The Tribune

By BRENT STUBBS

Senior Sports Reporter

bstubbs@tribunemedia.net

AFTER hosting what was considered the biggest St Valentine’s Day ‘Catch Me If You Can’ Regatta in the 28th year of its existence, it was time for Eleazor ‘the Sailing Barber’ Johnson to make the presentation to the winners.

The Bahamian Brewery and Beverage Company Limited, the major sponsor for the event over the weekend in Montagu Bay, hosted the awards presentation at their headquarters on Wednesday.

“We do welcome you here. It’s our pleasure to be involved with the Sailing Barber Eleazor Johnson on this tremendous and successful sailing regatta,” said Fred Williamson, general manager at Bahamian Brewery.

“I’ve been dealing with Eleazor Johnson way back, but I believe this has been the largest ever. So I want to congratulate all of the sailors and all of the participants who made the event successful. You guys put on a superb event. The success was due to you, the sailors and the people who came out to support you.”

Race coordinator Stafford Armbrister, revealing the official results of the two-day event, said there were a total of 15 boats which competed in both the E Class race on Saturday and the A Class ‘Catch Me If You Can’ challenge race against the B Class Campari Lady in Red, Lady Nathalie.

In the E Class, the winner was Bluebird, skippered by Steven Rolle. High Rock, skippered by Cory Knowles was second. Strong Back, skippered by Clayton Bain, got third place. Old Faithful, skippered by Reuben Knowles, got the consolation prize.

‘The Catch Me If You Can’ race for the A Class was won by Ed Sky, skippered by James Wallace and the Running Tide from Salt Pond, Long Island, skippered by Marty Fox, got second as they both caught the the Lady Nathalie. The Lady Nathalie, skippered by Clyde Rolle, got third. Fourth place went to Red Stripe, skippered by Lundy Robinson.

“I am very happy today. It’s been a very long time since we’ve been in the sailing circle. People have been very surprised by what happened in Montagu,” Wallace said. “But I promise you, the same thing will happen in Georgetown (at the National Family Island Regatta) in April.

“Stand by for that. We are demonstrating that we are serious. Ed Moxey sailed on the circuit for quite a while. He’s won several championships, but I can assure everybody he was not on Ed Sky (on Sunday). He is in Woodlawn Gardens. I guarantee you that. I saw it happen.”

Wallace was referring to the fact that everybody in Montagu believed that Moxey, who was buried the week before, had come back in spirit to skipper the boat to victory.

“We had a very good crew on Sunday. The wind was right,” Wallace said. “We had one incident when our jib came off, but we were able to secure it. Next year, Barber, we will be coming for number two.”

Despite getting caught for the second straight year, Johnson said he was pleased to know that Ed Sky shocked the sailing community with their tremendous victory.

He said he was so pleased with the way the business houses, the sailors and the spectators all came out to support him and he’s looking forward to continuing the regatta in 2016.