The Tribune

By BRENT STUBBS

Senior Sports Reporter

bstubbs@tribunemedia.net

CAPTAIN Emmit Munroe said the best way for him and his Original Courageous to remember his former long-time friend, King Eric Gibson, was to win the inaugural King Eric Gibson All-For-One Regatta in Montagu Bay over the Majority Rule Day holiday.

Munroe, one of the oldest skippers on the local sloop sailing scene, powered his Original Courageous to the two victories in the A Class to cart off the overall trophy during the awards presentation at Bahama Grill last night.

The Original Courageous was joined by the Susan Chase in the B Class and the Lady Eunice in the C Class.

Minister V Alfred Gray, whose Ministry of Agriculture, Marine Resources and Local Government donated $50,000 to the organisers, along with Minister of Youth, Sports and Culture Dr Daniel Johnson and Minister of Labour Shane Gibson were all on hand to congratulate all of the skippers and boat owners in helping to pull off what was dubbed “the biggest regatta” held in Montagu Bay.

In winning the two A class races, the other called off because the original sponsor pulled out at the last minute, Munroe said he was quite pleased with the Original Courageous’ performance, taking the title over the Rupert’s Legend, the Red Stripe and the Southern Cross in that order. “She did very well. Her performance was what I expected because I know what the boat could do,” Munroe said. “I did it for King. We go way back. I started sailing in regattas from 1977 when the Courageous was built and I was sailing from then to now. I know what the Courageous can do and she knows me.”

While the Courageous dominated the A Class, the Susan Chase pulled off the B Class over second place Ants Nest, third place Cobra and fourth place Eudeva. The C Class title went to Lady Eunice with her victory over second place Legal Weapon, third place Barely Legal and fourth place Revelation.

Gray saluted the family of the late King Eric Gibson for keeping his memory alive in putting on a fantastic regatta.

He made three announcements, the first of which is that he intends to persuade Prime Minister Perry Christie to officially name sloop sailing as the national sport of the Bahamas. But as he went on, he said secondly that the only way he will be able to do that is if all of the factions can come together and sail under one umbrella. And thirdly, he advised that it’s his wish that the Boat of the Year award banquet is returned this year where the boats are honoured for their contribution throughout the year.

And Shane Gibson, speaking on behalf of his family, said they were so pleased with the tremendous support from everyone, including the sponsors, the Police Force, the skippers and sailors, the general public and the media that the organising committee is already planning the second annual King Eric Gibson Regatta to be held over the weekend of January 8-10, 2016.

He also noted that his family intends to start the King Eric Foundation, which will assist all of the regattas throughout the Bahamas. And he added that there are also plans to assist the musicians and entertainers of the Bahamas, many of whom his late father was highly connected to as a former musician himself.

King Eric Gibson, also an avid sailor, boat owner and golfer, died December 28, 2013 at the age of 79.