This is a copy of an email from Brian Emmott along with some photos of his trip to Mombasa.

I casually enquired about sailing at the seaman's mission in Mombasa one hot afternoon in early February. After a tiring walk of about a mile I arrived at Mombasa Yacht Club.An event which brought about my resumption of sailing having left DSC and the UK in the autumn of 2003. "We sail late afternoon on Wednesdays, early afternoon Sundays. Come along then and you'll meet the members and have a sail" said Leonard da Costa the manager. I was initially impressed by the facilities, Bar, lounge with pool table and table tennis.The changing rooms were housed separately  adjacent to an open air swimming pool.

             The following Wednesday I arrived early and looked around the dinghy pen. 8 toppers were racked up, 6 Lasers stored undercover, 3 Ospreys and 4 Bosuns.There were 4 or 5  national 14s that looked as though they had seen better days.  I was introduced to the members as they arrived and made welcome. Scott Maclelland a young american doctor asked me to join him in his osprey. Susan, his crew and colleague was dressed with trapeze harness, she took down the course and after a few minutes we launched and were sailing up and down the start line.This was the first time I had seen use of  trapeze and my lack of experience of it was to prove my undoing next time out! The marks used by the club are port channel marker buoys and large mooring buoys.The start was signalled by raising and lowering flags and sounding a handbell. This was done by the barmen, Nicholas and Aggrai!  Our flag dropped to the accompanying sound of the bell. Off we sailed towards the first mark half a mile away. Susan didn't have to go out on the wire much as my weight kept the osprey flat in what was a stiff breeze. We managed to keep in front of the two other ospreys and won the race!

            After a shower i went to the bar to have a sundowner. According to the rough guide to Kenya the best place in Mombasa to see the sunset is from the yacht club. I  completely concur with that, it was a sight to see and enjoy. The bar filled with non sailing members, then, a pleasant surprise followed , the sailing secretary announced the result of the race and that supper was ready. This was a delicious chicken curry made by one of the member's wives. We ate on the lawn in front of the verandah at candlelit tables. There  was a splendid view of the harbour, the evening was warm  and the conversation good.

            The following week,in the absence of Susan, i crewed for Scott and donned a trapeze harness for the first time. We sailed towards the first mark and i gingerley stepped out onto the gunwale.I let my weight be held completely by the harness. I'd just about got the knack of flexing my knees to the undulations of the waves, water skier style, when  we reached the mark and had to tack. Ready about? I struggled to unhook myself from the portside trapeze, the bow swung round in response to the tiller, pulling the hook further into the shackle, I tried to get to the otherside of the boat but couldn't due to being held by the harness. It was capsize time! This is normally accompanied by a deep breath as the water chills you. Not so this time. It was just like stepping into a tepid bath, not the slightest bit unpleasant. We righted the Osprey, but too much water had got into the buoancy tanks so we decided to drain the boat at the nearby beach. "give your watch to the safety boat boy" said Scott. I later learned that this was a security precaution as someone had been robbed previously in similar circumstances. We drained the Osprey and towed it back with the safety boat. "you took a bit of a risk didn't you" said one of the members on our return. "Those splashing ankles are an invitation for the sharks" Suddenly my idyll was shattered.Thieves,sharks! Oh, why did they have to spoil it!

            I began to sail regularly, taking out one of the club's bosuns and crewing if needed. After two months I joined and bought a second hand laser as I had taken the decision to make Kenya at the very least a winter retreat. The differences aren't great between the two clubs but salt water, tides and bulk container carriers are just three examples.On the first of June we began the Frostbite races!

            The Yacht Club, the people I met through it, contributed greatly to reaching the decision. Also a love of sailing which was initiated and nurtured at DSC, for that I will always be grateful and in particular the Hutchinson and Hart school.Thanks.

Best regards

Brian Emmott.

Click on the photos to enlarge