The Tribune

By RENALDO DORSETT

Sports Reporter

rdorsett@tribunemedia.net

In preparation for the 60th National Family Island Regatta, a local sailing icon christened a new sloop before it sets sails in Georgetown, Exuma, next weekend.

King Eric Gibson unveiled the “repaired, re-painted and re-sponsored” Palm Cay Princess during a special ceremony at Arawak Cay yesterday.

The “A” Class sloop will set sale in the fleet that will battle for bragging rights in Exuma, and Gibson assured that his ship is ready.

“Sailing in the Palm Cay Princess, I can tell you one thing for sure, they will all see me coming. We have a ‘take no prisoners’ attitude in this boat and second place is not an option for us, especially coming up at this regatta,” he said. “I promised my sponsors a winner and that’s what I’m going to deliver, first place for the Palm Cay Princess. We tested her out a few times in the other events, but now we are ready to go and you will not want to miss this one. I aim to win, I will win - the ‘Palm Cay Princess’ can take on all comers.”

Serena Williams, who Gibson called the godmother of the Palm Cay Princess, called it an honour to assist Gibson in his regatta preparation.

“It gives me great pleasure to know that I was able to bring these two parties together,” she said. “When Palm Cay came to me and said they wanted to get involved with local sloop sailing I told them they should look no further than to King Eric, because he’s the man you would want to be involved with and it created a beautiful partnership.”

Earlier this year, Palm Cay sponsored and introduced the Palm Cay Sir Durward Knowles Cup, the only one to bear Sir Durward’s name.

It is a regatta circuit floating trophy which made its first appearance at the February St Valentine’s Day Regatta in Nassau.

“It is a pleasure to be the sponsor of sloop sailing backed by King Eric Gibson and we look forward to a very prosperous season from the Palm Cay Princess,” said Brooks Russell, marina consultant for Palm Cay.

Palm Cay, an upscale waterfront development on Nassau’s eastern shore, will also host the second annual Bahamas Sports Fishing Network (BSFN) Boat Show on April 27.

Rev Phillip McPhee, Bahamas Boat Owners and Sailing Association executive, echoed the importance of Gibson continuing his participation in the sport. “He is one of the icons that does much to maintain the legacy of sloop sailing in the Bahamas. Sloop sailing is engrained into the fabric of the culture and the economy of the Bahamas and King Eric is a major part of the history of that culture,” he said.

This year’s National Family Island Regatta will coincide with the country’s 40th anniversary of Independence, and the 120th anniversary of the Royal Bahamas Police Force Band, which traditionally performs at the regatta site.

For the past 20 years, the National Family Island Regatta Committee has been honouring persons who have made substantial and invaluable contributions to the growth and development of the regatta by dedicating the annual event to them.

This year, four individuals will be honoured at the regatta, including Captain Emmett Munroe, Captain Henry Harding, Eleazor Johnson and Captain Brooks Miller.