Hundreds of rubber ducks, a canal full of cheers and a community with hearts as big as their paddles! St Francis Bay just turned a quirky “Lucky Ducky Race” into a powerful moment of giving.
St Francis Bay, South Africa (21 April 2025) – If you heard cheering over the canals of St Francis Bay this past weekend, it wasn’t just the holidaymakers enjoying the last of the summer sun, it was locals and visitors alike rallying behind hundreds of tiny rubber ducks racing their way to victory… all for a good cause.
Yes, a Ducky Race. And not just any ducky race… but possibly the most spirited one South Africa has seen yet!
Rubber duck races have been a quirky global tradition for years. The concept is simple but delightfully fun: hundreds (sometimes thousands) of numbered rubber ducks are released into a body of water and the first one to cross the finish line wins a prize. Participants “sponsor” a duck, and the proceeds go to charity.
Now, South Africa can proudly say we’ve got our own splash of this joy, and St Francis Bay brought the energy, heart and a little bit of glitter too.
Well, there’s a good chance other ducky races have been making waves across South Africa, quietly floating under the radar. And if that’s the case, we definitely want to hear about them! If your town’s got a waddle of its own, let us know so we can give it the spotlight it deserves.
Now back to the action in the Eastern Cape…
St Francis Bay, with its postcard-perfect canals and tight-knit community, has long been a favourite getaway for South Africans. It’s the kind of place where neighbours still chat over fences, dogs happily trot alongside kayaks and everyone pitches in when it matters.
And this weekend, it was all about ducks.
Lots and lots of ducks.
The Lucky Ducky Race transformed the peaceful canals into a carnival of colour, music and cheering crowds. All in support of St Francis Animal Rescue. With floating duck herds, paddlers guiding the flurry and swimmers diving in to catch the finishers, the vibe was electric.
“Corporate entries stole the show with dazzling designs and over-the-top outfits. Sally from Veranda led the pack with a fabulously dressed duck that wowed the judges, while Black Box’s super-sophisticated duck decided to take the day off entirely. Shoutout to Beltza, Spar, and Flavvi (featuring Yalu) for their fabulous entries too… the competition was fierce and full of feathers.”
“From sponsors like Nexus and Schweppes, to local heroes like Melina at Big Time Taverna and a boat named Marmite, it was a massive team effort. Special thanks go out to the volunteers, the duck wranglers, and Sarah Campbell who brought the energy as the ever-hyped MC.”
But the biggest win? Every rand raised is going straight to helping the animals of Sea Vista, providing care, shelter, sterilisation and hope for the dogs and cats who need it most.
It was quirky. It was joyful. And it had real heart.
The St Francis Lucky Ducky Race wasn’t just a feel-good event… it made a real difference. And that, right there, is something worth paddling for.
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