News of The Abacos
Current Abaco News Regatta Time In Abaco [RTIA]
Background by Jack King - July 98 Issue
Thirty years ago, the late American yachtsman and boat builder Bill Soveral thought it would be a great idea to have a sailboat race for his charter boats cruising Abaco. What better time, he thought, than a race on the Fourth Of July so the Americans could celebrate their independence from England while sailing in a county that was (30 years ago) also trying to get their independence from England.
That idea and the regatta were the start of Regatta Time In Abaco, which in some form, has been going on for thirty years. Some seven boats participated in those first regattas. Along with Soveral, Green Turtle resident WalterRoberts started the Green Turtle Sailing club to run the races and oversee the social aspects.
For many years, it was low key fun. The precursor to the "organized" regatta continued by itself until 1974, when the Abaco Regatta Syndicate was formed by Bahamian and expatriate residents to raise money to build an Abaco Class A work boat to enter the 1975 Georgetown Regatta. The boat, named Abaco, was built at the Albury Shipyard. It was then sold to a private group and renamed Rough Waters. The revenues were then used to put on a regatta with Abaco dinghies. The regatta was small, but the party was great. In 1975, no regatta was held, but the seed for a regatta in Abaco was planted. The Green Turtle Fourth Of July race went on as scheduled with some 30 boats in attendance.
[Photo of "Abaco Rage" at sunset by Mandy Roberts]What is now called the "First Abaco Regatta" was held September 1, 1976 with some four work boats and 10 cruising boats participating in the event. The next year the three day format over the American Labor Day weekend was used again, and it didn't take the organizers long to figure out that there just weren't many cruising sailboats in Abaco in the middle of the hurricane season. An executive decision was made to move the fledgling 1978 regatta to a more acceptable date, June 29-July 1.
Thirty boats participated and many of them then moved on to Green Turtle for what was now considered to be the second regatta. After Green Turtle, the fleet moved to Treasure Cay for what was called the third regatta. The participation numbers began to grow as work of the regatta and its fun spread throughout the southeastern United States. One major change was in the works and that was the demise of the Bahamian work boat participation. Traditionally, work boat crews were paid to participate and many times they would not show up unless there was money. Not so with American yachtsmen who were on vacation and seemed to race with the mantra "Will sail for fun and beer."
By the early 1980s, the three regatta format that was in place set the schedule for the next ten years. Marsh Harbour started thing off on June 25, then the fleet moved to Treasure Cay. And then the summertime event finished with the traditional Fourth of July race in Green Turtle. Part time Marsh Harbout resident and world class yachtsman Bill Pascoe took more of an active interest in the regatta, making changes that were necessary to ensure quality racing as well as quality partying. By now the entries were approaching the 150 mark.
Soveral generally showed up for at least the Green Turtle part of the regatta. He was a very intense racer even when the racing was casual and consequently he had as many detractors as friends. This led to some interesting situations. One year, several of the boats racing against Soveral had removed their large three bladed props in a move to gain a speed advantage. Soveral complained to the race committee but to no avail. So, the next year Soveral did the same thing on his Mayflower-looking Soveral 48 CAVU. However, after he removed his prop, some locals attached a rather large bucket to his prop strut, making the boat painfully slow in the light air. He was furious when he found out what had happened. The next year, determined to win and not let the same thing happen again, he posted sentries around his boat. He picked up several locals to sail with him on the large boat. Nearing the end of the race with CAVU well in front of the fleet, one of the locals jumped off CAVU, swam to a waiting powerboat and was whisked away. Soveral was disqualified for not finishing with the same crew he started with. Even Soveral laughed as the innovative ways people were using to beat him.
One of the more interesting parts of the regatta was the annual dinghy tow from Marsh Harbour to Treasure Cay. The race to Treasure Cay was a downwind spinnaker run that always turned out to be the most fun of the regatta, especially in light of the high winds brought on by the afternoon thunderstorms. Since it was not fair to have the sailors tow their own dinghies and also race, a dinghy tow was organized. It often took so long to arrange the dinghies and tow them to Treasure Cay, that the lead boats were often finished and waiting to go into the marina. Possibly the largest dinghy tow, some 80 dinghies, was hauled by rock star David Crosby's 60 foot schooner Mayan. It was a sight to behold.
The bronze lost wax castings of local artist Pete Johnston that were given as trophies soon became cult items. The castings of local fish and birds, which cost hundreds of dollars each, were mounted on wood and sailors, who ostensibly came to Abaco to have a good time, would compete furiously for the beautiful trophies.
Mount Gay rum and Beck's beer became sponsors in the 1980s and those familiar red Mount Gay hats that are so coveted in racing circles were first seen here in Abaco. Along with the Johnston trophies, they too became coveted. Saying that you had been to Regatta Time In Abaco was a sure sign that you were part of the yachting in crowd.
The racing became more competitive. It was just no longer a bunch of cruising boats out for a good time. The latest in hot racing boats began to appear with increasing regularity. That concerned the regatta organizers, so they came up with a new class, the "mother tub class." This allowed the heavily burdened cruiser to still play and have a chance at one of the coveted Johnston trophies.
Over the years, the Mother Tub class would become the biggest participation fleet, proving once again that everyone was really here just to have fun. The "race one day, party one day, race one day" concept was fully embraced by the sailors and locals alike. Plus, having the American Independence Day (July 4) and Bahamian Independence Day (July 10) in the middle of the regatta certainly did not hurt the near fanatical reputation the regatta was getting back in America. But several parties stand out as arguably the greatest ever.
For sheer fun year after year, the crossing beach party in Marsh Harbour can't be beaten. The event started out as a fundraiser for the regatta and was held before the sailors arrived, but some fifteen years ago, the committee decided to move the party to the middle of the regatta. It was a move that no would regret. The party was an instant hit. The locals served the finest in Bahamian fare on the beach, along with great music and great fun. Sailorman, the new-used marine gear outlet in Ft. Lauderdale, sponsored a day long fun fest on the beach on Treasure Cay in 1985. The day was a hit, and along with the beachside buffet put on by the local resort, the day and night were a time to never forget. Unfortunately, the event was costly and Sailorman and Treasure Cay Resort bowed out in the subsequent years. But the memory lingers on.
In 1996, a new spot on the Regatta tour opened up in Great Guana Cay. Nipper's, on the beach in Guana Cay, literally opened its doors as the yachtsmen and revelers headed for their mulitdeck layout overlooking the ocean. It was possibly the largest one night party in the history of Regatta Time In Abaco and it won't be forgotten soon. Led by a new wave of younger sailors, it was an instant hit, and has continued to be. This year should be no exception.
But the granddaddy of all Abaco parties has been the beach party and prize giving after the Green Turtle Race on the Fourth of July. Fueled by gallons of rum punch and 100's of cases of Beck's Beer, the party was initially held on the beach under the Bluff House. After its first few years, the party grew to the point that people actually came all the way from from Nassau on the mail boat just to attend the event. Fortunately for the neighborhood, the party has cooled down some and is now held in New Plymouth next to the government dock. Long time Green Turtle resident Jimmy Roberts has been in charge of the party for many years and will be on station this year also.
And if that party wasn't enough, the unique party that followed it the same night should surely blow you away. At dark when the beach party broke up, many sailors moved on to Mellow, a 46 foot ketch owned by Coconut Grove sailor Howard Huntsberry, where the party continued. Dinner and rum punch were served to upwards of 100 people each year, and that on a 46 foot sailboat! And if that wasn't enough, the party then moved up the hill to a local spot called the Gully Rooster, where the dancing continued all night. Fortunately, the regatta organizers thought better of ever having back-to-back races. Sadly, the Mellow party is no longer, a victim of divorce.
In 1991, with the regatta now attracting international attention, it was decided to reverse the schedule. The Treasure Cay race had been dropped and some adjustments were necessary. The regatta now started with the Green Turtle race, moved on to Guana Cay, and then on to the Marsh Harbour area. The dates might have changed but the party, the racing and the camaradie were still the same. And the sailors continued to come. There have been hundreds of stories over the years about Regatta Time In Abaco. And anyone who has been here will tell you that they are true. Boats with names like Tanglefoot, Sally, Scoundrel, Paper Chase, Wings, 3-4 Time, Bananas, CAVU, Judy B, Apache, Pipe Dream, Scriroco, Moving Party, Air Mail, Lunar Richard, Gin & Thomas, and many more have been here and have stories to tell.
If you see one of them, ask for a Regatta Time story. Your request will be answered with a question: Which story?
In the past five years the regatta has had its ups and downs, but continues to roll along as a great event. People come from all over south Florida, even Georgia, South Carolina and Texas. Some come every year. Some come one year and then pass for years. Whatever their schedule, no one leaves Regatta Time In Abaco without a year's worth of stories and a lifetime of great memories. 1998 brings 30 years of racing in Abaco and the 24th Annual Regatta Time In Abaco. This year, as in past years, it will be like no other.
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The Abaco Rage Races
By Paola MaloneIt seemed the Abaco Rage was doomed never to race in the May and June Bahamian work boat regattas in Exuma and Long Island. The freight boat scheduled to transport the boat and its 16-man crew was unable to make it because of engine trouble. Three different boat owners saved the day by towing the Rage to George Town, Exuma, in stages - but the rudder was lost on the way. "That meant we had just two days to make another one," explained crew member and part owner, Chris Lightbourne.
Once the Rage reached Long Island, the crew, skippered by Chris Thompson, realized the sails were holding the boat back. "But the sportsmanship was so incredible and the people so helpful that other crews immediately stepped in to help us out," said Lightbourne. We borrowed some from Rupert's Legend - and ended up beating them with their own sails! The next day The New Courageous lent us some - and we beat them, too! But everyone was real happy for us. They were glad we did so well." In the end the Abaco Rage came sixth overall - but it was a close call. The crew feels confident they can improve their rating in the November regatta on Abaco. "But you have to crawl before you can walk," Lightbourn pointed out. "The competition is really stiff, and we'll be going up against people who have been racing for the past 15 years. We certainly aim to give it all we've got, though!"
