The Tribune

By BRENT STUBBS

Senior Sports Reporter

btubbs@tribunemedia.net

After watching another competitive St Valentine’s Day Regatta in Montagu Bay, organisers took the opportunity to distribute the hardware and prize monies to the winners in the various categories on Wednesday.

The event was held at the Bahamian Brewery Company Limited, one of the major sponsors and the host of the competitive Man-In-The-Boat E class sculling competition that capped off the two-day event over the weekend of February 15-16.

Joining Bahamian Brewery, producers of Sands Beer, was the Caribbean Bottling Company Limited, distributors of Coca-Cola and represented by Stedman Bullard, merchandiser-marketing, and BTC, represented by Stephan Cartwright of the Sponsorship Department.

The Rev Dr Philip McPhee, in his keynote address, informed the gathering of sailors that while he commends Eleazor ‘the Sailing Barber’ Johnson and his committee for putting on an outstanding event, it’s time for all involved to come together to ensure that the sport gets the kind of recognition that it deserves as the “national sport” of the Bahamas.

James ‘Jimmy’ Sands, whose Bahamian Brewery Company invested in making the regatta a financial success, said they were happy to be a part of the event and look forward to working with Johnson in the future.

Expressing his thanks to all who helped to make the event a success, Johnson said when he came up with idea, his B Class Lady in

Red, Lady Nathalie, was given a one-minute, then two and now ten-minute head start on the challenge from the A Class boats.

For the seventh year that he’s been putting the event on with the highlight being the ‘Catch Me If You Can’ challenge race, Johnson was caught by Lundy Robinson, who skippered the Red Stripe. As a show of appreciation, Johnson presented Robinson with the Charles Maynard Crystal Cup.

The late former Minister of Youth, Sports and Culture was represented by his father Andrew ‘Dud’ Maynard, who said he was elated that his son was remembered in such a manner. As usual, Robinson declined to give any comments.

While trophies and cash prizes were presented to the deserving winners, Johnson also honoured those persons who would have supported him from the initial regatta, including Sir Durward ‘Sea Wolf’ Knowles, whom the floating trophy is named after.

Honoured posthumously were ‘King’ Eric Gibson, Roy Bowe, Rollie Gray, Hezron Moxey, Fred Greene and the Rev Dr WG McPhee.

The winners in the various

categories were:

A Class - Catch Me If You Can -

1st place Red Stripe

2nd place - Lady Nathalie

3rd place - Lady Muriel

4th place - Ed Sky

C Class - 1st place Whitty K

2nd place - Chaser

3rd place - Asue Draw

Thunderbird

E Class - 1st place Blue Bird

2nd - Strong Back

3rd place - Sands Beer