turn left at the Red Hill sign (M66) – recognisable by the art and craft stall.
Traverse the mountain (amazing views) and when you reach the T- junction on the other side (M4), turn right to Simon’s Town.

Let Cape Point Route book your accommodation for the South African Navy Birthday Festival in Simon's Town.

IMAGES:
All images taken by Dean Wingrin at SA Navy Festival 2010 as found on www.flyafrica.info
1. SA Navy parade in Simon's Town
2. A busy Naval dockyard in Simon's Town
3. SAAF Super Lynx arriving in Simon's Tow
4. Canon firing at the gun run in Simon's Town
5. Submarines: S103 in front of S102