The Tribune

By BRENT STUBBS

Senior Sports Reporter

bstubbs@tribunemedia.net

AFTER taking a tour around the Family Islands, Bahamian Brewery Company will be bringing its Sands Beer Man in da Boat Sculling and E Class Regatta back to Montagu Bay over the weekend of July 21-22.

James ‘Jimmy’ Sands, who has been on a crusade to revitalise the sport over the past year, said the regatta was designed with the idea of enhancing boat builder Sheldon Gibson’s quest to train young Bahamians in the art of the wood-working craft.

As a result, the proceeds from the regatta will go toward Gibson’s summer programme.

Gibson has been responsible for building four sculling boats named after the products produced by the Bahamian owned company - Sands, Sands Light, High Rock and Strong Back - they will be used in the sculling races that will highlight the regatta on Sunday.

“We’re trying to revitalise the sport of sculling, which has been lost over the years,” said Sands, the president of Bahamian Brewery. “We’re looking forward to a truly Bahamian weekend and we’re looking forward to Bahamians coming out and participating in this historic event.”

Gibson, thanking Sands and Bahamian Brewery for their contribution, said that while he built the boats, the contribution from the regatta was a breath of fresh air for the summer camp.

“It’s not only sailing in the camp, but I also teach boat- building, swimming skills and survivor skills, if you were to turn over in a boat,” he said. “It’s something that is essential to anybody who goes out to sea. The first one was built in my summer camp with CV Bethel, so we’re reliving history because they will get to see what a 10-foot dinghy looks like.”

The first of the boats Gibson built was called ‘Old Faithful,’ which will be one of the boats expected to be used not just in the sculling races, but also in the E class competition during the two days of competition.

Berkley Williamson, the general manager at Bahamian Brewery, said for the first time they are combining just sculling and E class races as they continue to live the dream of Sands.

“The event promises to be very, very exciting, so we are inviting Bahamians to come to Montagu foreshore to see a grand event,” Williamson said. “We are pleased to see where the benefits of the regatta is going to in assisting Sheldon Gibson with his summer camp.”

Lynden Johnson, sales and marketing manager at Bahamian Brewery, said they are providing some exciting cash, trophies and Sands beer products to the winners. Additionally, all competitors who sign up will be provided with a T-shirt and every competitor that completes the race will cart off a case of beer.

There will be a three-race E class series that starts with two races on Saturday and one on Sunday. That will be followed by the sculling races where competitors will be allowed to participate in heats and earn the right to compete in the final for the overall title.

The first place winners will collect 10 cases of beer, a trophy and the opportunity to travel to Grand Bahama for the Sands Beer Man in da Boat Sculling Championships of the Bahamas later this year. The second place will earn eight cases of beer and a trophy and third place will pick up six cases of beer and a trophy.

For those that are interested, Ira Storr and The Spank Band will be leading the way in providing the onshore activities as they perform on Sunday evening.

“It’s a Bahamian thing so we are going to give you the best in Bahamian music,” Storr said. “When you come out and you watch the boat races, you will have some entertainment with it, along with Geno D. We are so great to be a part of this thing.”

The regatta is the first put on by Bahamian Brewery in Montagu Bay. But it’s the second time that sculling has taken place for the year. The first was held during the St Valentine’s Catch Me If You Can Massacre that was held in February.

A number of sculling races were held at the various Family Island regattas and homecomings over the past few months.