Pre-Race Training in Tanzania

The Ngalawas are mighty vessels but even the most qualified and experienced sailors will need to familiarise themselves with their unique brilliance.

The simple and gloriously low-tech design hasn't changed for a very long time but remember these boats were designed for short local shops and fishing. You're taking them an a long-distance endurance race so you must take pre-race training as seriously as it deserves.

You must make sure everyone on your team arrives in time to take part in all days in full. Check the dates before you book your travel and allow enough time to travel in Tanzania from Dar es Salaam to the start line. 

Practical

The Race Crew will introduce you to your Ngalawas and give you a briefing before getting you straight out on the water. The most qualified people in the world will be there to help you train and learn - veterans of the Ngalawa Cup... Having done the race themselves they're ideally placed to give you the information and training you need before you set off. 

The exact curriculum can change but this is the likely breakdown of your practical pre-race sailing sessions: 

 

Optional training day - 28th December 

Part 1 (day 1 and 2) - Coastal training, theory sessions on satellite tracking; race systems; navigation; checkpoints and a few other bits and bobs.

Part 2 (day 3) - Gear and provision stowage followed by a test-run sail to the start line.

Theory Classes

We'll run evening theory training on dry land on both days of pre-race training. Across the two sessions we'll cover:

• Racecourse Briefing & the Checkpoints
• Race rules (and the penalties for breaking them)
• Navigation & using the provided charts and your GPS devices
• Communication and emergency protocol and using the trackers
• Basic points of sail and rigging; how to tack and gybe
• What to do when you capsize;
• How to rescue your Ngalawa when you’re stranded 
• Ngalawa basic repairs