A golden age for sailing in Uganda as local clubs collaborate

On Thursday, sailing clubs worldwide celebrate World Sailing Day. In Uganda, members of the Victoria Nyanza Sailing Club (VNSC) and the Entebbe Sailing Club (ESC) are marking the occasion after three eventful weekends of sailing, highlighted by a historic long-distance race.

The Kaazi-Entebbe long-distance race, first held in 1939, is an annual event where sailors travel at least 32 km on Lake Victoria between VNSC and ESC. It is considered the sailing equivalent of a marathon.

This year, 30 sailors from VNSC and ESC participated in at least one leg of the race. Notably, 10 youth sailors joined the event: Ituritete Kwesiga, Gabriel Mariño, Manuel Mariño, Lucius Markov, James Mugarura, Ben Parker, Kian Roberts, Tickla Turyagenda, Caleb Unger, and Anthony Wamala.

Youth sailors James Mugarura (center) and Lucius Markov (right) pose with their awards for the Entebbe-to-Kaazi race. Mugarura won first place out of 20 boats, while Markov is believed to be the youngest helmsman to ever complete the event. Courtesy photo

During the journey to Entebbe, sailors encountered challenging light winds and a mid-race storm. As a result, many junior sailors and half of the adults were brought in by rescue boats after sailing single-handed for up to 10 hours until sunset.

“The wind was bad, and I didn’t get to complete the race,” said youth sailor Kian Roberts. “When I eventually landed at Entebbe Sailing Club, I was initially frustrated and overwhelmed and tired, but then I felt proud of myself for completing it and felt happy being surrounded by the sailing club community.”

“It was a great challenge and a big adventure,” said 10-year-old Manuel Mariño with his 15-year-old brother Gabriel Mariño, who sailed together. “We got in very tired but are very happy to have such a good, unforgettable experience. We are better sailors now.”

Although the Kaazi-Entebbe journey concluded with an effective recall by the clubs’ safety teams, organisers determined that further measures were needed to prevent boats from getting lost, especially after dark. VNSC Vice Commodore Heedus Nsubuga led an initiative to install GPS trackers on boats for the return trip, enabling real-time tracking by spectators and safety teams.

“Safety remains a top priority for the club as we modernise one of East Africa’s most historic sailing traditions,” Nsubuga said. “The introduction of GPS tracking on all boats improves race management and emergency response, while allowing loved ones and spectators, on land or aboard spectator boats, to follow racers live throughout the journey.”

Favourable winds aided the return journey from Entebbe to Kaazi, allowing all competitors to finish by late afternoon. Sixteen-year-old James Mugarura from Entebbe won the race in just over three hours, outperforming 19 others. Nine-year-old Lucius Markov received a prize as the youngest helmsman to complete the event solo and unassisted.

“I ended up winning the race. I was very happy and very shocked when the commodore announced that I was the winner,” Mugarura said. “I am looking forward to a bright future in sailing.”

Regattas at Entebbe Sailing Club

These long-distance races framed two weekends of sailing events at Entebbe Sailing Club.

The first event, the Russell Deering Martin Open, was an all-class regatta. Philip Betts of VNSC won on boat handicap, while Emmanuel Otto of ESC won on personal handicap. The Spirit Prize, awarded to the fastest non-Laser (ILCA) boat, had two qualifying entries: one sailed by the VNSC commodore and the other by the ESC commodore.

“It was commodore vs. commodore, and we ended up with a messy, evenly matched fight trying not to be in last place,” said Elliot Avila, commodore at VNSC. “In the end, it is not about winning but about developing ourselves by challenging others. We learn and grow through friendly competition and exchange—both as sailors and as clubs.”

The main event, the Entebbe Laser (ILCA) Open, was a two-day regatta featuring competitors from VNSC, ESC, and Kenya’s Naivasha Yacht Club (NYC) racing in seven challenging races with rolling waves and shifting winds.

Competitors represented diverse ages, nationalities, and experience levels. The youngest participant, 12-year-old Ituritete Kwesiga from ESC, received the Youth Prize.

“The competition was quite tight and very intense. I had to keep pushing through and complete the race, and to my surprise, I won the best junior sailor award,” Kwesiga said. “Whenever you are in a race, it doesn’t matter what position you are in, always complete the race. You never know what may surprise you.”

The oldest competitor, 78-year-old Kim “the Legend” Bowerman of VNSC, secured second place, demonstrating skill gained through years of experience.

“I first sailed at Entebbe 30 years ago in a super-fast 505 dinghy, which I still have as a longstanding project,” Bowerman said. “The hospitality at ESC has always been legendary, and now there is a dynamic of sailing. I look forward to next year.”

The NYC delegation achieved strong results, with Don White winning first place and Nils Razmilovic taking third. Rear Commodore Aditya Shah placed ninth. All three are experienced competitors in Ugandan sailing events.

“Sailing in Uganda is always a real treat,” White said. “The warm welcome and hospitality, combined with outstanding sailing conditions, make a very enjoyable mix for sailing competitions. We love coming to Uganda for sailing events.”

A Golden Age for Sailing in Uganda

Uganda’s sailing community was the greatest beneficiary of these events.

Since the 1980s, sailing has declined in popularity across East Africa, leading many clubs to close or convert to other uses. ESC itself nearly lost its sailing culture, with recent annual Entebbe events attended almost exclusively by VNSC sailors.

This trend is now reversing. For the first time in recent years, ESC fielded eight sailors in the annual Entebbe events, marking a significant comeback celebrated by visiting clubs.

“A big part of this has been encouraging Ugandan families and parents to see sailing as a sport their children can enjoy, learn from, and grow in,” said Sylvie Ouellet, sailing secretary at ESC. “We are trying to create an environment where young people feel welcome on the water, regardless of experience, and where parents feel part of the journey and willing to support their children’s participation.”

These efforts are yielding results and align with the club’s vision to promote sailing as a sport in Entebbe.

“Our vision at ESC is not simply to grow sailing participation but to develop the next generation of sailors on Lake Victoria through youth training, competitive racing, and regional collaboration,” said Tim Farrar, commodore at ESC. “By working closely with VNSC, we hope to build a strong and sustainable sailing community while keeping the rich heritage of sailing on Lake Victoria alive for future generations.”

VNSC aims to expand its reach while maintaining its strong sailing tradition, which includes weekly club races and regular beginner courses in partnership with the Uganda Sailing Federation.

“Sailing can be deeply satisfying, challenging, and sometimes frustrating,” said VNSC course instructor Stephen Luswata. “It is a skill like learning how to drive a car, peel matooke, or prepare a 3-course meal: it is best advanced in small, manageable steps.”

Those interested in learning to sail may register on the VNSC website for the next beginner course, scheduled for the last two weekends in June.