Silent Partner, New Susan Chase and Sassie Sue win in the three main classes
- Simba French
- 5 hrs ago
- 0
A busy day concluded a weekend of sailing at Montagu Bay yesterday as the ‘Best of the Best’ Regatta wrapped up with ‘Championship Sunday’, culminating the four-day event. Neighboring islands of Exuma and Long Island split the four classes in action with two wins each.
The ‘A’ Class was secured by Exuma’s Silent Partner which was captained by Leslie “Buzzy” Rolle. Long Island’s New Susan Chase and Sassie Sue won the ‘B’ and ‘C’ classes respectively. Both boats were captained by Stefan Knowles. The ‘E’ Class was won by Exuma’s Lady Kayla. That boat was captained by junior sailors Joss Knowles and Kianno Hutchinso
Rolle dethroned Knowles to take the ‘A’ Class this year. He never trailed in the final race yesterday. Rolle and his crew had a clear plan and stuck to it. They had some great tacks to fight off Knowles’ Running Tide which gained on them late in the race.
“It is teamwork,” Rolle said. “I told them on the start that we are going to get in front and try to increase the lead. That was the main thing. It was tough to beat Knowles with the Running Tide. I don’t sail in the ‘A’ Class but now and again I’ll sail one.”
He said he enjoyed the competition in the ‘A’ Class, especially against Knowles.
“It was great competition. When you beat a guy like Stefan (Knowles), who is very tough in racing, it is a great accomplishment. I thank the Black Point boys for giving me a chance to do what I wanted to do to the boat. After winning on Saturday, I told them that it was only the beginning and we did it again today (Sunday),” Rolle said.
Finishing third was Long Island’s Ruff Justice, captained by Joshua Knowles.
On Thursday, the Running Tide won the first race for the Governor General’s Cup. The Ed Sky out of Ragged Island that was captained by Lee Armbrister was second. Ruff Justice was third.
Stefan Knowles and his crew repeated their feat on Friday in the Aliv/Cable Bahamas Race. Ruff Justice placed second while Ragged Island’s New Courageous, captained by Stephano Kemp, was third. In the Fallen Sailor’s Race on Saturday that was named in honor of Lundy Robinson, the Silent Partner won. The New Courageous was second and Ruff Justice placed third.
The New Susan Chase won three races in the ‘B’ Class including the Fallen Sailor’s Race on Saturday. That one was named in honor of Eleazor “Barber J” Johnson. Abaco’s Lonesome Dove, captained by Jeff Gale, won the other race.
Stefano Kemp captained the Sassie Sue to victory in three of the four races in the ‘C’ Class. He and his crew won the Fallen Sailor’s Race that was named in Van Ferguson’s honor. The other race was won by Long Island’s Whitty K, captained by Chochise Burrows.
The Lady Kayla dominated the ‘E’ Class, not dropping a single race over the four days of competition.
The next big regatta on the calendar is the National Family Island Regatta, set for Elizabeth Harbour in George Town, Exuma, in April.