By RENALDO DORSETT
Sports Reporter
rdorsett@tribunemedia.net
ADD another event to the consistently expanding list of regattas on the portfolio for the festival season.
The Ministry of Agriculture and Marine Resources, in conjunction with the Nassau Sailing Yacht Club, The Bahamas Sailing Club of Nassau and the Star Sailors League, announced plans for the inaugural Best of The Best Regatta.
The newest edition to the sloop sailing circuit will be hosted December 1-4 at Montagu foreshore.
Minister V Alfred Gray, whose portfolio includes responsibilities for regattas, outlined the impact that he expects the regatta will have.
“This regatta will showcase the best of the best in each sailing class - A, B and C. This event will also help to catapult Bahamian sloop sailing into the international arena. It is intended for this regatta to be held annually and it will be the premier regatta in The Bahamas. Along with showcasing the best in Bahamian sailing, it also showcases the best in international sailing as well,” Gray said.
He promised a family atmosphere complete with amenities traditionally associated with Bahamian regattas.
There will also be a segment of the regatta for junior sailors to showcase their skills among the islands’ best.
The regatta will also bridge the gap between sports tourism and local sports development, with the inclusion of the Star Sailors League which has hosted the finale of its circuit in the Bahamas for the past three years.
“The Star Sailors League has attracted the top Olympic and world class sailors from around the world. And this year, some 25 teams in the Star Sailing league are expected to compete in The Bahamas at the regatta,” Gray said.
“This will be historic indeed. The Star Sailors League has over 150,000 followers online and will be streaming live from The Bahamas, which will also expose Bahamian sloop sailing because both events will be going on during those four days.
“The best of the best will also bring together more than 120 Bahamian sailors, who will compete for one of the largest regatta purses ever to be given in Bahamian history.”
Nearly all of the islands will be represented in one of the classes, including Andros, Long Island, Exuma, Acklins, Ragged Island, Exuma and Abaco.
• Participating
boats include:
Class A - The Courageous, The Lady Muriel, Tidal Wave, Red Stripe and Running Ties.
Class B - Susan Chase, The Ants Nest, Barbarian and Queen Drucilla.
Class C - Crazy Partner, Whitty K, WG Thunderbird, Bul Reg, Sacrifice, H20, Lethal Weapon, Sweet Island Gal, and the King Of Nights.
“My ministry continues to support and encourage youth involvement in sloop sailing in The Bahamas and this event will be no different. This event will mark the beginning of a new era of sloop sailing and sailing generally in The Bahamas,” Gray said.
“We have also partnered as a ministry with the Ministry of Tourism, the Ministry of Youth, Sports and Culture, the Ministry of Transport and Aviation, the Royal Bahamas Police Force, The Royal Bahamas Defence Force, the Department of Public Health, Public Parks and Beach Authority and the National Museum of The Bahamas in order to secure success with this regatta.”
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