The Tribune

THE Grand Bahama Shipyard holds its fourth annual Youth Benefit Fishing Tournament tomorrow at the Grand Bahama Yacht Club.

While last year’s tournaments assisted schools in West Grand Bahama, this year’s tournament hopes to benefit Sweeting’s Cay, Grand Cay, as well as the Sir Charles Hayward Children’s Library and the Grand Bahama Youth Choir.

Ed Pavey, Tournament Director and Director of Technical and Planning, noted that the shipyard hopes that this year’s tournament will see a larger turnout.

“We have a bigger number of boats coming from the US, Nassau and the Family Islands to participate,” said Mr Pavey. “Last year we had 30 teams enter, we’d like to surpass that and see if anyone can beat Team Executive Marine, Mellors, who have dominated the tournament for the last two years.”

Pavey and Creighton Moxey, the GBS Tournament Co-Directors, hope that they can also beat the funds raised in last year’s tournament.

“Each year we’ve managed to beat our previous year’s fundraising,” said Mr Moxey. “We are hoping for more fishermen, but also a larger turnout at the family fun day, where we have food, games, a great dunking booth and a raffle with a flat screen TV as the final prize.”

Joining the organisers this year is shipyard apprentice, Theo Pelecanos who will coordinate the apprentices’ work on the day of the event.

“I’m pleased to be asked to help. All that we do that day will assist the entire Grand Bahama community and I encourage young Bahamians to come and fish too, let’s not let these seniors beat us,” he said.

The team noted there will be a Captain’s meeting the night before at Pelican Bay for those teams participating. The Grand Bahama Yacht Club’s Co-Manager, Captain Ryan said, “We are very pleased to have the tournament back with us again. We have lots of parking and berths available for those of you participating, we want to encourage everyone to attend,” said Captain Ryan, The Grand Bahama Yacht Club’s co-manager.