A Brief History of RECSKASA and TASKS

The Recreational and Commercial Sea Kayak Association [RECSKASA] was formed in 1997 when it became apparent that sea kayaking was set to take off as a recreational as well as a commercial activity in South Africa. At a historical meeting held at the Hout Bay Manor in February 1997, interested parties met to discuss their various needs. This all culminated in the first AGM held in July 1997. The fifth AGM was held in combination with the First National Sea Kayak Convention held in Hermanus in September 2001. Johan Loots had been the driving force behind RECSKASA for the first five years of its existence, being the elected chairperson for this period. He was ably assisted by Brad Bailey, a loyal and dedicated paddler, as vice-chair. During this period, RECSKASA had acquired over 100 paid-up and voting members countrywide, had the majority of commercial sea kayak operators join its ranks, motivated the formation of sea kayak clubs countrywide and contributed to the setting of standards for recreational and commercial sea kayaking. It became the first association in South Africa accredited with the training of sea kayak guides and contributed largely to the setting of new standards in the South African government's new tourism guide standards for sea kayaking and marine guiding. Andre Schutte was elected the new chair in 2001 and was charged with ringing the changes in the association and with seeing it through to a new format in the form of TASKS: The African Sea Kayak Society, in 2002/3.