Lamu Cultural Festival Dhow Race Competition Tour

Lamu Cultural Festival Dhow race competition tour takes place during the annual Lamu Cultural Festival (held in November). Visiting Lamu Island during the Lamu Cultural Festival is a chance to experience Lamu life at its most exuberant and joyous.

The dhow races are held to preserve and encourage the art of dhow sailing, now threatened by the increasing availability of engines and prefabricated boats. The Swahilis of Lamu are recognized for their dhow construction and sailing abilities, so it should be no surprise that dhow races frequently happen with the winners receiving significant honors.

The town’s finest dhows are selected to compete, and race under sail through a complicated series of buoys, combining speed with elaborate tacking and maneuvering skill. During these events, the top captains gather along the old town Shela shores of Lamu, bringing with them their highly prized magnificent dhows.

The vessels and their crew are elaborately glorified among their followers to attract the attention of the town’s people with the hope of garnering the most support for their beloved sailing dhow. On race day, the waters off the coast of Lamu are quickly overtaken by up to 15 racing dhows, and island residents and tourists gather on the shoreline to cheer for their preferred captain.

As the anticipation builds, the town is overcome by an almost palpable energy. The main racing season is from July through April when the winds are just perfect for demonstrating the maximum sailing speed of the shows. Special races occur on New Year’s Day, Easter Sunday, the Maulidi holiday, Eid ul-Fitr (Ramadan), and during the Lamu Cultural Festival in November.

Lamu Cultural Festival Dhow race competition tour takes place during the annual Lamu Cultural Festival (held in November). Visiting Lamu Island during the Lamu Cultural Festival is a chance to experience Lamu life at its most exuberant and joyous.

The dhow races are held to preserve and encourage the art of dhow sailing, now threatened by the increasing availability of engines and prefabricated boats.

The Swahilis of Lamu are recognized for their dhow construction and sailing abilities, so it should be no surprise that dhow races frequently happen with the winners receiving significant honors.

The town’s finest dhows are selected to compete, and race under sail through a complicated series of buoys, combining speed with elaborate tacking and maneuvering skill. During these events, the top captains gather along the old town Shela shores of Lamu, bringing with them their highly prized magnificent dhows.

The vessels and their crew are elaborately glorified among their followers to attract the attention of the town’s people with the hope of garnering the most support for their beloved sailing dhow.

On race day, the waters off the coast of Lamu are quickly overtaken by up to 15 racing dhows, and island residents and tourists gather on the shoreline to cheer for their preferred captain.

As the anticipation builds, the town is overcome by an almost palpable energy. The main racing season is from July through April when the winds are just perfect for demonstrating the maximum sailing speed of the dhows.

Special races occur on New Year’s Day, Easter Sunday, Maulidi holiday, Eid ul-Fitr (Ramadan), and during the Lamu Cultural Festival in November.

If you are traveling during the dhow racing period, African Spice Safaris highly recommends viewing this unique race available only in Lamu in eastern Africa. Please ask us about organizing a dhow racing experience tour for you.

Notes
Kindly note that you can also book the following tours during the Lamu Cultural Festival;
* Bao competition
* Swimming competition
* Donkey Race competition
* Swahili poetry competition
* Henna painting competition
* Lamu Cross Country Race competition along the waterfront to Shela village and back- all in the physically draining heat of the day

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