The Tribune

By BRENT STUBBS

Senior Sports Reporter

bstubbs@tribunemedia.net

One week after the 40 years of Independence celebrations kick off with the naming of the Sir Sidney Poitier Bridge, the committee will transform Montagu Bay into the largest sporting spectacular when the Jubilee Regatta takes place November 10-11.

Sponsored by legendary sailor Sir Durward ‘Sea Wolf’ Knowles, Burns House, Coca-Cola and the Ministry of Agriculture, the regatta is expected to showcase more than 40 boats in the A, B and C classes. It’s one of the events on the agenda by the anniversary committee, headed by Charles Carter and Nicolette Bethel.

“We wanted to have a regatta in Montagu Bay, similar to the one that was held when the Bahamas became independent in 1973,” said Danny Strachan, the commodore of the regatta committee. “In 1973, the then PLP Government invited the National Family Island Regatta Committee to hold the National Family Island Regatta in Nassau as opposed to Georgetown, Exuma. That was the first time that it was held outside of Exuma.”

The National Family Island Regatta, of which Strachan also serves as the commodore, will celebrate its 60th anniversary in Exuma.

“This regatta came about as a result of a meeting with the Independence Committee,” Strachan said. “The clubs from Long Island, Exuma and the three sailing clubs in Nassau all agreed to come together as one to have this regatta as a part of the 40th celebrations of our country. So it’s a joint event by all of the sailing clubs in the country.”

Clyde Rolle, who serves as the race coordinator, said the regatta is definitely going to be the biggest ever held in New Providence. He said they are dubbing it “The All Together Regatta” because of the joint support that is expected from all of the sailing associations.

“Sir Durward Knowles and Algernon Allen believe in this One Bahamas, so we are having a Oneness Regatta with everybody on board,” Rolle said. “Even the prize money is not important to the sailors as it is important to the sailors in pulling off this regatta in Montagu Bay.”

The Lady Muriel and Bulla Reg, the reigning Family Island Regatta champions in the A and B classes, the Running Tide, the Lonesome Dove, Lady Eunice, the Courageous, Red Stripe, Lady Nathalie, Cobra, the New Susan Chase are just some of the boats that are already lined up to compete.

“Unfortunately, I won’t be sailing because I am chairing the committee, but Buzzy Rolle, King Eric Gibson, Lundy Robinson, Mark Knowles and Marty Bullard are all going to be sailing,” Rolle said. “We expect all of the top sailors in the country to be sailing.

“Although I’m not going to be able to sail, this is going to be a very exciting regatta.”

The competition is slated to kick off at 9:30am November 10 with back-to-back races in the C Class. The B class is scheduled to start at noon with their two races. Then at 2pm, the A Class will stage their first two races. The final races in the three classes will take place on November 11.

“This is going to be one for the ages,” Rolle said.

Among the persons on the committee are King Eric Gibson, Stafford Armbrister, Gerard Mocey, Dwayne Higgins, Sidney Forbes and Willie Wallace.