Rosa Rafanomezana: the youngster lighting up sailing

 

A young teenage girl battling the tides on the lake against seasoned sailors at Kaazi paints quite a unique picture.

 

Having started out at the age of twelve in 2016, she has been the youngest not just in the youth category but the entire sailing community.

 

"Feels like I started at the bottom when I didn't even know sailing as a sport existed and I'm slowly climbing up to the top," she says

 

Interestingly, this year she has found her match, not in ability, but age bracket in 14-year-old Charlotte Horremans. The latter's coming in the picture is good news to the youth category which has now expanded with unique talents like Ibrahim Ssebudde and Beatrice Nassanga.

 

Rafanomezana 

Rafanomezana who started out with her mother Jenny Rafanomezana was an instant hit, emerging handicap winner at the Uganda Laser Open 2017.

 

"On the weekly sailing, I just try to beat my mum as a target for each race I do"

 

However, in her own words, her biggest achievements so far come in "monthly mugs but I'm also the former best women sailor at the Entebbe Laser Open"

 

With this year's Entebbe Laser Open coming up later this year, she says that it will be rather a huge challenge retaining the best woman accolade.

 

"I have a larger sail now which will make it more challenging but nonetheless I'm ready to defend the best woman sailor" she adds.

 

Importantly, she has taken up some roles at the club helping out with junior beginners who are starting out to sail. Above all her remarkable abilities offer a glimpse in the future of sailing at the prestigious VNSC.

 

EMAIL: kbalikuddembe@newvision.co.ug

 

TWITTER: @casozi14