Posted by: travadmin on Feb 18, 2004 – 12:56 PM
boating  Regatta Time Is One Of The Biggest Sailing Events In The Bahamas.

It’s midmorning on a clear day in the Abacos. Dozens of boats sail back and forth, tacking within feet of each other. Captains eye their watches, jockeying to position their boats in just the right place. Suddenly, the horn sounds and the race begins.
I’ve finagled myself on board Erin’s Song as an indispensable part of her race crew. I’m “rail meat,” someone who doesn’t look half bad and whose sole purpose is to move from one side of the boat to the other and dangle their legs over the side to keep it balanced. There’s not much wind, and as we slowly make our way around the course, the frenzy of intense competition subsides and more ice cold Kaliks are brought up from the galley.

Regatta Time in Abaco has grown into one of the biggest sailing events in the Bahamas, becoming a yearly tradition for hundreds of sailing enthusiasts, and is as much about getting together with old friends and having fun as it is about the races. People come from the neighboring out islands, Florida and as far away as South Africa not just for the series of races, but for the infamous parties held throughout the week as well. The regatta week always includes the Fourth of July and the 10th of July (Bahamian Independence Day) and has become a holiday tradition for many families. This year marks the 27th anniversary of the event, and promises to be memorable.

“It’s like a reunion over here,” says Tom Dwyer, who has been participating in Regatta Time for 18 years. He usually brings his wife and kids, and the family charters a boat for a week, catching up with old friends and making new ones.

Every boat class from racing sloops and cruising yachts to catamarans and trimarans shows up in Abaco, and there are races designated for each. Typically five races are held, with one sponsored by the Green Turtle Club kicking things off every year. Though not officially part of the Regatta Time race series, the Green Turtle race has become a tradition all its own, and it gives sailors a chance to warm up and test their crews and equipment. Awards are handed out at a party that night as old friends reunite over cold beers and Tipsy Turtles, the hotel’s signature drink. The race is all in good fun: The last boat to finish is awarded an inflatable green turtle.

Other races are held around Guana Cay, Man-O-War Cay, Hope Town and Marsh Harbour, the boats making their way from island to island, joining in some races and maybe skipping others all together. But there’s much more to do here than race: You can spend your days snorkeling the numerous colorful reefs or exploring one of the island chain’s charming little towns; the Abacos are known for their strong loyalist history, warm hospitality, great local artwork and tasty homemade Bahama bread.

You’ll need to save up some energy from your daytime pursuits to join in the aprés-race fun. One of the best parties is held on Great Guana Cay at Nippers, an open-air bar and grill that sits right on the beach. A barbecue and tropical drinks (don’t skip the frozen Nippers) start things off, and as the night rolls on there’s live music, bikini and limbo contests and Mardi Gras-style festivities that culminate in the throwing of hundreds of beads from the roof to the crowd below.

Last year’s Fourth of July party was a huge celebration in the town of New Plymouth on Green Turtle Cay. Visitors danced as locals performed in a Junkanoo parade; drink tents were set up, and every kind of local food was served, including peas ‘n rice, macaroni, johnnycakes and conch fritters. The party slowly moved uphill, with sunburned sailors stopping at Miss Emily’s Blue Bee Bar — reputedly the original home of the Goombay smash — before heading up to the Roosters Rest, a restaurant bar at the top of the island. Local legends, the Gully Roosters, performed there, and partyers danced late into the night.

Sounds fun, but you don’t own a boat or don’t know how to sail? That’s no excuse here. There are always boats looking for experienced crew, an extra pair of hands or at least some good rail meat to even out the load.

For more information, visit the Regatta Time Web site, at www.go-abacos.com/regatta/.

Note: This article appeared in “From Carribean Travel & Life Magazine”, A World Publications magazine.