The Tribune

THE St Valentine’s Regatta was the first sculling race for the Sands Man in the Boat 2014 sculling season, and was the highlight of the regatta weekend.

The Sands team had two wonderful days at Montagu beach, with the E-class sailing races taking place on Saturday and the sculling races on Sunday.

The E-Class sailing race winners were Reuben Knowles in Ole Faithful, Clayton Bain in Strong Back taking second and Sheldon Gibson in Sands boat placing third.

“Both sloop sailing and sculling are 100 per cent Bahamian, and Sands, the Truly Bahamian beer of The Bahamas, is extremely proud to sponsor events like these,” said Lynden Johnson, sales and marketing manager for Bahamian Brewery and Beverage Company.

For the Sands sculling race, more than 20 men registered and, for the first time in the history of the Sands Man in the Boat Sculling Race, there were four women sculling too. The sculling races were fiercely competitive.

After several heats, Dennis Fox, who chose the “Sands Light” scull, emerged as the 1st place winner.

Chasing close behind him was John Rolle in Strong Back placing second and Steven Rolle taking third in the Sands scull.

Owner - and proud sculler himself - James “Jimmy” Sands presented the trophies to the winners of the races and was a proud assistant and organiser of the races along with his staff and family.

“The interest of sculling is growing, so much so that spectators were at the water’s edge cheering for their favourite sculler,” said Sands.

“We had lots of laughter, lots of fun and we are extremely pleased to have started our 2014 sculling and sailing season this way.”

The next event will be will be at the National Family Island Regatta in George Town Exuma, April 23 to 27.