The Tribune

AS Grand Bahama is the home of Bahamian Brewery and Beverage, the entire team was thrilled to participate in this year’s regatta as well as see the return of the sculling races at Taino Beach.

“This year we continued our support of the Grand Bahama Regatta, as regattas are a huge part of Bahamian culture,” said Lynden Johnson, sales manager at Bahamian Brewery and Beverage. “Not only did our team support the regatta events, but a great crowd lined the shore for our sculling races which were a thrilling end to the regatta weekend.”

The Brewery team kicked off the regatta weekend with a sculling boat float parade on Thursday that travelled from the Brewery grounds to West End and back into Freeport. The Sands girls handed out truly Bahamian beers along the way and helped promote the regatta and the sculling race. As a title sponsor they also hosted a truly Bahamian block party Friday evening at the regatta grounds.

After the regular sailing races ended on Saturday afternoon, it was time to scull the boat. There were several fierce heats held, with the final race declaring Josh Green victorious, with Richard Ross placing second and Steven Rolle sculling his way to third.

Josh Green has already won the Long Island sculling race and a place in the sculling championship, so the brewery team has selected second place winner Richard Ross to represent Grand Bahama at the National Sculling Championships in New Providence in November.

“The sculling races really brought home the concept of the Grand Bahama regatta,” said Chervita Campbell, organiser of the GB Regatta. “It was a smooth transition from the sailing to the sculling races and it got more people involved in the regatta, which is what regatta is truly all about.”

In addition to the men’s race, there was also a ladies’ race, which was held during the men’s sculling intermission. Four brave ladies took to the boats with Ashley Mowrey declared as the winner. All winners receive floating trophies, lots of Sands beer and the prestige of helping preserve the treasured art of sculling.

To learn more about the sculling races, interested persons can follow the Brewery on Facebook or on their website. Those still trying to vie for the title can compete at the sculling championship race earlier in the day before the championship races. The winner of that race will advance to the finals to compete against the GB winner along with Luda Nester, winner of the St Valentine sculling race, Red McKenzie, winner of the National Family Island Regatta sculling race in Georgetown, Exuma and Clayton Bain, the three-time defending champ.