The Tribune

By BRENT STUBBS

Senior Sports Reporter

bstubbs@tribunemedia.net

THE Asue Draw has not only improved on its commitment to the sponsorship of the Asue Thunderbird sailing sloop, but they are also throwing their full support behind regattas in the country, starting with the Bull Reg Class C Regatta in Black Point, Exuma, next weekend.

The marketing team at Asue Draw, led by Delano Springer, made the announcement yesterday at their Fox Hill branch where a donation of $2,500 was presented to members of the committee from Exuma. They included Enock Rolle and Jeffery McKenzie. Rev Dr Philip McPhee, whose Thunderbird is sponsored by Asue Draw, spearheaded the event.

“We would like to continue these initiatives to empower young professionals through the sport of sloop sailing, which not only provides countless jobs for Bahamians in developing the communities,” Springer said. “Here at Asue Draw, we want to ensure that the cheque is a commitment to the national sport of the Bahamas and we would like to ensure that we continue to show our support.”

Accepting the cheque, Rolle said the organising committee is pleased to have gotten the support and they look forward to putting on a real competitive regatta. “We are thankful to the Asue Draw, who has once again given thousands of dollars in sponsorship of the Asue Thunderbird,” McPhee said. “As you are well aware, regattas are very expensive and we certainly want to thank Mr Springer and Ms Gibbs and the entire Asue Company for coming on board with the Asue Thunderbird.

The Asue Thunderbird is the defending champion and McPhee said they are excited about going back and winning the Asue Draw Cup, which will be presented for the final race of the regatta.

But McPhee took it a bit further and said that while they are supporting the Thunderbird, the Asue Draw has provided the biggest financial assistance to the organising committee.

“So we are proud and you will see dignity with the Asue crew, you will see dignity in terms of the boat operation,” McPheee said. “She will be a first class boat in every respect and we say thank you to Asue Draw.”

Others such as Keep Your Eyes on Him, Bulla Reg and the Golden Girl are expected to be among the list of 12 boats scheduled to compete in the regatta, being held in memory of the late Stomp McKenzie, who passed away in August. McKenzie was the captain of Keep Your Eyes on Him and Jeffery McKenzie, the owner, said they are not concerned about the Asue Thunderbird defending their title.

“We intend to be in the top three. I don’t know where he intends to be,” putting out a challenge to McPhee and his Asue Thunderbird. “They are just another boat. I don’t worry about them. I can tell Asue Draw if they are depending on McPhee for the trophy, they have a long shot coming.”

McKenzie said his Keep Your Eyes on Him would like nothing better than to pay their respects to Stomp McKenzie with a win in the regatta.

The regatta, according to Springer, will count as the first in a series of regattas that will be sponsored by Asue Draw, leading up to the return of the Boat of the Year honours at the end of the year. McPhee said they are planning to put on a lavish ceremony, sponsored by Asue Draw under the patronage of Prime Minister Perry Christie.

McPhee further indicated that in order to be eligible for the awards in each category, the boats will be required to participate in the majority of the regattas on the sailing calendar. The Bull Reg Regatta is also being sponsored by the Bahamas Junkanoo Carnival. The event is slated for May 7-9.