The Tribune

By RICARDO WELLS

Tribune Staff Reporter

rwells@tribunemedia.net

FROM the beginning to the end of his life, Sir Durward Randolph Knowles lived his philosophy, “fish or cut bait – either you will choose to be a part or be one way or another, whichever one it is, a decision has to be made.”

Sir Durward was raised along with eight siblings by his father, Captain Harry Knowles and his stepmother Erma Pinder, for whom he held great affection.

According to those that knew him best, he was born with the sea in his veins and lived to emulate his father. In fact, it was that connection to his father that pushed him to the sea.

“Papa” as Sir Durward and his siblings called him, was everything Sir Durward wanted to be - a pilot, sea captain, yachtsman and fisherman - and over the succeeding years, his dreams all came true.

After graduating from Queen’s College in 1934, Sir Durward apprenticed with his father.

In 1936, Sir Durward crewed for his father in his first Star Class race and a love of sailing was born.

After several futile efforts, through the help of Sir Roland Symonette, Sir Durward was offered his first job as mate on a tug and tow barge, which plied between Nassau and Miami; on board, he honed his skills and became a top-notch navigator. But the days of the tug and tow ended when the first airport at Windsor Field was opened.

Out of a job, Sir Durward found his way back to the sea. The Bahamian government owned a 150-foot tug tender, the Lady Cordeaux and he was offered the job as the tug’s captain.

He was Captain Knowles, at last.

Sir Durward sailed the Lady Cordeaux, carrying dynamite to Nassau from Miami, for several voyages until he decided he was off island too long and it was very dangerous work, so he looked for jobs in Nassau.

Next up, there was the Marcidee, an 85-foot freighter, hauling bananas from Haiti to Miami, with a stop in Nassau on the way. Marcidee was a converted houseboat, with a tendency to roll in heavy seas.

Not lost on love and the family values he was raised with, Sir Durward eventually met and married the ‘girl next door’.

His soon to be wife, Lady Holly came to The Bahamas from England on an extended holiday with her parents, little did she know then that it would extend for over 70 years.

They were married in Nassau and honeymooned in Eleuthera, where, true to form, Sir Durward cut the stay short to rush off and compete in a sailing championship - he always kept the sea a priority.

Sir Durward’s love of the Star Class boats continued throughout his lifetime.

His first was named Margie B, which he raced in local events. He soon realised that she was not fast enough and sought out the owner of GEM, Bert Kelly, the fastest boat in the fleet. He bought her for five hundred pounds – his life savings. He promptly signed up for the Star World Championships in Cuba. They sailed a great race, thee young boys from Nassau who were competing against the best in the world.

They ended in third place – an amazing accomplishment. Sir Durward’s taste for competition began.

In 1947, the Bahamas boys decided to enter the Star World Championships in California, but they had a few problems, namely – no trailer, no car, no funds. Never deterred by anything when he set his mind to it, Sir Durward and Sloane Farrington built a trailer, borrowed a car and friends fundraised for them. They set off to conquer the Championships, together with his new wife, Holly.

After a gruelling series of races in Los Angeles, the island boys won the Championships. Regatta crowds went crazy with delight and racing history began for The Bahamas. Back in Nassau, Sir Durward and Mr Farrington were greeted as heroes.

1948 was Olympic year, this time to be held in England. Sir Durward decided to enter. Unfortunately there were problems – as a colony, he had to sail under the flag of England, not The Bahamas and he had to enter the qualifiers. Strings were pulled, a passage was booked on the Queen Mary leaving New York for England.

They just had to get the boat there in time.

After wrong turns, a broken axle and great stress, the crossed into New York and realised that they would not arrive in time before the boat sailed. Never giving up, Durward pulled over and got on the phone to the Queen Mary.

A miracle – she waited for them. The British Olympics were the most frustrating experience for them. They were in the lead to win gold, when GEM’s mast snapped, and it was all over.

Sir Durward returned to Nassau and began work in Symonette’s Shipyard, forging a long-lasting bond with Bobby Symonette. Together they built the Nassau Yacht Haven.

To enable Sir Durward to compete in the 1952 Olympics under the Bahamas flag, Gerald Cash drafted a constitution and the Bahamas Olympic Association was formed. An application was made to recognise the Bahamas Yachting Association. Teams were entered in the Olympics that year as The Bahamas. No medals were won but the road to gold was paved.

The 1956 Olympics in Melbourne, Australia saw him win a bronze medal, the very first Olympic medal for The Bahamas.

Again, the country rejoiced along with him.

Sir Durward, despite his enthusiasm, knew more was possible. Over the next few years, Sir Durward won medals in all the major Star races all over the world, establishing himself as a force to be reckoned with in Star sailing.

He had his eyes on 1964 - the Tokyo Olympics, but grief struck in the build-up to what would become a dream year.

Sir Durward’s father Captain Harry, died in 1963.

Later in life, Sir Durward admitted that the loss of his parents troubled him. He recognised the circumstance as one of his biggest regrets.

Advancing closer to the 1964 Tokyo Olympics, Sir Durward encountered another setback. His longtime friend and crew Sloane Farrington was unable to compete but a great sailor, Cecil Cooke, was selected to replace him.

There were seven races that year. GEM sailed well early on, then they had a halyard lock break.

The battle for gold was tough, against great competitors. They held a slight lead into the final race and received a telegram from Prince Philip the Duke of Edinburgh, wishing them luck – the whole of The Bahamas held its breath.

Boat by boat, they worked their way to the front of the fleet. When the gun cracked for the finish, they didn’t know if they had won or not.

They won. Sir Durward’s words were “There is nothing to compare with that point in my life.”

The boy who was so eager to follow in his father’s footsteps had accomplished greatness.

Back home, the islands exploded with celebration. Thousands welcomed their plane when they touched down in Nassau. Floats, band and decorated cars gave them a hero’s welcome.

Sir Durward had won everything the Star class had to offer – blue, bronze, silver, gold Stars and then Olympic gold.

Sir Durward joined the Rotary Club of East Nassau on March 6, 1967. He has been a member there for 50 years. He made huge changes in the club, motivating members to become more active and instigating several projects. In the words of current President-Elect of Rotary International, Barry Rassin, “Sir Durward changed the face and operations of Rotary in The Bahamas.”

He became president of the club in 1975-76 and drove the club to become the major community force it is today.

He was awarded a Paul Harris Fellowship by the club and Rotary International’s ‘Service Above Self’ award. The purpose of this award is to recognise those individual Rotarians who have demonstrated exemplary humanitarian service, in any form and at any level, with emphasis on personal volunteer efforts and active involvement in helping others through Rotary. This is Rotary International’s highest honour for individual Rotarians. A maximum of 150 recipients worldwide may be selected each year.

Sir Durward also played prominent roles in the Bahamas Association for the Physically Disabled (BAPD) and the Bahamas Air and Sea Rescue Auxiliary (BASRA).

Additionally, Sir Durward aided in the development of the Sea Scouts, Cheshire Home programme, several sailing, junior sailing and regatta organisations.

Another philanthropic organisation tied to Sir Durward was the One Bahamas organisation, initiated by Algernon Allen in 1992, with the object of creating a greater sense of identity, pride and community in the nation’s youth.

Sir Durward saw the organisation as a vehicle to promote his hope that the nation would be united as one, regardless of race, or creed.

Together with then Governor General Sir Orville Turnquest, he toured the islands, visiting schools and community centres to promote the concept of One Bahamas.

After a few years of hiatus, One Bahamas was recognised by the government and a ‘One Bahamas Day’ was declared in 2003.

Sir Durward has been showered with accolades over the years. Notable amongst them are the Bahamian Icon Award, which he received in 2014. Sir Durward received a standing ovation from the assembled audience.

He was officially knighted by Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth in 1996.