Tanzania sailors ready for IODA African optimist event in Seychelles

Dar es Salaam. Tanzania will field five young sailors in the IODA African Optimist Championships, scheduled to take place in Mahé, Seychelles, from September 14 to 21.

According to a statement issued by the Tanzania Sailing Association, the sailors are Abubakar Mpondi, Aaron Karani, Alyah Hart, Shayaan Powar, and Daan Groothuismink, aged between 11 and 15 years.

The young sailors have been training at Msasani Bay under head coach Imamu Said from the Dar es Salaam Yacht Club. The statement noted that four of the sailors have already participated in previous African Championships under the patronage of the Tanzania Sailing Association, to whom the Tanzania Optimist Dinghy Association (TODA) expresses its gratitude.

The national sailors are from the Dar es Salaam Yacht Club and the Kigamboni Sailing Center. Optimist sailing is specifically designed for younger sailors aged 7 to 15 years, and the competition is organized in conjunction with the International Optimist Dinghy Association (IODA).

The IODA has encouraged the development of the African Championships to improve African sailing. While the World Championships remain the focal point of the year, Continental Championships, including the African Championships, are a significant part of the racing calendar.

Since 2005, Tanzania has participated in the African Championships held in different countries across Africa. The first event was held in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania, and the second was held in 2012 in Dar es Salaam, where 12 countries were represented and the Minister of Sports opened the event.

Each African member country may send up to 10 sailors who have qualified in national trials. The IODA also encourages that at least three out of the 10 team members be female sailors to promote growth within the girls’ fleet.