The Tribune

By BRENT STUBBS

Senior Sports Reporter

bstubbs@tribunemedia.net

FISHERMAN Leander Nesta found the lucky charm the third time around.

After falling short of getting into the final the past two years that the Sands ‘Man in the Boat’ Sculling race was held by the Bahamian Brewery as a part of the 28th annual Catch Me If You Can St Valentine’s Day Massacre, Nesta finally came out as the champion, sailing in the Strong Back boat as he pulled off the victory in Montagu Bay yesterday.

Steven Rolle, sailing in Sands boat, was second, while veteran skipper Josh Green in High Rock, was third and Sam Brown in Sands Light, came in fourth. “It was alright, but I didn’t feel as if there was any competition out there tonight,” Nesta said. “I didn’t feel like it was as competitive as it was in the past two years. I’m happy that I won, but I didn’t feel that the competition was as stiff enough for me. I am happy, but I really wanted some stiff competition.”

Nesta, 34, said hopefully he can get ready for the National Sculling Championship at the end of the year when he can expect the competition to be more intense with the champions from the rest of the competitions around the Family Islands coming together to compete in the grand finale.

Beaten out once again in New Providence, Rolle said: “He’s a fresh guy. He’s been prepared for this,” said Rolle, who was sailing all weekend in the E Class competition on Saturday and earlier in the day in the Catch Me If You Can A Class challenge race against the B Class Campari Lady in Red, Lady Nathalie. “He deserves to win.”

Lynden Johnson, Bahamian Brewery’s marketing manager, said the Sands Man in the Boat was just as they had anticipated with 14 competitors in four races in the men’s division as they ended up with the championship showdown between Nesta, Rolle, Green and Brown.

There were also four women who competed in their segment of the competition, but neither one made it to the first buoy and, as a result, were all eliminated.

“There was a lot of excitement from yesterday (Saturday) when a lot of people were asking us when were we going to start the races,” Johnson said. “We had a very strong registration with a number of persons who participated and it went very well. This is Leander Nesta’s third time trying to win the title, so everybody was happy that he finally won today.”

Johnson said there was no surprise that the sculling races drew more attention from the fans on Montagu Bay than those who were actually watching the sloop sailing. Next year for Bahamian Brewery and the Sands Man in the Boat Sculling Championships is Georgetown, Exuma, for the National Family Island Regatta in April.