The Tribune

By BRENT STUBBS

Senior Sports Reporter

bstubbs@tribunemedia.net

ASUE Draw, in its commitment to pump more than $200,000 into regattas this year, made a contribution to the King Eric Gibson All-For-One Regatta to be held in Montagu Bay over the majority rule holiday weekend.

The regatta, which is expected to have at least 30-40 boats competing in three different classes, is being held in honour of Gibson, the late sailing icon who made a tremendous impact to the sport up to the time of his death on December 28, 2013.

“Today, we are delighted and happy to have this opportunity to showcase and to be a part of the celebration of the King Eric All-For-One Regatta, scheduled for this weekend,” said Rev Dr Philip McPhee, a consultant in the Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries.

“We are proud to once again have the opportunity for the Asue company to come and to participate in assisting regattas throughout the length and breadth of the Bahamas in 2015. This is the second time in a week that Asue has come to the aid of regatta development in our nation and we are very proud of them.”

McPhee, however, said Asue Draw’s sponsorship on the heels of their involvement in the Bulla Reg Class C Regatta over the weekend in Georgetown, Exuma, comes at a time when the country will be paying its respects to Gibson, who has brought sailing to the level where dignity was acknowledged.

Asue Draw will be sponsoring one of the three C Class cup races that will be held over the three days of competition on Saturday, Sunday and Monday. Delano Springer, representing Asue Draw, said they are delighted to be able to make their contribution.

“We at Asue Draw would like to thank the organisation, we would like to thank the family of the late King Eric for allowing us to sponsor the All-for-One Regatta and we are proud of Asue Draw to be a part of an initiative such as this that assists such a great sport and we would like to continue to show our support in 2015 with continued sponsorship of this great national sport,” Springer said.

“We would like to work along with the government in continuing to ensure the full success of regattas and to ensure success where it enables it to continue to grow in sustainable communities.”

Minister of Labour Shane Gibson and his brother, Eric Gibson Jr, proprietor of Bahama Grill, expressed their delight in having Asue Draw come on board as one of the sponsors of the fitting tribute to their father.

“I just want to thank Asue Draw for their participation in this event. You would be well aware that these events can not be successful without the assistance of corporate Bahamas,” Shane Gibson said. “The fact that Asue Draw came forward and provided us with this assistance, I think it says a lot for their company and what they stand for and the fact that they support our cultural and sporting events.”

Noting that it’s a costly venture to host regattas, Gibson said their support was unsolicited, but because they heard about the event, they decided to come forth, through the assistance of Rev McPhee, and assist them. He added that they are hoping that more corporate sponsors will follow suit and come forth and assist the organising committee as they keep the legacy of their father alive by hosting the annual event.

“As you know, sailing was a passion for King Eric. He was somebody, who nobody could say otherwise, but everybody can agree that he has single-handedly did more for regattas in the Bahamas than any other individual,” Gibson said. “In my mind, you only have one person, who unequivocally, did more for starting every regatta in the Bahamas, except Exuma and Long Island.

“So when you talk about regattas in Andros, in North Andros, South Andros, in Eleuthera, Harbour Island, every island in the Bahamas, Cat Island, King Eric was the person responsible. So it’s very important for our family to continue on with this legacy and to do as much as we can to make sure that at the end of the day, sloop sailing remains vibrant and becomes even more successful than it was in the past.”

And Eric Jr said they recognise the support that Asue Draw has given in stepping forth to assist in the organising of the regatta.

“We expect this to be the regatta of the year, of the century so that other regattas can look at this as the goal post and try to emulate to try to take sloop sailing to another level in the Bahamas,” he said.

“We would just like to say thank you for allowing us to achieve that goal.”