The founders of the VNSC decided to have a number of Snipe Sharpie sailing boats built for Ush 600 (!) apiece. Somewhere in August the same year the Victoria Nyanza Sailing was formally established, and a suitable site for the club was secured at Kaazi, just a ten minute boat ride away from Munyonyo. In the next 75 years the Club slowly but steadily built up a fleet and the infrastructure at Kaazi for a perfect Sunday afternoon of watersports. Today, the Sharpies have all long been replaced by modern sailing boats. One of the most popular dinghies in the world, the Laser, is also the predominant boat at Kaazi. It is the perfect boat for all ages between 15 – 75 years. It requires sailing skills and brains, but with a range of smaller and bigger sails it is suitable for the strong and skilful as well as for the lightweight beginner. The VNSC also has a fleet of 15 Optimists for kids from 8 years onwards, windsurfers, catamarans, and kayaks, the latter for those who don’t fancy a boom flying around over their head.
So what does a Sailing afternoon at Kaazi look like? Depending on your preference, you can join the races, take a leisure sailing or kayaking trip in the bay, watch your kids having fun at the paddling pool, or sit on the
beach with a bottle of wine.

The real action is of course in the racing. Racing is about strength, skill and wit. Strength: hike out to keep your boat flat, and move your main sheet in and out to keep your sail perfectly adjusted to the wind direction – you can’t get a better workout for your abdominals than that. And, oh yes, if you happen to capsize, bringing your boat back up and climbing back in also requires a bit of muscle in the right places. Skill: keep your sail adjusted to the wind, make swift turns around marks and other sailors, ride the waves and, oh yes, when you capsize, do so without getting wet! Wit: what is the wind going to do, what are other sailors doing, and how do I outwit them with a clever application of rules and skills.
Actually, the last weekend of February brings the best Laser sailors from East Africa and beyond together, to battle for the Uganda Laser Open 2010 Trophy. We expect more than 50 boats on the water, and such a fleet is as spectacular to sail in as to watch. February and March are also set aside to celebrate the VNSC’s 75 anniversary, so watch out for some exhilarating other events at Kaazi.
Even if you don’t race, sailing is an exciting sport. A well handled Laser in good winds makes about 20 km per hour. Okay, that is not as fast as a bodaboda, but your chance of survival is also much higher. In actual fact sailing is as safe and healthy as any sport can be, and if you can do it in water of 24 degrees, 52 weeks a year, why not give it a try. Get your bum on a boat and if you don’t know to sail, subscribe to one of our excellent sailing courses at www.sailuganda.com. See you all on the water in 2010!

For more information, please contact: Victoria Nyanza Sailing Club
Mobile: +256 772 378791.
Email: commodore@sailuganda.com