The Tribune

By BRENT STUBBS

Senior Sports Reporter

bstubbs@tribunemedia.net

GET ready for the “Greatest Show on Earth.”

That’s the theme for the 58th annual Cat Island Regatta scheduled for August 1-4 in New Bight.

The announcement was made on Monday at the New Turning Point Club by organisers Pat ‘the Centreville Assassin’ Strachan, Max Burrows and Sheldon Gibson. They were accompanied by talented entertainers Veronica Bishop, DMAC and Geno D, who will be performing with the Lassie Doh Boys, Anderson Williams, QPID and the Royal Bahamas Defence Force Dance Band.

Burrows, chairman of the race committee for the regatta, said they are looking forward to a very competitive sailing competition with boats such as defending champions Southern Cross, Who Dat, Red Stripe, Good News and Ed Sky confirmed in the A class, while the defending champions Cobra, Eudeva, Passion, Heathcliff and Susan Chase are entered in the B class. The C class is comprised of defending champions Jacob’s Ladder, Ms Kitty, Witty K and the Dream Girls.

“We have some of the fastest A, B and C class boats coming to Cat Island, including all three defending champions,” Burrows said. “The Red Stripe have something waiting for the Southern Cross and Who Dat say they have the boat just right, so we will find out on Sunday if they can really get it right this time.

“In the B class, we have a new boat, the Susan Chase, is coming to Long Island. They say they coming to take it all, so I don’t know what the Eudeva, the Cobra and Passion have to say, but we will find out at the end of the regatta. In the C class, the Jacob’s Ladder has continued to lead the way, but she is expected to be challenged.”

For the first year, Gibson said they will be introducing the children’s race where the competitors will compete in the E class dinghy boats. Their competition will be held on Saturday, August 2.

“We will run them through a training programme and have them be able to compete before we leave Cat Island,” Gibson said. “Anything that you have that you don’t try to include the young people, you will soon be out of it. With regattas, I am trying to get as many young people involved so it can survive in years to come.”

Burrows is encouraging corporate Bahamas to come on board and help to sponsor the children’s race.

To ensure that the fans are kept entertained throughout the weekend, Strachan, the president of the Cat Island Sailing Association, said they have assembled some of the best entertainers in the country to participate.

“It’s certainly a privilege for me to be afforded the opportunity to return to Cat Island,” said DMAC, who will be making his second appearance. “Last year was tremendous, the out pouring for the music and the love for rake and scrape was just tremendous. I don’t know, there’s something about Cat Island music, so I plan to go back and give a repeat performance.

“I am just honoured to be able to share the stage with such performers like Veronica Bishop and Geno D. So DMAC is going back to do what he always do and that is to tear up the place.”

For Bishop, it’s like going back home. “I grew up in New Bight, so I know about the regatta and everything. So it’s just a privilege to be able to go back home and perform every year,” she said. “It’s just good to be home where all my fans, friends and schoolmates will be waiting for me. So it’s a great privilege for me to perform for them.”

And while it has been a while since he’s back in Cat Island, Geno D said he intends to carry the same level of enthusiasm that he has displayed wherever he goes.

“Cat Island is like second home now. I just came back from the Rake and Scrape Festival and so I’m looking forward to being a part of the greatest show on earth with my collegiate, DMAC and Veronica Bishop. So we want to see your face in the place. This is going to be the greatest show on earth, so don’t you miss it, be there.”

As a prelude to the regatta, the Cat Island Day Festival is all set for Saturday at the Cultural Village at Arawak Cay, starting at noon. Veronica Bishop and DMAC will headline the performers, according to Strachan. The event will serve as a fund raiser for the regatta.

The organising committee is currently in the process of renovating the Grand Stand at the regatta site. He publicly thanked Mark Roberts at FYP for their assistance in getting the job done.