The Island Link, which provided sloop-transportation for the All-Andros Regatta, will be responsible for taking the sloops to the All Abaco Regatta, set for September 22-24 under the theme ﾑBack With A Rageﾴ at the Ferry Dock Grounds.
According to the captain of the Island Link, Jed Munroe, the sloops were scheduled to be transported to Abaco on Wednesday night.
However, as a result of tropical storm Rita, Munroe said that he would advise the committee to transport the sloops on Thursday or Friday instead if the weather conditions worsen.
Meanwhile, weather permitting, after the regatta not taking place for two years, 22 sloops from all of the local sailing associations have been confirmed to race in the A, B and C-classes.
The A-class sloops are: the Abaco Rage, the Sea Star, the Southern Cross, the New Courageous, the Red Stripe, the Running Tide and the New Red Hot Thunderbird.
The B-class sloops set to race are: the Heathcliffe, the Barbarian, the Passion, the New Susan Chase, the Lonesome Dove, the Cobra, the Compari Lady Nathalie and Williamﾴs Auto.
The C-class sloops scheduled to race are: Crazy Partner, the Sacrifice, the Lady Eunice, Mouthstache, the Lady Ruthnel, Vitamalt Thunderbird and the Fugitive.
The opening ceremony for the regatta will be held at the Treasure Cay Anglican Church on Wednesday September 21.
Thursday September 22, has been set aside as local night when a live band performance, several skits and an ﾑAll-Abaco Talent Searchﾴ competition have been planned.
On Friday, September 23, local singing artist, K.B. is scheduled to entertain the crowd. Opening for K.B. will be a local Abaconian band, the Gully Roosters.
On Saturday, September 23, a dominoesﾴ tournaments, a booth decorating competition, a ﾑconch cracking contestﾴ and a celebrity bucket dunking contest are set.
An awards ceremony, which begins at 8 p.m., a junkanoo rush out and a fireworks display are scheduled to conclude this yearﾴs regatta activities.
On Monday, the Bahama Journal contacted the Chairman of the All Abaco Regatta Committee, Jackson McIntosh, who said that the local people are looking forward to the regatta because of the social and economic factors.
“It has been two years since we had a regatta because of hurricanes. The regatta will be uplifting for the island and every one is excited about it. Based on the bookings that have been confirmed so far, many people out of Nassau, Grand Bahama and Andros will be coming down. Regattas are socially beneficial where most of the sons and daughters of Abaco come back. At this point in the year, we are reaching the height of the season for domestic tourism. It is the one time the that people in the Northern side of the island get an opportunity to make some money on a large scale. So for those three days it will be a tremendous boost to our economy,” McIntosh said.
Dahalia Smith, The Bahama Journal
