About Shamsa

Shamsa sailed from Lamu to Diani, around 150 Nm just in the attempt to catch the rapidly closing time window, departing right before the Kaskazi, the North Easterly trade wind, would turn into the South Easterly one known as Kuzi, a stronger and overall less predictable wind that blows until October. Once in Diani she immediately attracted the attention of many: sailing enthusiasts, and people just intrigued by this bigger and pleasant looking boat in an area where the fishermen double outrigger canoe ‘Ngalawa’ are prevalent.

Shamsa, the 32 fts traditional wooden Dhow seemed to enjoy this mid tide waters too, splashing the white horses just at the right angle, at the right speed with her bow, and her watchful ‘Lamu Eyes’ -two carved crescent moon and star, believed to watch for the safety of the sailors. Shamsa, an Arabic name meaning sunshine, was built around around ten years ago in Lamu island, an important center in the Swahili culture of East Africa. Lamu represented a crucial hub and powerhouse for the control of resources including ivory, slaves, and gold in an intricate and often dramatic tale of trade, explorations and invasions that brought prosperity for some and misery for many across the IndianOcean. The fortunes and misfortunes were closelylinked to the existence and development of the Dhows: capable wooden vessels able to transport significant loads and to maximize the use of the trade winds in the vast region. Boats like Shamsa arealso the symbol of some changes to the Lamucentenarian boat building tradition. She is part of the Mozambican design that became common in Lamunot long ago, at the end of the last century, when a South African daring sailor made approach in the island main channel on a dhow with lines that nobody had seen before there. It was quickly nicknamed ‘casa’by the locals, sea turtle in Swhaili, as the design reminded the shape and the charm of a turtle, with its natural elegance derived by flatter, lower deck, and wider beam lines.