The Tribune

HAVING had Sheldon Gibson build four new dingy boats, James 'Jimmy' Sands was hoping to revive the art of sculling at various Family Island homecomings and regattas around the Bahamas.

What he didn't anticipate was the war brewing between the rival beer companies, all of whom are a vital part of the economic pie that residents on our Family Islands intend to benefit from.

Since the boats were built, Sands and his Bahamian Brewery & Beverage Company have been able to showcase the boats - all named after the four products they have brewed right in the Bahamas (Sands, Sands Light, Strong Back and High Rock) at a number of events, starting with the christening at the St Valentine's Day massacre in Montagu Beach in February.

Since then, the boats have not only been used in sculling competitions but also as a part of the E Class at both the national family regattas in George Town, Exuma, and the recent Long Island regatta in Salt Pond.

Additionally, they also appeared in sculling events at the Rock Sound homecoming and the Earth Day in Governor's Harbour, Eleuthera.

The beautifully coloured boats are now becoming a permanent fixture in the waters around the Family Islands and are keenly watched, despite what hour of the day they scull because of their proximity to the shoreline where the fans can clearly watch their favourite competitor compete in what they dubbed, Sands Man in The Boat sculling competition.

Or are they going to be kept on the sidelines, once again sending and old traditional and old form of sailing back into oblivion before Sands made the conscious decision to revive the sport?

Even when they introduced the boats to the two major Family Island regattas, the Bahamian Brewery & Beverage Company was met with some resistance from their foreign rival who expressed their concerns though the regatta committees of having a Bahamian Brewery as a part of the festivities?

Now as other regattas are fast approaching, the first being the All-Andros Regatta in Morgan's Bluff July 5-8, and Cat Island in August, reports are that the foreign brewery has made it crystal clear to the various regatta committees that they will withdraw their sponsorship if the Bahamian Brewery and Beverage Company is allowed to advertise or sell their products on the regatta site.

As a Bahamian-owned company with an added feature to the regattas, using their boats in the sponsored E Class competition, Sands and his company feel as if the international brewery, whose base and headquarters is all the way in Europe, should not be allowed to dictate to local organising committees, who they should and should not use at their events.

Why can't the two companies co-exist, just like there is more than one stall set up for sale of the same food items, giving everyone the right to pick, choose and refuse?

On top of that, the Bahamian Brewery & Beverage Company has given local participants the opportunity to compete in another form of sailing at these events, offering products to all participants.

The first, second and third place winners receive trophies and products as an added incentive, in addition to allowing their boats to be sailed during the E class competition that they sponsor.

Why does there have to be a conflict with the Bahamian boats from a Bahamian company being a part of a major Bahamian extravaganza?