A new chapter is beginning for sailing in Tanzania as SSL Team Tanzania joins the Developing African Countries project, with the ambition of building a strong national team capable of competing on the international stage and, one day, representing Tanzania at the SSL Gold Cup.
For some members of the team, the journey is already a significant step into the unknown. Among them is Wilfrida, a marine engineer and professional seafarer who had never sailed before joining the team.
“I’m really excited to be here, and it’s my greatest pleasure to be selected for the Tanzania team,” she says. “We’re all happy, and we’re looking forward to learning a lot.”
From observer to sailor
Wilfrida’s connection with sailing began from the shore. She had watched members of her local sailing club training and competing, but for a long time she remained an observer.
“I saw people sailing before, and I said, maybe I should try this. It’s kind of funny and interesting,” she recalls.
When the opportunity came to join the new Tanzanian team, she decided to take the step. Her first experience on the water quickly showed her that sailing would be very different from simply watching it.
“It’s really above my expectations,” she says. “SSL has shown us a lot of things and taught us different stuff. We’re looking forward to learning a lot from our coach.”
Although Wilfrida is new to sailing, she is far from new to the sea. As a marine engineer and professional seafarer, she has spent much of her career working on the water.
“I’m basically a professional seafarer. I’m a marine engineer by profession,” she explains. “I like everything about this seafaring sector — sailing, yachts, boats and stuff.”
A team growing together
SSL Team Tanzania is bringing together sailors who already know each other through their local club, while also creating an opportunity for new sailors like Wilfrida to become part of the group.
“I think we know each other because we have a club back there,” she says. “I’m maybe new to them, but I had seen them before.”
The team is now beginning the process of building not only sailing skills, but also the understanding and cooperation required to compete together as a national team.
The Developing African Countries project aims to give emerging sailing nations the opportunity to develop that foundation — through training, coaching and international exposure — and to create a pathway towards future competition between nations.
For Tanzania, that journey is only beginning.
Learning through tough conditions
Wilfrida’s first day on the boat was memorable for another reason: the conditions were challenging.
Rain, strong wind and the unfamiliar feeling of being on a sailing boat created plenty of nerves.
“Honestly, the first time I entered the sailing boat and we started sailing, for sure I was scared at first,” she admits. “It was raining, and there was heavy wind. I was saying, ‘Oh my God, this is scary.’”
But the team around her helped turn the experience into a positive one.
“They were telling us, ' This is okay, this is fine. We cannot capsize — because that is what I was afraid of the most.”
Her background at sea eventually helped her find confidence. She may be accustomed to rough weather from her work on large ships, but sailing a small boat exposed her to the elements in a completely different way.
“I’m a seafarer; I’m used to rough weather, but on a big ship. I don’t feel much of it in a big ship. Here I felt it.”
Rather than being discouraged, the experience made her want to go back on the water.
“It’s worth it. I really want to try again and again and again.”
Dreaming bigger
For Wilfrida, the ultimate goal extends far beyond learning the basics of sailing.
She already sees the potential for Tanzania to build a competitive international team — and perhaps become a recognised sailing nation in the future.
“I have this big picture of a more international team,” she says. “We’ll compete, we’ll be better. We are here for training and I hope we learn well.”
And then comes the dream.
“Maybe who knows, some days we’ll be all over the news as the winners internationally.”
That ambition captures the spirit behind the Developing African Countries project: giving sailors from emerging nations the opportunity to learn, train and dream of competing at the highest level.
For Tanzania, the road towards the SSL Gold Cup is a long one. But every journey begins with a first step — and for Wilfrida, that first step came in the rain, strong wind, and a brand-new sailing boat.
