FRED STURRUP, NG Associate Editor, frederick@nasguard.com, frobertsturrup@gmail.com

One of the country's biggest sports/social affairs, the Long Island Regatta, is on for the Labour Day Weekend, June 5-7, and the time period has been cemented in the Ministry of Sports' schedule.

So this year, Salt Pond will be abuzz with sailing and other activities organized by the Long Islanders' Association (LIA). According to Coolidge Cartwright, the association's president, the expectation is as always, that the event will be spectacular "filled with quality competition on the water, the usual interaction with old friends and good old-fashion fun and excitement."

"I advise all those who are interested in being in Long Island for the regatta, to book accommodations early so as not to miss out on the fun," said President Cartwright.

In a recent meeting with the Sports Ministry, it was confirmed that the Labour Day weekend will belong to Long Island. A priority of the Regatta Desk at the ministry is to scheduled the major sailing events in the Family Islands to have the least conflict. The idea is to afford island communities "maximum opportunities" to benefit economically from regattas.

The Long Island Regatta is regarded by many as one of the top three sailing extravaganzas in the country, right up there in the grouping of the National Family Island Regatta in Exuma and the All-Andros/Berry Islands Regatta.

Certainly the sailing tradition is rock-solid in Long Island. Boats like the Running Tide, Rupert's Legend and the Susan Chase are synonymous with high level regatta performances. Names like Rupert Knowles, Lauren Knowles, the late Elijah 'Mack' Knowles, Mark Knowles, the late Roy Harding, Harry Harding, and Levi Gibson add to the legacy of the Long Island Regatta. Long Island is the mecca for boat building and some of the country's finest have contributed to its status in sailing.

One such person is the venerable Edmund Knowles who was one of the founding members of the regatta and the LIA. Today, he is thrilled over "how far the regatta and the association have come over 30-some years."

"When the regatta began, instead of cash we just gave prizes. We formed the committee in 1974 to raise funds for the regatta, and, the association just evolved from that committee. The event has always been a big attraction, held on Whit Monday initially to drive the economy of Long Island. In the very beginning just a few boats from outside the island were involved but we always got a lot of people back home. Then it became one of the country's more popular regattas with a full slate in the A, B, C, D, and E classes.

"The competition has always been very, very keen. The Ragged Island boys, and the fellas from Exuma still remain strong rivals. Ragged Island and Exuma have supported the event 100 percent and the support has grown over the years. I continue to wish those who run the organization well. We turned it over to the younger people and they have been doing a great job in keeping a connection with the people who always supported the event. They have expanded the support," said Edmund Knowles.

Indeed the long Island Regatta is a "must-attend" event for many Bahamians from all over the nation, with cars and living accommodations confirmed in a number of instances from year to year on a guaranteed basis. This year it figures that the regatta will live up to the high expectations of Cartwright and the rest of the organizers.

More so than at any other regatta, pride is on the line for the Long Island sailors and their boats. The Long Islanders are always boastful and hopeful that their boats would do well. It will be no different this year. In Class A, hopes will be pinned on the Running Tide and the Rupert's Legend. In the B Class, the eyes of the natives will be glued to every tack the new Susan Chase and the Pina make.

Regatta weekends are wonderful in the Family Islands. This Labour Day, the focus will be heavily on Long Island. Best wishes to LIA President Cartwright, and his organizing committee.

REGATTA EXCITEMENT: It's expected that there will be lots of excitement in Salt, Pond, Long Island this coming Labour Day weekend, provided by some of the fastest sloops in the country. Boats like those pictured in this file photo will be barged in to compete in the Salt Pond Harbour.