The Tribune

By RENALDO DORSETT

Tribune Sports Reporter

rdorsett@tribunemedia.net

FOLLOWING a spirited meeting of boat owners ahead of the 2nd Annual Best of The Best regatta, which kicks off in Montagu Bay on Thursday, December 7, the “PM Thunderbird” has been ruled eligible and will be sailing in its A-Class races.

The ruling was handed down by Minister of Agriculture & Marine Resources Renward Wells during a special meeting held November 23 to settle the matter that has been ongoing for almost a year.

Boat owners had concerns about the design eligibility of the “PM Thunderbird”, however, owner Rev Philip McPhee made a number of structural changes.

The ruling by Minister Wells, however, only allows the boat to race in the Best of the Best regatta, and advised all owners that other regatta committees would have to make their own rulings provided the boat was in compliance with their rules. The minister’s ruling is final.

Addressing the boat owners, Minister Wells reaffirmed his commitment as minister responsible for regattas in The Bahamas to have the sport elevated to becoming the official national sport.

However, he strongly encouraged the owners to focus less on personalities and more on their mutual goals for the sport and its place in the Bahamian cultural and sporting identity.

The minister pledged his commitment to settling a number of outstanding concerns presented by the sailors for the good of the sport and stated that he expects full participation from the boat owners in the upcoming clash.

More than 54 boats from around The Bahamas are expected to compete in the A, B and C class races.

The weekend will also be the backdrop for the Star Sailors League’s season finale with sailors in that style of sailing arriving from around the globe to the capital this week. At least 50 world class sailors will be here for that event which will also feature a number of Olympic gold medallists in action.