The Tribune

By BRENT STUBBS

Senior Sports Reporter

bstubbs@tribunemedia.net

FRESH from their sponsorship of the St. Valentine’s Massacre in Montagu Bay, the Bahamian Brewery and Beverage Company has announced their partnership with the organisers of the 62nd National Family Island Regatta that will be held in Georgetown, Exuma from April 21-25.

Danny Strachan, chairman and commodore of the National Family Island Regatta Committee, said the organisation was grateful.

“Ever since Bahamian Brewery and Beverage Company started business several years ago, they have been a sponsor of the National Family Island Regatta,” he said.

“We are grateful that Bahamian Brewery has again decided to partner with us to help make this year another successful regatta.

“Bahamian Brewery’s reputation as a good corporate citizen is well known throughout the country and they have always contributed to positive and worthwhile activities in our communities. This year we are celebrating 62 years of unbroken sloop sailing in Georgetown, Exuma and Bahamian Brewery’s continual sponsorship of the National Family Island Regatta is helping us to keep a great cultural tradition alive for future generations.”

Lynden Johnson, the sales manager at Bahamian Brewery and Beverage Company, said they are delighted to once gain partner with the National Family Island Regatta as a 100 per cent Bahamian company engaging in a 100 per cent Bahamian cultural and sporting event.

“We will not only be sponsoring the regatta, but we will also be hosting our Sands Man in the Boat Sculling race on Saturday, April 24,” Johnson said. “We are anticipating a lot of people in Exuma registering and participating in the race and we hope to have a tremendous crowd.

“One year ago we had the Minister of Agriculture, V. Alfred Gray, sculling in the race and we are looking forward to keep sculling again this year along with Danny Strachan. So we are looking forward to a very exciting time in Georgetown, Exuma this year.”

Without confirming whether or not he will participate, Strachan said the sculling race is quite an attraction for the regatta.

“We used to have the sculling races in Georgetown, Exuma many, many years ago,” he said. “So I’m happy that Sands Beer has brought it back. It has made a big difference with the activities that we now have to offer to the spectators and the participants and it’s a lot of fun.

“But I also believe that Bahamians ought to know how to scull. Bear in mind, back in the day when we didn’t have the motorised boats, we used to scull to the fishing ground and back. So it’s an important skill to have.

“When you are out there in your big yacht and it goes down, you can scull to shore. It’s a survival skill that you should have.”

The winners of the Sands Man in the Boat race will be awarded trophies and Sands beer products, while the overall winner will earn a berth in the final of the National Sculling Championships that will be held at the end of the year.

Leander Nesta won the first leg of the series of events at the St Valentine’s Day Massacre in Montagu Bay in February.

As for the competition in the sloop boats, Strachan said they are anticipating another fiercely competive regatta.

“We have a number of A Class boats who are sailing very well and during the recent St Valentine’s Massacre, the Ed Sky won that race and that should only heighten the competition in Georgetown,” Strachan said.

“So we expect some beautiful sailing in all of the classes - A, B, C, D and E.”

Last year, a total of 65 boats competed and Strachan said they are looking forward to the same amount of boats to return this year.

“Through our many sponsors and the generosity of the government and Sir Durward Knowles, who has been the single largest contributor to this regatta and many regattas throughout the country, we have been able to keep this going for many years,” Strachan said.

“Of course, the Symonette family with Bobby Symonette as one of the founders of the regatta, they have also contributed significantly to the event over the years.

“So a lot of credit must be given to a lot of people over the years to help us to get this far.”

Recently, the National Family Island Regatta won the Cacique Award as the best event in the country and Strachan said it’s important because, for 61 years, they have been bringing tourists to the Bahamas even before the Ministry of Tourism got started 50 years ago.

“We’ve done our part in terms of bringing tourists to the country,” Strachan said.