By DAHALIA SMITH, NG Sports Reporter, dahalia@nasguard.com

GEORGETOWN, Exuma — Hometown favorite Buzzy Rolle did it for the host settlement of the 55th National Family Island Regatta. He re-claimed the C-class title on board the Bul Reg in Elizabeth's, Harbour on Saturday.

The overall championship slipped away from Rolle last year into the hands of Long Island skipper Mark Knowles on board the Beerly Legal. In the previous two years, Georgetown had defended the C-class title. Since the conclusion of the second race last Friday, Rolle who captured two series races, told The Nassau Guardian: "I am confident that we will take our title back and I don't see anyone who can stand in our way."

After the victory over 25 other sloops on Saturday, Rolle told The Nassau Guardian at the awards ceremony: "We did not want to win the third race because that would have been too greedy. We just decided to give the other sloops a chance. Overall, the victory feels great and the hard work really paid off. What I want people to realize is that I could not have won this title by myself. I had a very capable crew behind me who played a big role in the win. It was all about teamwork in this regatta."

Placing second overall in the C-class was Mangrove Bush, Long Island's Sacrifice skippered by Colin Cartwright, third place went to Rolleville, Exuma's Fugitive skippered by Wendell McKenzie, while Blackpoint, Exuma's Crazy Partner skippered by Gerard Moxey ended up fourth, and Exuma's Chaser skippered by Eric Taylor was fifth.

Meanwhile, David Mitchell on board the Blue Wing in the D-class won overall, second place went to Regret skippered by Jack Wright and third place went to Respect skippered by Jamine Lloyd.

In the National Family Island Regatta's Junior National Championship, Bernard Tyler Knowles on the Beerly Legal took first place.

"I feel as if all of the hard work that I put in is finally paying off. I placed second last year at this regatta but I did much better this time around. OveralI, I am very impressed with myself and crew. I hope to do the same thing in Long Island too," noted the NGM Major seventh grader.

The Minister of Education, Youth, Sports and Culture, the Hon. Carl Bethel, congratulated all of the participating sailors and thanked them for helping to contribute to the island's economy.