The Tribune

By BRENT STUBBS

Senior Sports Reporter

bstubbs@tribunemedia.net

WITH the 26th St Valentine’s Day Massacre all set for next weekend in Montagu Bay, Bahamian Brewery Company Limited and Sands Beer made its cheque presentation to organiser Eleazor ‘the Sailing Barber’ Johnson for their sponsorship of the huge regatta extravaganza.

Berkerley Williamson, the general manager at the company, said their involvement is not just for sailing, but to the contribution that Eleazor Johnson has made to the sport over the years.

“It’s a young company, but we see the need to become even more and more involved in these kinds of activities where we get to give back to the community,” Williamson stressed. “As a truly Bahamian company, we will support anything that is Bahamian. It’s a natural fit and we are looking forward to a grand time over those two days.”

Johnson said he’s appreciative of the Bahamian Brewery coming on board as the major sponsor.

“Mr Williamson and the Bahamian Brewery Company has been doing a good job, not only now, but when they introduced those boats that they have been going back to the islands sculling,” he said.

“Now they are sponsoring the St Valentine’s Massacre and they are also bringing their boats out to compete.

“So we are looking forward to the weekend where we will be sailing it up with the Optimu Sailing with the children. I expect some 32 kids to be out there. There we have the sculling, rowing, the E class sailing and the A class challenge sailing race. This is going to be a cross section of so many activities in one weekend.”

Williamson said Johnson could watch out because the Bahamian Brewery might just decide to secure a boat to challenge Johnson’s B Class Lady in Red, Lady Nathalie to a race. Johnson said he might just take up Williamson on his offer because he’s been working out.

Bahamian Brewery’s marketing manager Lynden Johnson said their company is excited about getting involved in the event not only as a corporate sponsor, but but for the staging of both the E Class and the Sands Man in Boat Sculling race series that will be held on Sunday at 5 pm.

“We have one under our belt with the All-For-One Regatta, which was extremely successful,” said Johnson of the series of races that will determine a winner from each regatta and homecoming who will get a chance to compete for the overall title at the Grand Bahama Regatta at the end of the year.

“We have a lot of interest coming in now for our sculling races on February 17 and we believe it’s going to be equally successful.”

Clyde Rolle, one of the organizers of the regatta, said over the years, they have been able to attract a large crowd of people to Montagu Bay because of the event.

“We are very proud to have the Sands Beer come along and sponsor the regatta,” he said. “They are a Bahamian company and proud and we are proud of them and we look forward to having a very successful sailing regatta, sculling regtta, rowing regatta, the E class regatta and the Optimis sailing.

“The two days will be full with activities so I employ the people to start coming out from 10 o’clock next Saturday morning. The whole day will be full of activities straight up until 6 pm on Sunday. So they don’t have to be afriad to come out early. We will have sufficient activities thoughout the day.”

Rolle said there are a number of committees that are in place and everybody is working hard to make sure that this year’s regatta will be another successful one.

As for the challenge between the Lady Nathalie, skippered by Rolle and the A class boats, Rolle said “if they can catch me they are good. We’ve been caught about six times in the 25 years, but I don’t think I will allow them to catch me this time. We’re just hoping for good favorably weather.”

In 1986 after junkanoo was finished, Johnson said there wasn’t any sailing competition until the National Family Island Regatta in Georgetown, Exuma in April. So he decided to stage a race in Montagu Bay just to give the local people in New Providence something to watch in Montagu Bay.

After he ran a series of races where he was challenged by the A class boats, he was able to formally introduce the St Valentine’s Day Massacre.