The Tribune

By BRENT STUBBS

Senior Sports Reporter

bstubbs@tribunemedia.net

BAHAMIAN Brewery & Beverage Company and its fast growing Sands ‘Man in the Boat’ sculling races will once again be a part of the festivities for the 48th annual Long Island Regatta.

The organising committee accepted the company’s cheque for their sponsorship at a press conference yesterday, just about two weeks before the regatta is held in Salt Pond, Long Island, June 3-6.

According to sales manager Lynden Johnson, who along with marketing manager Michelle Fox made the presentation at their headquarters on Nassau Street, the popular Sands ‘Man in the Boat’ races will be conducted 5pm June 5 (Friday) at the regatta site.

“We are inviting everyone who thinks they could scull from Glintons in the north to Gordons in the south to come out and register,” Johnson said.

“All participants that register and actually scull will receive a complementary case of Sands beer.”

Additionally, first place will qualify for the Sands ‘Man in the Boat’ Sculling Championship that is scheduled for early November in Montagu Bay. The winner will also take home a trophy and 10 cases of Sands beer, while second place gets a trophy and eight cases and third will receive a trophy and six cases.

Henderson Burrows, who was joined by Gina Coakley and treasurer Taynia Farquharson from the organising committee, said they are delighted to once again be partnering with Bahamian Brewery & Beverage Company to put on the sculling event at the regatta.

“On behalf of the Long Island Association and the Long Island Sailing Club, we would like to thank Bahamian Brewery and Sands Beer for their sponsorship and we look forward to an exciting time in Salt Pond, Long island,” said Burrows, the director and regatta chairman.

Coakley, president of the Long Island Sailing Association, said they have done some significant renovations to the regatta site and this year they are hoping to increase the amount of boats that participated last year.

“As we prepare for the 50th regatta (in two years), we are looking at some things that we hope to do, but it will be a surprise,” Coakley said.

“We hope that we can get our regatta to be the National Family Island Regatta that year. That is one of the things we are working on.”

In the meantime, Burrows said they are looking at attracting more than the record 55 boats that participated in the regatta last year in the A, B and C classes as well as the open class and the sculling races.

“The competition should be keen. They had a sail off in Long Island over the weekend with three A class boats up there and I heard the Courageous was getting tested here, so I think everybody is looking forward to an exciting regatta this year.”

As for the sculling races, Johnson said they are fast becoming a smashing hit, especially in Long Island with Dennis Fox and Danny Knowles both from Long Island, who are two very strong scullers.

“So we are very, very excited about the growth of sculling in Long Island and we are excited about the competition this year,” Johnson said.

Following the Long Island Regatta, Johnson said the next Sands ‘Man in the Boat’ sculling event will be held in Treasure Cay, Abaco, on July 11.