The Tribune

By BRENT STUBBS

Senior Sports Reporter

bstubbs@tribunemedia.net

In the 20 years that Danny Strachan has taken over as commodore, he felt that the 60th anniversary celebrations of the National Family Island Regatta over the weekend was the most competitive.

Held as a part of the Bahamas’ 40th Independence celebrations, the regatta once again attracted more than 60 boats in four days of intense sailing in Elizabeth Harbour in George Town, Exuma. The largest number of boats to participate in the regatta was 70 in 1954.

“This was perhaps the best regatta we’ve had in the 60 years,” Strachan said. “The sailing, the onshore activities and the thousands of persons who came to Exuma really made this a regatta to remember. I was very pleased with the way everything went. We had great weather and the competition was keen from all of the boats.”

The competition got started last Wednesday with the Tida Wave, skippered by Brooks Miller, winning the A Class Prime Minister’s Cup, the New Susan Chase, skippered by Mark Knowles, took the B Class Governor General’s Cup and the C Class Commodore Emeritus Cup went to the Whitty K, skippered by Stefon Knowles.

At the end of the series of races in the various classes, the top performers were as follows:

A Class - Red Stride, skippered by Lundy Robinson, 32 points; Running Tide, skippered by Roger Fox, 26; Rupert’s Legend, skippered by Stefon Knowles, 25; New Courgeous, skippered by Emmit Munroe, was fourth and the Tida Wave, skippered by Brooks Miller, rounded out the top five.

B Class - Eudeva, skippered by Lundy Robinson (33 points); Ants Nest, skippered by Lee Armbrister (30); Lonesome Dove, skippered by Jeff Gale (28); Lady Nathalie, skippered by Cedric Ferguson (24) and New Susan Chase, skippered by Mark Knowles (22).

C Class - Whitty K, skippered by Stefon Knowles, accumulated a total of 86 points for the victory, just one ahead of second place Sacrifice, skippered by Colin Cartwright. Bulla Reg, skippered by Buzzy Rolle, got third with 77. Crazy Partner, skippered by Lundy Robinson, was fourth; Lady Eunice, skippered by Maurice Rolle, came in fifth; Beerly Legal, skippered by Marty Fox, was sixth and Sweet Island Gal, skippered by Keith Brown, got seventh.

D Class - there were not sufficient boats entered, so no competition was staged.

E Class - One Bahamas, skippered by Stephen Rolle; Judgement Day, skippered by Lloyd Sands and Sands Beer, skippered by Sheldon Gibson.

In the junior championships, the Bahamas Hot Mix, skippered by Todd Knowles, won followed by Q, skippered by Celine Cartwright. Old Faithful, skippered by Colin Cartwright Jr, completed the top three.

There was also a “Man in the Boat” sculling competition held by the Bahamian Brewery, using their four boats built by Sheldon Gibson - Sands Beer, Sands Light, High Rock and Strong Back - but no results were available for the series.

During the closing ceremonies, attended by Governor General Sir Arthur and Lady Foulkes, Minister of Agriculture, Marine Resources and Local Government, V Alfred Gray, Minister of Youth, Sports and Culture Dr Daniel Johnson and legendary sailor Sir Durward “Sea Wolf” Knowles, four men were honoured for their contribution to the regatta over the years.

Each of the honourees were presented with an aqua jacket with the symbol of the National Family Island Regatta. The recipients were Eleazor “The Sailing Barber” Johnson, Harry Harding, Brooks Miller and Captain Emmit Munroe.

“Ever since I became commodore, I decided to honour those persons who made substantial contributions to the regatta,” Strachan said. “We decided to move to another level and we decided to give them a jacket with the Exuma crest on it. Going forward, we will be presenting the honourees with these jackets instead of the trophies, which we feel only gather dust as time goes by. The jackets are something special for them to wear every year.”