Sailing

Entebbe Regatta 2012

Information and Entry Form

General Information

The regatta will be held at the Entebbe Sailing Club, Uganda between the 12th and 20th May 2012, with races being held on the 12th/13th and 19th/20th. All races will be for Lasers, with those on the 13th being open also for other classes under handicap. The race on the 12th will be from the Victoria Nyanza Sailing Club at Kaazi (near Kampala) to the Entebbe Sailing Club, a distance of approximately 32 km. The races on the 19th/20th will be for the Entebbe Laser Open. Entries are invited for either or both weekends. A number of club boats are available and may be reserved by visiting helms, for a nominal charge, on a first come first served basis. A varied programme of activities will be available on non-race days, 14th to 18th May, for those staying for both weekends’ racing.

The Races

12th May Kaazi to Entebbe. A chart distance of 32 km but expect to sail further, depending on the wind. Previous times for this course have ranged from 4 to 7 hours. Navigational information will be provided and the race will be escorted by a safety boat.

13th May A series of four handicap races.

19th/20th May The Entebbe Laser Open, a series of three races on each day. This event is sponsored by Kathelyne Craenen in memory of her husband Dirk Vuysteke.

Accommodation

Visitors are welcome to camp at the ESC with their own equipment without charge. Tents are available for hire from Wild Frontiers, these are two-man tents with mattresses, the charge is 10,000 UgSh per person per night. Showers, toilets and BBQ are available.

The ESC has two lakeside bandas, which may be rented for the full period of the regatta. Each banda has a double bedroom and an upper floor with two single beds, there is a bathroom, toilet, living area with simple cooking facilities and a BBQ area. The charge for the ten nights is US$450.

Close to the ESC on the beach road is the Island Beach Café, which also operates a guest house. A single room is US$40 and a double room is US$60

Further along the beach road the Anderita Beach Hotel is within a few minutes walk of the ESC. It offers double rooms at approximately 100,000 UgSh per night. Somewhat further away, on the main road, but still just within a walkable distance is the Victoria Region Motel, where a double room is 80,000 UgSh per night. Next door is the Marphie Hotel, with double rooms at US$50 per night.

Entebbe offers a wide range of accommodation at prices from 30,000 UgSh to US$500 per night but all these are further away from the ESC and you would need your own transport or to rely on the abundant and cheap public transport. Contact Michael Austin via email or the Entry Form if you would like more details.

Non-race Activities

The ESC grounds and clubhouse offer a swimming pool, beach and clubhouse bars, children’s playground, BBQ and satellite TV.

Lasers and Optimists may be hired for leisure sailing during the week, or, of course, you may have your own boat. Sailing in a range of other boats may be available by arrangement with ESC members.

If you have simple fishing tackle you can fish for tilapia from the ESC. A day game fishing for Nile Perch, which might be over 50 kg, can be arranged with Wild Frontiers for US$120 per person, including all tackle and lunch, minimum four people. A half-day trip costs US$88 per person, minimum four people.

Wild Frontiers offer boat trips to Ngamba Island, which is home to a chimpanzee sanctuary, where many rescued chimpanzees may be seen in a natural environment. An all-day trip in a traditional boat costs US$65 per person, with a minimum of 8 people.

Within the Entebbe area there are a wide choice of bars, restaurants, beach resorts and clubs. There is a market (kabubu) in the Kitooro suburb on Tuesdays.

There is a large Botanical Garden, on the edge of the bay where the ESC is situated, and the Wildlife Education Centre (it used to be called the Zoo), a little further away. A 15 minute drive along the road towards Kampala is the small Zika Forest, where you can walk to see plants, birds and insects.

For more information on mid-week activities, please contact Wild Frontiers

Contact Details

The ESC website is http://www.entebbesailingclub.com

Organizer’s email – Michael Austin mailto:michaelkayizi@yahoo.co.uk

For tent hire and the boat trips please book direct with Wild Frontiers

Mobile +256 (0) 772 502 155

Email mailto:info@wildfrontiers.co.ug

Website http://www.wildfrontiers.co.ug

Please book hotel accommodation direct with the hotel.

Island Beach Café

Phone +256 (0) 414 321597

Mobile +256 (0) 773 749332