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The National Family Island Regatta — the world’s greatest sailing event

In April of 1954, about 70 Bahamian schooners, dinghies and sloops assembled in Elizabeth Harbor for 3 days of racing to celebrate the Bahamian working sailing craft. One of the prime aims of the regatta was to help preserve the boat-building skills of the Bahamians.Those first sailors raced in the same boats they used to earn their livelihood. The working vessels were fast but competition was fierce and the sailors knew that if they were going to be able to win the prize money offered to the winner, they would have to build faster craft for future races. The second year saw boats built more for speed and they have been getting faster and better each year since.

Today, as in the beginning, the racing rules state that all competing vessels must be designed, built, owned and sailed by Bahamians. There are restrictions on the building materials used so as to maintain traditional origins as much as possible. Top-notch racing boats from every island in the Bahamas are categorized in one of five classes. The goal from year to year has always been to demonstrate that you are the “Best in the Bahamas”. The success of the event depends on the skills and enthusiasm of the sailors. It is all about competition, skill, endurance and excellence.

The regatta is held over a four-day period at the end of April and is accompanied by a week-long celebration. Boating enthusiasts from all over the world converge upon Exuma to watch the race and participate in numerous onshore activities. Fashion shows, beauty pageants, weightlifting competitions, volleyball tournaments, and non-stop partying with great Bahamian food and music make the National Family Island Regatta an island party to end all parties.

The event is generally held at the end of April, and the festivities become a week-long celebration.

The Out Island Squadron Committee

The early organizers were thrilled that the event was such a success, but they soon realized that if the event was to continue to grow, they would need to form a proper committee that would oversee it each year. Hence, the Out Island Squadron was created. The committee was comprised of avid boaters from the Bahamas as well as from the United States, and these members took on the responsibility of sponsoring and planning the regatta. From 1954 to 1967, this same committee organized what came to be a famous regatta annual event in Elizabeth Harbour, in beautiful and historic George Town, on exotic Exuma Island.

Family Island Regatta rules

The success of the event always depended on the skills and enthusiasm of the sailors and as years went by, the quality of both the boats and their drivers improved. The National Family Island Regatta is about competition and excellence. World-class sailors are pitted against one another in extreme competition that tests skill and endurance. The racing rules dictate that the sailing vessels must be designed, built and sailed by a Bahamian. There are also strict restrictions on the building materials used in order to keep these boats as closely related to their traditional origins as possible.

Although the world of sailing has changed in many ways, the National Island Family Regatta in Elizabeth Harbour, George Town is one of the last places to see sailing vessels crafted in the unique Bahamian tradition. Standing on the shores of Elizabeth Harbour and witnessing the arrival of a traditional Bahamian schooner is a wondrous event not to be forgotten. Not only is the National Island Family Regatta a fun-filled week bursting with excitement, but it is also a unique opportunity to partake in Bahamian history — a history that every islander is proud of.

Comments

Reginald William Smith says

February 21, 2012 - 10:17 am

A little known fact of how the regatta was started in Exuma has for fifty years escaped publication. While J.Linton Rigg was responsible for organizing the first regatta he was not the originator of the idea. The original idea for the regatta came from a discussion between Bahamian pilot Lorenzo Cecil Smith and Ward Wheelock, owner of the yacht Margut 11 while crossing Wide Opening in the Exuma Cays. Smith had been asked by Wheelock what could be done to asssist the people in George Town and was told that any assistance to the ggroup of men who were already racing thier native boats on Elizabeth Harbor would be very much appreciated.
Lorenzo's wife Annie Muriel was house keeper to J Linton and when told by her husband about the conversation between himself and Ward Wheelock suggested that he speak with J. Linton Rigg, and international yachtsman of some reknown would certainly know more about such things. From this conversation and a subsequent conversation between Rigg and Wheelock came the first Out Island Regatta for which Wheelock supplied the first monies. Robert Symonette then the Member of Parliament for Exuma and an international sailor was later contacted and came on board at that time. Knowing in advance about the regatta Smith refurbished his then 10' dinghy especially for the regatta. He added a bowspit and a gaff rigged sail, like his larger vessel which he had recently lost, painted the boat red white and blue, traditional Bahamian boat colors at the time and raced it along with his then eleven year old son Reginald. A photo of the boat was taken by well know Exumian Basil Minns and was placed on the cover of Skipper Magazine and was seen internationally. Lorenzo also made the first markers used that year; 55 gallon drums anchored by cement blocks which he also made. He was as sisted by James Barr who helped anchor the markers in the harbor.While we know about J. Linton Rigg and Ward Wheelock and Robert Symonette we know nothing of these men to whom a tribute is due. For it was they who originated sail racing on Elizabeth Harbor.....Lorenzo Smith, Hector Smith, Reynard McPhee, Reggie Rolle, Milton Strachan, Cap. Pepper Forbes, Livingstone Coakley Sr. Nathan Bethel among others. And boats like the Song Bird, Lady Rolle,The Swan, Icelene, Ena and Merry Wing ..all working boats and men who made a living from thier boats and the sea. Lorenzo Smith and Ward Wheelock.. two sailors on an open sea in the Exumas.. gave us a lasting Treasure...what is now known as the ..National Family Island Regatta.. the first ever of its kind. How do I know all this? I was present at that first conversation between my mother and father. I ran errands for J.Linton Rigg and pumped water up into a fiftyfive gallon drum that served as his water tank so that he had running water. I remember him well. As I remember the "Bare Foot Gal" and the pipe he used to smoke. The home was owned at the time by Nigel Minns. My Mother kept house for J.Linton and I am the little boy riding the pry on the Merry wing in that photo that Basil Minns took. And that is why The Regatta came to Exuma ..and only to Exuma. ~

Reginald William Smith says

February 21, 2012 - 10:17 am

A little known fact of how the regatta was started in Exuma has for fifty years escaped publication. While J.Linton Rigg was responsible for organizing the first regatta he was not the originator of the idea. The original idea for the regatta came from a discussion between Bahamian pilot Lorenzo Cecil Smith and Ward Wheelock, owner of the yacht Margut 11 while crossing Wide Opening in the Exuma Cays. Smith had been asked by Wheelock what could be done to asssist the people in George Town and was told that any assistance to the ggroup of men who were already racing thier native boats on Elizabeth Harbor would be very much appreciated.
Lorenzo's wife Annie Muriel was house keeper to J Linton and when told by her husband about the conversation between himself and Ward Wheelock suggested that he speak with J. Linton Rigg, and international yachtsman of some reknown would certainly know more about such things. From this conversation and a subsequent conversation between Rigg and Wheelock came the first Out Island Regatta for which Wheelock supplied the first monies. Robert Symonette then the Member of Parliament for Exuma and an international sailor was later contacted and came on board at that time. Knowing in advance about the regatta Smith refurbished his then 10' dinghy especially for the regatta. He added a bowspit and a gaff rigged sail, like his larger vessel which he had recently lost, painted the boat red white and blue, traditional Bahamian boat colors at the time and raced it along with his then eleven year old son Reginald. A photo of the boat was taken by well know Exumian Basil Minns and was placed on the cover of Skipper Magazine and was seen internationally. Lorenzo also made the first markers used that year; 55 gallon drums anchored by cement blocks which he also made. He was as sisted by James Barr who helped anchor the markers in the harbor.While we know about J. Linton Rigg and Ward Wheelock and Robert Symonette we know nothing of these men to whom a tribute is due. For it was they who originated sail racing on Elizabeth Harbor.....Lorenzo Smith, Hector Smith, Reynard McPhee, Reggie Rolle, Milton Strachan, Cap. Pepper Forbes, Livingstone Coakley Sr. Nathan Bethel among others. And boats like the Song Bird, Lady Rolle,The Swan, Icelene, Ena and Merry Wing ..all working boats and men who made a living from thier boats and the sea. Lorenzo Smith and Ward Wheelock.. two sailors on an open sea in the Exumas.. gave us a lasting Treasure...what is now known as the ..National Family Island Regatta.. the first ever of its kind. How do I know all this? I was present at that first conversation between my mother and father. I ran errands for J.Linton Rigg and pumped water up into a fiftyfive gallon drum that served as his water tank so that he had running water. I remember him well. As I remember the "Bare Foot Gal" and the pipe he used to smoke. The home was owned at the time by Nigel Minns. My Mother kept house for J.Linton and I am the little boy riding the pry on the Merry wing in that photo that Basil Minns took. And that is why The Regatta came to Exuma ..and only to Exuma. ~

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