The Tribune

By RENALDO DORSETT

Sports Reporter

rdorsett@tribunemedia.net

LOCAL sloop sailing, "sculling" and boat building received a boost to its profile thanks to the efforts of a local sporting icon.

At Nassau Yacht Club on Saturday, Sir Durward Knowles christened his 12-foot dinghy "One Bahamas" which was built by renowned boat builder Sheldon Gibson and the students of his boat-building club.

"To Sheldon, we came a long way since we first met and began the plans a few years ago to decide on the design of these boats," Knowles said. "It took a lot of patience but eventually you see the product. This is just one of many."

Knowles said the ceremony was a gesture to shed light on the work Gibson and others have been doing in an attempt to pass along the skill of small boat building.

"It was an idea that came about a few years ago by some important names to boat building and sailing in the Bahamas like Sheldon Gibson, Clyde Rolle, Craig Symonette and others and to see it grow from an idea now coming to fruition is a great thing to see," he said. "Many of the islands are buying into it now and it is becoming more and more popular after a few events. It's a benefit to sailing on the whole, it's a benefit to Bahamian culture."

Gibson began the process two years ago and the initial idea became a reality when four of his boats were featured as "sculling" made a return to local sailing after an absence of more than 20 years.

"The boat is built from the old way. The frame of it is built from wild tamarind and of course the plank is Cyprus," Gibson said, "When it is completed it will be able to scull as well as sail."

Gibson built and designed four boats - Sands, Sands Light, Strong Back and High Rock - which were featured at the 25th Annual St Valentine's Jubilee Regatta in February.

After christening the boats in Montagu Bay, the Family Islanders got involved with the Rock Sound Homecoming two weeks ago when the boats were displayed in a series of races.

The boats remained in Eleuthera for another series of races in Governor's Harbour last weekend.

Then they are expected to be brought to Elizabeth Harbour in Georgetown, Exuma, for the National Family Island Regatta at the end of the month.

In an interview with the Tribune prior to the Jubilee regatta, Gibson outlined the impact he said the project could have on the sport.

"My objective is to get as many Bahamian-built boats in the water as possible so when the idea was brought to me, I jumped on it because not only was it an opportunity to help develop local sailing but it was an opportunity to help teach young people," he said.

"This is a golden opportunity. These boats will help to solidify what is happening here in the Bahamas - that we must promote Bahamians. In order for our culture to grow and remain with us, we must continue to improve so that the generations after us will have something to follow on."