The Tribune

FREEPORT – During a press conference yesterday at the headquarters of Bahamian Brewery and Beverage, the company’s sales manager Lynden Johnson announced sponsorship for upcoming sculling races to be held in West End and at the annual BASRA Bernie Butler swim race.

Mr Johnson said: “We are pleased to announce that this year’s Grand Bahama sculling races will be held in West End on Saturday, August 24.

“We will also have a boat parade the day before, starting at 3pm, leaving the brewery and travelling through Freeport and finishing out west.”

This year’s GB sculling races will benefit the West End Eco-Fishing Camp’s junior sailing programme.

“We are very thankful for the support from the brewery,” said Keith Cooper, director of the West End Fishing camp.

“We plan to make it a family fun day out west and with the generous help of Sands we hope to purchase sail boats for training all year long.

“We will have our top 12 junior sailors racing at the event, who were trained under the GB Sailing Club programme.

“We encourage everyone to come out from 11am on and support the event, and then stay for all day events, live music with the Conch Juice Band and DJ Daddy Stellie.”

The Grand Bahama races were previously held in October at the GB Regatta but due to the postponement of the regatta this year, the decision was made to move the races to West End and now the championship will be held in Treasure Cay, Abaco.

“We have had races this year in Nassau at Valentines Beach, then in Exuma, Long Island, and Treasure Cay. We plan to have one more race in Nassau before hosting the Bahamas Sculling Championships,” said Mr Johnson.

Bahamian Brewery and Beverage and its CEO James ‘Jimmy’ Sands have made a commitment to support local regattas and bring back the art of sculling.

“We have pledged our backing to this sport and are enjoying the excitement and fun it’s bringing to our national regattas,” added Mr Johnson. “We will have Triple B Junior sculling races as well this year and of course everyone who enters the adult races gets a free t-shirt and the chance to win some of the 24 cases of free Sands beer that will be given away.”

In addition to the races in the west, the brewery will also support the 43rd annual Bernie Butler BASRA event in Freeport on Saturday, August 17.

“While the race at BASRA is mainly for fun, and to cultivate an appreciation for sculling, there will be prizes and t-shirts to be won,” said GB sales manager Robbie Butler, son of the late Bernie Butler.