The Tribune

By BRENT STUBBS

Senior Sports Reporter

bstubbs@tribunemedia.net

FROM the time he took up residence in Lyford Cay, businessman Peter Nygard has opened his doors to countless Bahamians. Now Nygard is making provisions to accommodate the entire sailing community by hosting an historic Independence Day Regatta at Clifton Pier on Wednesday, July 10.

“It’s a dream of a lifetime,” said Nygard during a press conference at his Nygard Cay home Monday night. “When I first came over here, Stuart Cove and I created this plan and I’ve always had dreams of having sailing here in the harbour. So when Rev Dr (Philip) McPhee suggested it to me, I said ‘Bingo.’

“I’ve been here for 40 years and this is going to be the first time that Bahamians will get a chance to come out here and enjoy the beauty of the water and the scenery. So I’m very excited because we have an opportunity to get at least 16 boats to compete in the regatta.”

At the marina docked near his home, Nygard said he will allow the boats to maroon with his yacht. At the end of the sailing competition, Nygard will host an Independence party at his unique home where the awards presentation for the regatta will also take place.

The general public will get the opportunity to view the regatta from Jaws Beach, which will serve as the headquarters for the regatta which, according to Nygard, is expected to become an annual event.

Rev Dr McPhee, who heads the organising committee for the regatta, said they will hold a three-race series, including the Prime Minister’s Cup, the Minister of Sports Cup and the Nygard Cup, the latter of which will take on a unique format in that the boats will participate as they do in the international competitions.

“We will have a beautiful setting out here for the regatta,” said McPhee, who noted that they will only have class C because the boats are better suited to sail in the conditions in Clifton Pier. “We are really excited that we have this opportunity to sail the regatta here. I think it’s going to be something that both the sailors and the competitors will all be very proud of.

“We’ve been living a long time and the most we’ve done is just look at Jaws Beach. On Wednesday, we will leave our footprints in the sand of time as we sail and walk the beach with our children and look at the landmarks that have been left behind for us. So we are thankful to Peter Nygard and we want him to know that we are going to be standing behind him 110 per cent. We will make you proud and we will make a Bahamas a much better place to live in.”

Stafford Armbrister, the race coordinator for the regatta, said he’s just delighted to be a part of the historic event.

“I want to send a message out to the sailors that we will be having a good time on the water,” Armbrister said. “The rules will be the same. Not because you are in Lyford Cay will they change. We will abide by the rules. The rules will still be the rules that we abide by.

“Because of what Mr Nygard is doing, we want to make sure that we as Bahamians can be on time. There is no such thing as Bahamian time. We will sail on time so that we can have a full day of sailing out here. So we want to encourage everybody to be here to witness history in the making on Independence Day.”

King Eric Gibson, who has been responsible for introducing Nygard to the Bahamian public, said he has to tip his hat off to his friend and brother for his continued support of the Bahamian public.

“There’s a lot of people that have benefited tremendously from Peter Nygard,” Gibson said. “He gives from his heart. He loves the Bahamian people. He loves sailing. We are so lucky to have a man like Peter Nygard. He is about to make history by helping us to have this regatta in Lyford Cay. Whoever would have dreamed of having a regatta in Lyford Cay?”

Gibson encouraged Bahamians to stand behind Nygard because of the tremendous contribution he has and will continue to make to the Bahamian society.

Nygard said he’s prepared to welcome the Bahamian sailing community to Lyford Cay on Independence Day when he hopes that the Bahamas Government will proclaim, once and for all, sailing as the national sport of the country.