A life in the open waters
TAWANDA Chikasha’s tale is an embodiment of a quote by author Hemann Broch: “Those who live by the sea can hardly form a single thought of which the sea would not be part.”
The quote is taken from one of Broch’s controversial works “Death by Virgil”, but it aptly describes Chikasha’s life-long flirtation with open waters.
Recently, the 22-year-old etched his name in the country’s history books by becoming the first Zimbabwean to take part in the famous Cape to Rio Yacht Race.
Aboard a 35-foot yacht named Ciao Bella, Chikasha and his JM Busha 54 team sailed 6 000 kilometres across the Atlantic Ocean.
They finished a credible third in their race.
But it was a race of three, if not more, years in the making.
“The Cape to Rio journey pretty much started off with an idea. Our skipper, Ryan Robinson, and I thought that it would be a good idea if we took part in the race,” said Chikasha shortly after docking last week.
“It was some three years back and I had just joined the sailing team here at Wits University. We heard that a Wits team once did the race, and we thought of emulating their feat.
“Robinson, apparently, had long harboured similar ambitions and just needed a nudge. We quickly set the ball in motion, knocked on every door and got sponsorship, spruced up the boat and began our training mid-last year,” he said.
Chikasha feels a sense of fulfilment. “The race was long but fulfilling. The end result was well beyond our expectations,” he said.
“We finished third in our category, which was a very good finish as we were one of the top preforming sides.
“There were a couple of hiccups here and there but overall it was a good experience. The highlight for me was when we braved a storm that we encountered midway. I remember being on the deck, making sure that everything was safe and secure, all the while cracking jokes and laughing with a team-mate.” Born on March 10, 1996, Chikasha’s journey to Rio and back ironically started on land.
He started his sports adventures in rugby at St George’s College, Harare, before his love for water manifested through rowing and scuba diving.
He is now an advanced level scuba diver.
He has won numerous regattas in Zimbabwe and South Africa, among them the Around the Island Race and podium finishes in the Dolphin Nationals.
“My dad was a professional canoe guide and eventually became the general manager of Shearwater Adventures, a canoe company on the Zambezi River.
“We also stayed in Victoria Falls briefly. He would take us canoeing on holidays.
“Sailing is a multi-faceted sport and you can do it until you are very old, so I plan to sail forever. You can do it for leisure or competitively, the opportunities are endless.”
As for what lies ahead, Chikasha said: “I’m definitely going to be more involved on the international sailing circuit. I intend to join a professional team.
“We (the Busha 54 team) have also been invited to one of the biggest student regattas in Europe — the EDHCA Sailing Cup, in April.
“I also plan to do some offshore sailing with high performance teams, and continue to compete on the South African circuit,” Chikasha said.
Away from the water, Chikasha is currently studying for a Bachelor of Sciences in Economics degree at Wits University.
A scholarship to attain his master’s degree