Vuyisile Jaca – Sailing Around the World With The Maiden Factor

“Opportunity cannot come by itself to you. You must try hard and work towards what you want in the end.” – Vuyisile Jaca

Trail Food Co. is immensely proud and excited about our collaboration with The Maiden Factor (TMF). The Maiden Factor Foundation’s aim is to empower girls through education, and it’s happening with an all-female crew that’s sailing around the world.

One of our very own South Africans, Vuyisile Jaca, is part of the crew on TMF. Vuyi, as she is affectionately known, grew up along the coast of KZN, where she had to confront losing both her parents at a young age. She has faced challenges, but instead of resolving to despair, she is now sailing across the world and spreading a message of hope and upliftment.

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Q: Where did you grow up? Could you tell us a bit more about your childhood?

I was born on the South Coast of KZN in a village called eMgangeni, and my brother and I were raised mainly by my mother. My father was a polygamist, so he had many kids. I had lots of step-brothers and sisters, and I am the last child. My father was a Police Captain in Durban and was mostly away at work, but also lived with his other family in Durban most of the time. During holidays and over Christmas, the whole family would come back to the village, and we would have family time and a lot of fun. We really enjoyed the holidays!

Q: Do you have any distinct childhood memories? And how did this shape your life?

I was in grade one in 2005, November 11. I still remember the day. I lost my mother on that day. And at that time, I couldn’t even understand what it meant to lose a parent. I was only 7 years old.  It was very unexpected because she didn’t get sick, she woke up one day, and the next, she was gone.

When I was in grade 8 and my brother was in matric, we lost our father, so it was just the two of us. I then moved to Durban to live with my oldest step-brother and his family, who took care of us.  My brother remained in the village with some other relatives and would come to visit me in the city when he would be in Durban looking for a job

Since I was the last born, my big step-brother took on a fatherly role very similar to that of my own father. He was very strict, and as the eldest, he wanted me to live with him so he could raise me as he did his own children.

Even though he is a quiet man, he is a good person, just like my dad was. They are carbon copies! He treated me just like a big brother should treat his younger sister and always looked out for me.

Q: What inspired you to take Nautical Science as a subject?

We had an educator who came to our class and told us about this new subject. It had been recently introduced into five KZN schools, one of which was my school, JG Zuma High School. They asked who wanted to join the subject, which was only available to the kids who took Science as a subject.

Since I was taking Science and am a naturally curious person, I raised my hand and asked to join Nautical Science. I had no idea what it was all about. But I raised my hand and wanted to learn more about it. I wasn’t necessarily the best at science, but I am a hard worker, so thought I would give it a go.

At the time, my stepbrother didn’t pay much attention to what the subject was actually about. He did ask questions, but he is very scared of water, as many of my family members are, even in the pool. I am the only one who has developed a love for water. Each time I go out sailing, they always cross their fingers and say, “Yo we cannot do this, we are so proud of you but we are not going in the water with you.”

Q: Could you tell us a bit more about your experience with the subject?

I had no idea what it was all about when I started. I saw the ships, and I saw the water. The more they explained, the more interesting it became. Each and every day, I became more intrigued with the subject and all the interesting facts and learnings of all things that actually happen in water.

At the time, some of my other friends were doing Maritime Studies, which is similar to Nautical Science. So in grade 11, I changed from IT and joined Maritime Studies so that I could get a better in-depth understanding of the topic as a whole.

The subjects cover everything relating to ships, water, navigation, and tides. Navigating the ship through the water with various instruments and how to use charts and landmarks for navigation.

It was all new to me. As a black person who did not know anything about water, I became very curious and interested in the topic. How do they do it? How do ships navigate from one point to another? Water is an open space. Do they have traffic lights?

Navigating the subject taught me about buoys which tell you which side of the water to stay on, and which zones to go into or avoid. I wouldn’t say it was easy, but I really enjoyed the theory part because it’s about the weather in all the different parts of the world, and the effect on the water and the tides and all that it affects.

The trickiest part was the navigation! Having to learn how to use charts and the instruments. Moreso, you had to get over 80% to pass! Having passed, I have my licenses, which include my Day Skipper and Coastal Skipper licenses.

So as I studied, I learned about buoys, which tell you which side to stay on and where to go or no-go zones on the water.

Q: When did you get into the practical side of boats and sailing?

In grade 10, there was no sailing – I only started sailing in grade 11. Our nautical science teacher used to be a lieutenant in the Navy, and he arranged for us to first experience sailing with a lady called Jackie Bernard from Sail Africa. We used to go to Durban Harbour once a week on a Wednesday. We got to see the real water, this big water, and all the yachts and big ships. This is how I got to taste or be on the boats. It was my first time on the open water and the harbour.

There were four other girls on the course. There were 10 of us in total. A few have gone onto ships, but I have continued with sailing.

Q: What was it like the first time you went out on a boat?

When you start, there is first a theory part. You go to a class, and they explain everything because we’ve never been on a boat or in the water before.

So the first time when we got to the boat, the wind was a bit light, and there was nothing dangerous. I trusted what I was taught about life jackets. When we actually started sailing, the wind picked up, and the boat started to feel as if it was going to capsize. We were screaming, not because we were scared but because we were just having fun. And we ended up forgetting about our fear of water and just started enjoying it. And just like that, I couldn’t wait for Wednesdays – the day we go sailing!

I couldn’t swim when I started sailing, and the person who taught me how to swim was Jackie from Sail Africa. I was 21 years old when I learned to swim. At first, it wasn’t easy because I was scared to be in the water. I thought I was going to drown. But Jackie was so kind and patient. She started by teaching me basic techniques. By the end of that first day, I was able to float on my own without being scared.

I couldn’t swim, but I did have a taste of sailing, and I started to love it. I wanted to start sailing Dinghys which can capsize fairly easily. You have to know how to swim back to the boat, raise it upwards and then get yourself back into the boat and then carry on sailing. So swimming was not optional.

Now being able to swim and being able to sail – I wanted more. I started researching other things people can do in the ocean. I discovered rowing, diving, paddling, and then through Sail Africa, I was able to get a sponsorship to do an assistant instructor course for rowing. Then I got my scuba diving qualification, and right now, I can dive up to 35 meters deep.

Q: What is it about being on a boat/the ocean that you like? I mean, why this and not something else?

I’m a curious person, and I like to challenge myself. I wanted to do something that nobody believed I could do.

I don’t want to limit myself. I always want to challenge myself to be the best at what I do, regardless of my gender. For example, when we were out diving, I was the only girl in the group. The guys immediately expected me to be the scared one, which I wasn’t. Instead, the most afraid person was one of the guys.

I love the ocean. I love the water. I think I’m in love with the water. Maybe that’s why if it was for me, I’ll even build a house in the ocean. The sea feels like my second home.

Q: If you had to compare who you are today to the person you were in Matric, what kind of changes and growth do you see?

Now I see things from a different perspective. I never thought I would be here, doing what I do now. My mindset about the world has changed.

Back in high school, I was a shy person. I was that child who doesn’t like to be the centre of attention, and I was scared to talk in front of people.

But now I’m able to face my fears. I’m being given an opportunity to stand in front of a crowd and tell my story. I’ve grown, and a lot has changed. Sailing has taught me great skills outside of sailing, such as discipline.

Sailing has also taught me to be a calm person. Water is very dangerous. Staying calm helps you make the right decisions. When you are in trouble in the water you must be able to relax your mind, think fast, and make good decisions. This is a skill I can apply to many areas of my life.

Q: Are there any particularly low times in your life? And how did you bounce back?

After finishing school, I did not have the finances to go to University, and I didn’t have funds to upgrade my studies even though I wanted to study further.

I was just sitting at home, not studying, there was nothing happening in my life. Most people I finished school with had gone to University or College. Others were trying to get jobs, and I was there sitting at home feeling alone and stressed. Sometimes yes, there were suicidal thoughts. It is difficult to explain. I would be there alone, crying and praying, talking to my parents. “Why me? Why did you leave me? Look at me now. I cannot do anything. You guys are not here. You didn’t leave me with anyone.”

However, I believe that God helps those who help themselves. Opportunity cannot come by itself to you. You must try hard and work towards what you want in the end.

I woke up one morning and realised that I just needed to do something. I got in touch with some of the friends that I had studied Nautical Science with.

One of them had got an opportunity to go to Spain due to Nautical science and Sail Africa, so I contacted him and asked him for the contact details of the company he was sailing with.

I called them and told a woman that I used to sail, and that I wanted to come back to sailing and was looking for an opportunity. What would I do? I would do anything to make this happen. She told me to come and see her, and that’s exactly what I did.  We discussed my experience as one of the students from JC Zuma High School.

The woman explained that a lot of girls came and said they wanted to sail, but then when it was actually time to go offshore they got scared and ended up quitting. So she asked me, “Are you sure you want to do this?”

I had never been so sure of anything in my life. And I was not going to disappoint her! She gave me an opportunity to come in once a week to help out.

I started helping on the boats, showing the children how to wear life jackets. As I started to prove myself by working hard and loving what I did, Sail Africa saw my potential, and I ended up joining the racing teams! This pushed me to improve myself, right up to qualifying to take boats out myself!

The more I was exposed to this environment, the more my mind started to ease. Finally, there was something that was happening to me in my life. And it was something I loved. Each time I was on the boat, or when I saw the ocean, my heart started to feel hope again. I started to realise that I am very capable of doing anything I set my mind to.

Q: What are your thoughts on you being an inspiration to other young men and women?

My hope is that I can inspire young girls and boys, as a young black woman from the township. My hope is that more youngsters from the townships realise that there’s more out there besides what they see in the townships.

I lived in the township while I was studying at JG Zuma, and I never imagined myself being in the ocean or water as a career. In the townships, we don’t have pools – but look at me now!

I’m travelling the world, and I would like to see more young black men and women thinking broader and exploring the water industry as a career choice.

Q: If there was one piece of advice or inspiration you could give to other young women/people, what would it be?

I would like to say that it’s not always about money. It’s about love and passion. When you love something, you will always try hard to work toward that thing.

You mustn’t underestimate yourself, no matter how big or small you are, it’s possible that you can do it if you believe that you can do it. You must be positive. You must challenge yourself, you must take a risk and see where it takes you.

Q: Was there any one person in your life that inspired you?

If my late parents were here, what would they say? What would they say to me? And if I quit, would they be happy if I did that?

They are my inspiration. I always think about them when I’m facing a challenge or going through something difficult. I shouldn’t quit just because things get tough. I should make them proud and do better. I’ve come too far to quit at this particular time. So they are the ones who motivate me.

Since my mother died when I was young, I’ve never had that motherly figure in my life. Because I don’t have parents, there was no one to sit me down and talk to me about what to do. I think I almost self-taught myself most things. I was alone. I had to do things on my own. I try to make good decisions.

Each and every decision that I make, I must always remember that I don’t have parents, and I’m the only one who’s going to make choices. If I made bad choices, then it’s going to be on me. I have to try and do good by myself.

Q: How did you get involved with The Maiden Factor?

Last year (2022), around August, I sent out the application. Sail Africa and Marine Inspirations told me about the Maiden Factor. Without them, I wouldn’t have known about it, and would not have applied. There were apparently 1000s of girls from South Africa who applied. I don’t know how, but I was one of the two girls who got chosen. I am so grateful!

Q: Tell us more about the experience of being on this world tour?

In December last year, I flew! Oh, man, it was my first time ever being on a plane! I flew from Durban to Dubai, Dubai to Conakry, and then Conakry to Dakar in Senegal. I joined the Maiden in Senegal, and we sailed back down to Cape Town in South Africa. It was supposed to take 30 days, but we worked hard, and we made it in just over 28 days. It was a life-altering experience for me.

On the 3rd of April 2023, I am going to fly from Durban to Cape Town and will help to deliver the boat from there back to the UK.

Q: Could you describe a typical day on the Maiden?

We work on a 4-hours on, 4-hours off rotation. It’s mostly fun, but very hard work.

Beyond being at the helm for, say, 30 minutes at a time, there are also various chores to do, such as checking how much fresh water is available, bailing, and cleaning the galley (kitchen) and the head (toilet). Depending on the time of day, you might be making breakfast or lunch for the crew. It’s typically four sailors on, four sailors off, with the skipper floating between the watches.

You get woken up about 20 minutes prior to your watch. Make your bed, get your all-weather gear on, and have something to eat. You need to ensure that you have energy as it’s quite physical on the boat.

Q: What sort of food do you eat onboard?

We try to eat as much healthy food as possible so that we have sufficient energy and don’t get sick. There are no doctors out in the middle of the ocean! We eat lots of vegetables when possible, eggs, and salads. We have a number of vegans on board and one sailor who is gluten intolerant. So we need to ensure we can nourish everyone well.

When the weather is rough, or we’re in a hurry, we tend to eat dehydrated or freeze-dried food.*

*The Trail Food Co. is proud to be a supplier of these super awesome dehydrated meals for the crew of TMF! Our variety of meals works well for the whole crew, and everyone’s dietary needs can be taken into consideration. It also gives plenty of different options when they’re feeling like enjoying different types of meals.

Q: What are your dreams, hopes, and plans for the future?

My dream is to skipper a boat with an all-female crew on a big ocean race, just like Tracy Edwards did back in the 1980s. I hope that many people, especially those who are black and from the townships, get inspired by my story. I would like to better myself in order to fulfil my dream of skippering boats like Tracy Edwards. Right now, I’m planning to get enough mileage and then do my Yachtmaster’s [course].

Bon Voyage Vuyi!

It’s been an absolute pleasure getting to know Vuyi and learning more about what creates a fire in her belly to keep going. We love meeting inspiring South Africans who are doing epic things in life and showing others that nothing is impossible!

If you’d like to follow The Maiden Factor’s progress from port to port, you can do so on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and YouTube.

Feel free to leave a comment if you enjoyed this interview with Vuyi or get in touch if you want to let us know about a South African in your community who is doing amazing things!