The Tribune

By BRENT STUBBS

Senior Sports Reporter

bstubbs@tribunemedia.net

THE ‘Super Bowl’ of sailing will be held over the weekend of February 18-19 when the 30th ‘Catch Me If You Can’ St Valentine’s Massacre is held in Montagu Bay.

Organiser Eleazor ‘the Sailing Barber’ Johnson said the event has grown from its initial event in 1987.

“I remember when Montagu was lone bush. There was no bathroom or nothing there in those days,” Johnson said. “There was also nothing going on after the New Year’s Day Regatta and April when the National Family Island Regatta was held.

“So I decided to put something together to get boats to come out to sail and we decided to do it after Valentine’s Day. It turned out to be the biggest regatta that was held in New Providence. They had something to do and they didn’t have to buy any tickets to go away on the Out Island or anything like that.”

Johnson said the regatta provided an opportunity for a number of vendors to make some money as they sell their items onshore during the competition between the boats on the water.

Since 1993 under Algernon Allen, then the minister of youth, sports and culture, Johnson said the Bahamas Government has come on board and assisted him financially in making the regatta a success.

He also lauded Sir Durward ‘Sea Wolf’ Knowles, who came to his assistance from the inception of the regatta. Others who assisted were the Caribbean Bottling Company through its product Coca-Cola; Butler & Sands, distributors of Campari; George Myers from Paradise Island; Arlington Butler, past president of the Bahamas Olympic Committee; Leslie Miller, Member of Parliament for Tall Pines; Wallace Auto and Aquapure.

Johnson said persons and companies interested in coming on board to assist in the sponsorship of the regatta are urged to contact him at 324-2946.

The highlight for the regatta will be held Sunday (February 19) when Johnson’s Lady in Red, Lady Nathalie will attempt to avoid getting catch from the A class boats that challenge her like the Southern Cross, Red Stripe, Good News, Ed Sky and Running Tide.

In the 30 years that the ‘Catch Me If You Can’ race has been held, the B class Lady Nathalie has a 16-14 advantage over her A class challengers. The Lady Nathalie is normally given a head start in the 2-3 laps race and the objection is to get to the finish line before she is caught.

“The Red Stripe is the closes to me. I can’t lie down on her. She’s a very fast boat,” Johnson said. “She’s very tricky. But I have a good crew and they work hard to make sure that we don’t get catch.”

In addition to the ‘Catch Me If You Can’ race, on Saturday the fans will get a chance to see at least eight of the top C class boats compete in a three-race series. And the Optimist Class, headed by Robert Dunkley, compete in a series of races as well.

“I want to thank all of the boats who come out every year and compete in the regatta,” Johnson said. “We all have to work together to make this event a success and they have all done that.”

Johnson pride himself on calling the ‘Catch Me If You Can’ race the “Super Bowl” of sailing because it comes just after the National Football League stage its Super Bowl championship game. He said the event “brings out the best of the best” sailing sloops to compete.

“I expect at 50,000 people to come out over that weekend for the regatta,” he proclaimed. “Montagu is now fixed up. It looks a lot much better than it was 30 years ago when we held the first regatta.

“So the people don’t have to worry. They are going to be in a very safe environment. There’s going to be a lot for them to do and they can bring their children too because we will have a kiddie’s corner for them to enjoy. We will have lots of giveaways each day.”