As well as the other pieces of information supplied, this sheet is for the benefit of visiting yachts and is designed to answer many of the questions that naturally arise from newcomers to the Club. We trust that it will assist you to avoid some of our local pitfalls and to have an even more enjoyable stay with us here at the DYC.

Activities

Due to the climate we are lucky that all our activities can go ahead all through the year. Apart from occasional rain squalls, the weather and conditions are generally very benign.

Sailing – There is racing in various classes all the year round; Yachts (keel boats), Catamarans, Wayfarers, Lasers being the main divisions for racing. In addition, the Yachts have a programme of Offshore Racing. Likewise the climate and conditions are very suitable for day sailing and cruising all through the year. There is also a very keen training programme for children.

Fishing – There is an enthusiastic body of fishermen who go out nearly every weekend and have monthly competitions.

Diving – The club divers have their own boat and a compressor for their breathing air and can take out qualified diver visitors to enjoy the local reefs

Beach – The seas around Dar are generally safe from sharks and the Club beach is a very safe place for swimming and sunning at high tide. However, due to local religious feeling toplessness is to be avoided.

Social – As well as the bar being open early till late there are regular discos and events through the year, some of them tied to sponsored events connected with sailing or fishing.

Facilities

The Club offers a good range of facilities for the support of the Members and their craft. The main Club building contains changing rooms with toilets and showers, although it should be noted that there is a perennial shortage of water and economy in its use is obligatory.

Bar – We have a well stocked bar with a wide range of alcoholic and non-alcoholic drinks served by a friendly and skilled staff. It remains open from early to late. There are subsidiary bars which open for special functions on a regular basis.

Restaurant – There is a restaurant serving mostly Italian style food, but with local specialities. It has a subsidiary beachside café in a lungo mare style structure with a simplified menu. In the Lured Inn there is special pizza night on Mondays and the Fishing section runs a fish barbecue on Sunday evenings.

Swimming Pool – For the benefit of swimmers when the tide is down or for those who have a problem with salt water there is a freshwater pool in a glamourous cliff top setting, allowing the sunset to be appreciated while gently floating.

Beach Department – There is a ramp with a winch for slipping and launching boats The Club cradles can handle loads up to about 6 tons, depending on the one to be used.

Fuel – Both diesel and petrol are available from the Club’s pumps, although it has to be carried out to vessels in the moorings by jerry cans or similar containers There is a project in hand to construct a jetty with fuel and water facilities.

Dinghy Service – For the benefit of craft in the moorings, there is a dinghy service to transport Members and their kit to and from their boats.

Radios – The Club has various radios all operating on VHF Marine Channel 9. The different sites under “Yacht Club” or “DYC” can be called by name:- “Beach” for boat service, “OOD Box”, “Bar”, “Office” etc. In the OOD Box is a CB radio set on Channel 9.

Payments to the Club

The Club does not accept cash payments on the premises, but does accept crossed cheque payments on local banks. Cash payments can be made directly into our bank accounts, depending on the currency used. The account numbers can be obtained from the Club Office.

Payment for consumables at the Club is by chit on a prepayment system. Initially visitors can establish a credit by paying into a “coupon” account, but they will need to establish their own credit account, a Temporary Visiting Yacht account number, by paying into the Club’s account as above. Any balance at the end of the visit will be refunded.

Staff

The Club boat staff are distinguished by white piping on their uniforms and are to assist Members with slipping or moving their boats, but not maintaining or working on Members boats. Their functions are to be performed without extra payments or gratuities, although a round of soft drinks is appreciated.

The private boat staff are distinguished by red piping on their uniforms and are engaged directly by Members, either full time or for an individual task for which payment has to be negotiated. It is advisable for newcomers to enquire about the going rates for jobs before starting such negotiations as being taken for a ride is common, even for those without experience in equitation.

Security

While the Club tries to ensure that the premises are kept safe for Members and their property, the efforts are not always successful. On shore belongings should not be left unattended and especially not in the changing rooms. On the moorings boats should be kept locked when unattended with all loose items, lines etc out of sight. Out board motors are much in demand, especially the smaller hose power models, so they should be locked below or heavily chained and locked to some solid structure onboard. If the boat is going to be left at the moorings while her company is away, a night watchman should be engaged to stay on board overnight. The Club’s Bosun can advise on suitable people for this task.

Going out of the Club on foot at night, especially if late, can be hazardous as muggings are unfortunately common. Although, if the victim co-operates, there is usually a minimum of violence.

General Information

Access to town. - The local buses (known as Dalla Dalla) are very informal and crowded and should be avoided. However, they run on fixed routes which are painted across the front for the centre of town look out for Posta (Post Office - there are two; the Main PO and the old one which is by the Harbour). The fares are very low – currently Shs. 150. per trip.

Taxis cost somewhat more – currently about Shs. 4,000. + into the city centre, but can be engaged for the day. Bargaining is necessary as the usual asking price is much greater. This applies to most transactions.

Money Changing. - This can be done quite widely and the rates vary considerably. There is bank at the Slipway, but the best rates are from Bureaus de Change in town. There are several around the Askari Monument which seem to offer the most competitive rates. But do not be tempted to change with the touts who lurk around the area as, although they offer slightly better rates, there is a high probability of purchasing a handful of waste paper. The nearest bureau is at the Oyster Bay Hotel shops.

Shopping. - There is a couple of small supermarkets nearby, at the Slipway & across Chole Road, which seems to offer most day to day requirements. In the area there are various small stalls and small shops (dukas), especially at the Chole/Haile Selassie cross roads, which sell fruits and vegetables among other things.

Embassies. - Most of the major countries have representation in Tanzania and their contacts are in the phone book. or one can ask around the Club as we have a wide range of nationalities among our Membership.

Health safeguards. - The biggest hazards are malaria and intestinal problems (diarrhea, giardia, dysentery etc). Malaria is becoming resistant to many of the antimalarial drugs available and should be avoided as much as possible by sleeping in a mosquito proof place (nets, screens etc) and covering up when going out at night or using liberal amounts of repellant. Water should never be drunk from the tap, not even for cleaning teeth, as it comes pretty well straight from the Ruvu River and carries a rich load of wild life.

We wish you a happy and enjoyable stay here at the Dar es Salaam Yacht Club, but should you need further information don’t hesitate to ask any Committee Member or, in fact, any Member of the Club.