LEON ERWEE
VANDERBIJLPARK. – The Socoro Syndicates Group specializes in the formation of leisure property syndicates for discerning business-, and professional people – being the only group with a 34 year success record in our market niche.
They have completed hundreds of projects in South Africa, Spain and London. Our flagship investment is San Lameer in Kwa Zulu Natal where we have syndicated 82 properties. The yachtsmen in our Group have initiated projects too with us having operated a fleet of yacht is the Med., Seychelles and Malaysia the past decade.
Some Group members grew up around the Vaal River and the Group is currently active with two developments at Lochvaal being Lochvaal Estates as well as a coming development on what was proclaimed in 1937 as the ‘Lochvaal Township’.
At a point Socoro acquired a vintage yacht with a view to restoring her. The good ship HMS Bounty, an all wooden 37’ motorised yacht was built by the Fred Nicholls’ shipyard in Durban in 1936. During the Second World War she was commandeered by the Royal Navy, registered as HMS Bounty and utilised to ferry officers from shore to the battleships, and supply ships – ‘HMS denoting ‘His or Her Majesty’s Ship’. HMS Bounty is still displaying her Royal Navy flag as currently in use by the United Kingdom’s Merchant Navy and civilian registered vessels. Her specific Red Ensign was flown whenever an Admiral was on board. She is indeed reminiscent of an era of pomp and splendour as could be observed during the Thames River Pageant when a fleet of sister ships commemorated the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee in 2012.
After the Second World War ended, the Cohen family from OK Bazaars’ fame acquired the Bounty to use as private family yacht and took her inland to the Vaal River where she has been ever since. Bounty has been on the hard – dry dock – for almost three decades, well in need of restoration.
She is the only one of her kind in Africa, yet in the UK there are a small number of these ships in pristine condition with others in various stages of restoration – a programme driven by the Association of Dunkirk Little Ships (ADLS). During 1940, the Royal Navy ‘requisitioned’ around 850 such craft for ‘Operation Dynamo’ to ferry 338,000 trapped British troops from the beaches of Dunkirk back to England – the Little Ships’ finest hour – masterfully depicted in the recent film ‘Dunkirk.’ At the Classic Boat rally in September at St. Katherine Dock adjacent to Tower Bridge in London, about a dozen ‘Little Ships’ attended and we were most fortunate to meet Kevin Finn, the Vice Commodore of the ADLS. Kevin was delighted to hear of Socoro Yachts’ planned restoration project and is following our progress with interest. We may be invited to the ‘return to Dunkirk’ in May 2020, by the Royal Navy, to commemorate the 80th anniversary of Operation Dynamo; around 50 ‘Little Ships’ could attend.
RESTORATION:
As with hundreds of Socoro Syndicates’ syndication projects effected as mentioned this restoration too was planned as a syndicate. Timing was not right for floating such and albeit that there has always been interest, they have been holding back. Invaluable perspectives were gained over time from knowledgeable parties advising, here specifically giving credit to the likes of accomplished shipwright Will Ferreira and others.
They were recently approached by Vaal Triangle resident Clive Dunn who forwarded creative ideas for a private restoration project. Clive has built aircraft, boats and various related structures. After sound-boarding on all aspects we formulated a workable plan, formalised an agreement and commenced work. Ever so creatively Clive and his formidable team have involved themselves with gusto from day one – hence proceeding apace expecting to finish an otherwise lengthy project over a much shorter period – even before the festive season.
PRACTICAL APPLICATION:
They hope to have BOUNTY operational from December at Lochvaal with a view to servicing the needs of Group members as well as corporate management and other from the private sector – taking 12 passengers at a time. Parallel to the BOUNTY we will be operating a barge capable of taking up to 20 persons cruising. We are also planning to launch a solar powered barge some time in 2019. Contact us on www.socoro.co.za or on 011-646 8075 or 083-703 6366.
