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

It appears that the Minister of Education, Youth, Sports and Culture, the Hon. Carl Bethel, and the Member of Parliament for Exuma, Anthony Moss, are split on the decision to rename Elizabeth's Harbour, located in Georgetown, Exuma, to Captain Rolly 'Grand Master' Gray Harbour.

Moss, who spoke with The Nassau Guardian at the regatta last week, said: "I told some of Gray's crew at the funeral service that I had expected for him to win the overall A-class title this year. There has been a cry for the harbour to be renamed in his (Gray) honor, so what we have done in Exuma is have the head of local government for the various townships distribute petitions for people to sign in support of this move. I have already mentioned it to the Minister of State with responsibility for Sports (Byran Woodside) and they are anxiously awaiting the petition."

Meanwhile, Minister Bethel has taken a more broad approach on the issue.

He said: "The National Family Island Regatta Committee was somewhat conflicted this year because they are honoring Lundy Robinson. However, it is impossible to have a regatta under these circumstances so close to Rolly's passing and not also give him recognition, so we are going to find a way to commemorate all of those skippers such as Lundy Robinson, Gray and Moxey who have made regattas such an important part of the cultural dimension of this country.

"I know a lot of people have been pushing for the renaming of the harbour but as of late, we in this country have become too fixated on naming things after people. While that is good and positive, we should not run around trying to name or rename things after people based on emotion. We need to have a mature dialogue collectively and consider how to include everybody in a certain process so that others who have contributed equally don't feel left out. This is a part of our ongoing debate," explained Bethel.

Out of the thousands of locals, and international tourists, who attended the 55th National Family Island Regatta last week, it was estimated that less than a quarter of them actually watched the races. Nonetheless, most of the tourists were familiar with Staniel Cay, Exuma native, the late captain Rolly 'Grand Master' Gray's sloop sailing prowess.

Many of Gray's supporters dawned his memorial T-shirts throughout the week, and this was indicative of those who knew of Gray's legacy. In this regard, those who were unfamiliar (most likely the international tourists) with Gray's contribution to sloop sailing, would have at least had a general understanding by week's end. Gray's presence was felt even more when his A-class sloop, Tide Wave, skippered by his protégé, Brooks Miller, won the overall championship. In this light, the vote for Elizabeth's Harbour to be renamed Rolly Gray Harbour continues to be pushed to the forefront within the sloop sailing community and Exuma.

Popular and seasoned skipper Clyde Rolle put it bluntly at the Valentine's Day Regatta, held in honor of the late Captain Hezron 'White Head' Moxey, in February. He said: " We are no longer supposed to be under the rule of Queen Elizabeth of Great Britain, so it would be fitting to rename that harbour after Gray. He also won the first National Family Island Regatta there and went on to win many more."

Even Sir Durward Knowles endorsed renaming the harbour, the 'Rolly Gray Harbour' at the memorial which was held in New Providence. He said: "Rolly was the 'Grand Master' and in my sailing endeavors, I was the 'Sea Wolf'. We had a lot in common and it is a relationship which I will never forget. I hope we go on to sail many regattas in his honor and also rename Elizabeth's Harbour in his name. So, Woodside take note," he exclaimed.

Boat owner Stafford Armbrister suggested a more plausible means to appease all. He said: "Just rename the harbour 'Bahamian Sailors' or 'Sloop Sailors' Harbour, which would encompass everyone. Then, they can always build a monument near the harbour and list all of the winning skippers on it."

The next event on the 2008 sloop sailing calendar is the Mangrove Cay Regatta set for Mangrove Cay, Andros from May 8-12.