Sailing: Youngster Rafanomezana steals the show as Carroll dominates

Uganda Laser Open

There's an up-and-coming sailor at Victoria Nyanza Sailing Club; Rosa Rafanomezana!

The 12-year-old junior sailor has found her footing in the game with barely one year in action.

She literally punched above her weight on Sunday in the Uganda Laser Open, winning her first handicap.

Sailing on a 4.7, the Rainbow International student dazzled on the waters of the Murchison Bay in Kaazi finishing on 98 points in 14^th position to win the handicap.

"I always hate the feeling of poor performance and this pushes me beyond the limits. I want to continue growing more and more as a sailor. I was surprised by how I faired among the top sailors" Rafanomezana said.

Her 45-year-old mother, Jenny Rafanomezana, who introduced her to the sport, was also a participant finishing on 110 points.

However it was David Carroll from the Naivasha Yacht Club in Kenya who won the top prize on 7 points (2 discards) with 8 first place finishes out of the ten races.

David Carroll negotiates past a marker. Photo by Michael Nsubuga

The event was further dominated by sailors from Kenya; Don White (16 points) and Daniel Francis (23 points).

Steven Luswata despite finishing a distant seventh was presented with the senior prize.

The experienced 59-year-old is the president of the Uganda Sailing Association.

Annabel Bowerman sailing on a radial having finished on 76 points won the first lady gong as Erik Sorel and Saidi Mkomba from Tanzania took home the apprentice and youth mugs respectively.

Selected results

Dave Carroll 7 pts

Don White 16

Daniel Francis 23 

Handicap

Rosa Rafanomezana 98