For immediate release, July 9^th 2024.  Penned by Dwayne Wallas

An overcast day, with a steady, 8-10 knots from the east set the stage for the opening day of the Regatta In The Abacos (RiTAbaco) 2024 event where 11 junior sailors from Grand Bahama and Abaco islands competed for the top spots in the Junior Opti Derek Lee Memorial Championships.  Regattas In The Abacos recently completed a spectacular 9 day series of racing and onshore events with great success. The competitors and spectators alike thoroughly enjoyed the friendly competition and excellent onshore activities throughout the Abacos.  In keeping with the name, the 9 day event included a 1 day/6 race Opti junior regatta and a 5 day series PHRF ‘big boat’ sailing races.  The main event was open to any sailing boat of 20 feet or longer with a PHRF rating.

n June 23^rd the 11 boat fleet of Optimist Prams raced at the perfect setting of the Bight of Ol’ Robinson near Pete’s Pub.  Abacocian Preston Thompson (Hope Town Junior Sailing) took home the first place trophy after a clean sweep of 6 first place finishes.  Allowing for a ‘drop race’ left a narrow lead in points and 2^nd place to Darren Cooper and 3^rd to Craig Carey both visiting from and representing the Grand Bahama Sailing Club.  Craig has a mishap at a windward mark which cost him the 2^nd place finish.  Top female Clara Wallas narrowly missed the 3^rd place spot by a few points however she managed to keep ahead of the other 3 young ladies in the fleet.  The weather cooperated nicely and the summer squall storm held off until just after the awards were presented.

The main stage of the annual summer sail racing event in Abaco began with very light breeze on June 25^th after a 1 hour postponement to wait for the wind to fill in.  Once again the summer squall’s held off until the end of the days racing.  This years fleet grew to 29 registered boats, an increase of 50% over the 2023 edition however 4 vessels were unable to get across from Florida due to inclement weather during the week before.  The 2^nd race started off of Hope Town and ended off of Marsh Harbour with a bang when a sporty summer squall decided to cover the finish line with white out conditions 30 knot gusts.  The famous local Bahamian racing sloop “The Lonesome Dove” finished the 2^nd race under bare mast while still moving along at 6 knots and giving a few junior sailors a ride they won’t soon forget.  The ‘Lonesome Dove’ is an all wood B-class Bahamian sloop built in Andros by a well known Long Island craftsman.  The Dove measures 21 feet with a 46 foot mast and a 28 foot boom.

This year welcomed the return of the slower cruising class sailboats referred to as “Mothertubs”. This class is a low key ‘fun’ category for the less competitive sailors to get out on the water and enjoy the Sea of Abaco while getting a chance to win one of the coveted Johnston Studios trophies, made locally in Little Harbour.  The 3^rd race held on June 27^th had to be abandoned due to a complete loss of wind halfway through the race.  It was a tough call for the Race Committee to make but most agreed it was the right one.  The 4^th race was the longest race starting in front of Great Guana Cay and finishing off of Green Turtle Cay.  The GGC to GTC race should have been a leisurely and hot downwind run but due to unusual westerly winds the race was a long fetch to weather and still made for a good day on the water.  The final race day off of Green Turtle Cay was held in ideal Bahama Summer weather with a steady 8 to 10 knots from the ENE and no squall action to worry about.  The competition of the final race was so tight that the race committee re-measured the course length twice and the time between finishes was mere seconds among the top half of the fleet.

After every race was an awards party hosted by our various major sponsors.  Each party was held at a different venue and different island which gives the competitors a chance to enjoy the different offerings that Abaco has.  The event was once again well received by the competitors and the followers and everyone involved to make it happen.  Extra special thanks and appreciation go out to our key sponsors the Bahamas Ministry of Tourism, Aviation & Investments and the combined support from Mount Gay Rum, Sands Beer, Titos Vodka.  Our thanks also goes out to the party hosts: Seaspray, Petes Pub, Hope Town Inn & Marina, Marsh Harbour Marina & Jib Room, Kidds Cove, New Plymouth township and the Bluff House Resort.  Colors Restaurant in Marsh Harbour put on an spectacular ‘layday’ event with local craft and farmer’s market and a live band. A special mention made of our valuble supporters include: Big Cat Equipment, Big O’s, HG Christie Real Estate, Rockstar Marine and Safe Harbour Marine among many more people and businesses who lend their support to help make this wonderful event happen.

The overall winner of the entire regatta and first place in the highly competitive spinnaker class was ‘Hillbilly’ (J92) skippered by Dave Nesbitt and hailing from the Melbourne Yacht Club.  Top finisher in the non-spinnaker class was Jim Wallace driving ‘Contrails’ (Olson 9.22). Jim is no stranger to the waters of Abaco having taken part in the regatta for many years in the past.  The multihull trophy was taken home again by Larry Geller, hailing from Hillsboro Inlet Sailing Club but on a different boat this time (Corsair 750).

Commodore Dwayne Wallas commented that “we had a great crew show up this year, some really good people who love being on the water and really enjoy what The Abacos has to offer.”  Commodore. Wallas noted that the competition was tight yet very friendly, the economic impact to the communities was excellent and the onshore activities were top notch.  Wallas also commented that he could not do it without the exceptional organizing team of Laura Albury, Wynsome Ferguson and Josefina Adderley.  Dates are tentatively set for June 23^rd to June 29^th 2025.  The committee are eyeing a Bahamian Sloop Regatta to be held in Abaco November 2025, get in touch if you want to lend your support for this and future Regattas In The Abacos.  To find out more and to see photos from the past regatta and information on next year please visit our website at www.RegattasInTheAbacos.com or any of our social media pages online.

Above:  Winners in Multi-hull Class “Third Tri” Larry Geller, Presented by Sands Beer

Above:  Winner Non-Spinnaker Class “Contrails”, Jim Wallace, Presented by MP John Pinder, Central & South Abaco and Parliamentary Secretary in the Ministry of Tourism, Aviation and Investments.

Above:  Overall RiTA Winner Spinnaker Class “Hillbilly”, Dave Nesbitt.  Presented by MP John Pinder, Ministry of Tourism, Aviation & Investments

Handmade Trophies by Johnston Studios, Little Harbour, Bahamas

Above:  Opti Regatta on Bight of Old Robinson

Above:  Race #2 Near Hope Town, Local boat the Lonesome Dove Approaching the Mark.