We finally attended the Family Island Regatta in Georgetown this year. It was a LOT of fun!
We have been increasingly interested in Bahamian sloop racing since meeting Mark Knowles, a master boat builder and skipper. Mark hails from Long Island, but over the last few years has spent a lot of time on Cat Island where we met him.
While there are many regatta races in various islands, the National Family Island Regatta (NFIR) is the biggest. People come to attend from throughout the Bahamas. It is also arguably, one of the biggest 'parties' in the Bahamas.
The weather this year was less than ideal, with light winds and some heavy rain, but they completed the races in all the classes. The Bahamian sloops carry an enormous amount of sail, so they need surprisingly little wind to generate boat speed (unlike us). To give some perspective our boat is around 41' in overall length and has a 53' mast; the "A" Class boats are 28' long and feature a 60' mast!
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| Awaiting the start At the start, boats are anchored and have sails down. At the gun, they must raise the anchor, hoist the sails and get underway Photo credit Doc Fig |
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| Approaching the windward-mark Not from this year - note some white-caps and reefed sails Photo credit Family Island Regatta Association |
Although there are still a significant number of cruisers in Georgetown, this is predominately a Bahamian event. Additionally, the cruisers typically watch the race from their dinghies at the various turning points. While this gives them a close view of the action, most Bahamians, however, watch the race from shore. We watched the races from shore which was a great experience. Bahamians love sloop racing! I brought a pair of binoculars and ended up being somewhat of a 'spotter' for a crowd at the regatta stand and our binoculars ended up being passed around quite a bit. We saw some friends from Black Point and Cat Island and made some new ones.
On Wednesday, there were several 'Cup' races in various classes. Our friend Mark Knowles, won the Class "B" Governor General's Cup. Following are some pictures of the victory celebration held on Cat Island with the Trophy 'Cup' being used to host Rum & Coke cocktails - good old Cat Island. Wish we could have been there for the celebration!
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| Our friend Crystal mixing rum & cokes in the trophy! |
On Thursday morning we watched a "C" Class (17 feet length) race won by Long Islander Stephan Knowles (Mark's brother) aboard "Whitty K". Stephan went on to win the "C" Class series. The "B" Class (21 feet length) race that day was a yawner, with little wind and we did not stay until the end.
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| "B" Class "Lady Sonia" of Exuma Photo Credit Family Island Regatta Association |
We had planned to return on Friday, but heavy rains made us change our minds.
Saturday was sunny and featured a light southeast wind that provided decent racing. We arrived in time to see the final "B" Class race in which Stephan Knowles won in "New Susan Chase", clinching the "B" class series. Stephan had quite a regatta winning both the "C" and "B' class series - well done!
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| "New Susan Chase" "B" Class winner Photo credit Family Island Regatta Association |
After a junior race, it was time for the "A" Class (28 feet length) 'showdown'. "Tida Wave" from Staniel Cay led the series with a first and third in the first two races. Mark Knowles was a close second aboard "Running Tide" with a first and a fourth.
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| "A" Class boats From right "Running Tide"(5), Unknown, "New Courageous (02), "Southern Cross' (I think) Photo Credit Doc Fig |
However, it turned out that the day belonged to "Red Stripe"of Black Point who led the race from the start and finished with about a 2+ minute (huge) lead at the finish. "Tida Wave" was fourth* and "Running Tide" was sixth*. We were disappointed for Mark, but "Red Stripe" is owned by a relative of the Rolle family, good friends in Black Point, so we were glad for them.
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| Class "A" "Red Stripe Note hiking boards Photo credit Family Island Regatta Association |
The "A" Class series was won, by the narrowest of margins, by "Tida Wave" of Staniel Cay!
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| "C" Class "Lady Eunice" and "Legal Weapon" both from Black Point Loaded on the mail-boat ("Lady Francis") and headed home |
* Unoffical results. Official results are hard to come by. As of today, if you Google NFIR results, you will find results from the regatta two years ago. Maybe they will be online in a year or so :-)
Tom
Docked Emerald Bay Marina
Great Exuma
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