ALL-ABACO REGATTA ASSOCIATION
A Presentation Banquet was held at Abaco Beach Hotel, Marsh Harbour, on Saturday 14th February to complete the first annual All-Abaco Regatta. Guest of Honour was Hon Zhivargo Laing, Minister of Youth, Sports & Community Affairs. A Press Conference was held at Bay View Restaurant, Dundas Town, to launch the second Regatta on Monday 16th February.
The text of the press release was as follows:
Once is surely not enough and even twice I'm not sure you'll see all of our stuff; are words most appropriate to express the excitement and enthusiasm the All Abaco Regatta Committee enjoys, after a very successful Regatta last year and plans for this year's Regatta.
Class A and Class B boats will again vie for the Governor General's Cup race and Prime Minister's Cup race, among others.
Mr Everette Hart, Island Administrator, will continue to serve as Chairman. Mr Preston Cunningham and Mr Jack Thompson, Deputy Administrators, will serve as Deputy Co-ordinators.
This year's Regatta promises to be even more exciting than last. Regatta Executives are all preparing the blueprint for Regatta '98. Committee Members intend to improve on weak areas identified as a result of last year's effort; for instance, the number of stalls will be reduced.
The Planning Committee will also seriously examine ways of involving the youth and children of Abaco in the Regatta Sloop Sailing as suggested by Minster Laing. The mid-term school break (October 29th & 30th) presents a perfect opportunity for the youth segment for Regatta '98.
Our Committee remains open to new ideas and suggestions for a successful Regatta.
Members of the press enquired whether the deficit of almost $17,000 from the1997 Regatta was an embarrassment but Committee Chairman Hart assured them that the matter was in hand but he was unable to give full details. There were people and businesses who wished to remain anonymous. The revenue from the '97 Regatta was $111,432.74 with total expenses of $128,186.80. Mr Hart estimated that some 60% of the Regatta's revenue remained in Abaco and that the total benefit to the island was considerably more.
Radio Abaco complained about the poor accommodation for the island's radio service and suggested ZNS 13, the national TV service, was given preferential treatment in both location and interview opportunities. Radio Abaco was assured that matters in that area would much improved this year.
Abaco Journal pointed out that the youth of the island had not been afforded the opportunity to see a single race during Regatta '97. Jack Thompson said that had been borne in mind when setting the dates for 1998. Abaco Journal also pointed out that the final day of Regatta '98 was Hallowe'en and a committee might be set up to accommodate the Abaco children with a truly memorable 'Trick or Treat' night.
The Nassau Guardian wondered whether the financial target for 1998 would be increased in view of the 1997 deficit. Chairman Hart said the target would be increased to $140,000 for 1998. He was confident that the Regatta that closed the season - the Championship of Regattas - and which Minister Laing had described as the 'best run' in The Bahamas out of sixteen, would be even better and more efficiently run in 1998. He told The Nassau Guardian that package tours and other financial aspects of the Regatta were matters for the private sector to develop. The Nassau Guardian also expressed the hope that the Public Relations officer would do a much better job this year, a matter the other members of the press agreed was a cause of concern.
Commodore Hugh Cottis pointed out that in its first year the All-Abaco Regatta had probably exceeded the finances and attendance of the original and most famous Out Island Regatta of all, that of Exuma. It was easy to see how the All-Abaco Regatta, building upon its in initial success, could become a very special item on the Bahamian calendar.
One thing was certain: the Committee was dedicated to encouraging the youth of Abaco to become involved in the Regatta. A special class for them was to be considered but it was pointed out that the internal politics of Bahamian sloop boat racing made it impossible for the Committee to ensure that all its decisions would be accepted. There was a point on the eve of last year's Regatta when the whole shebang was in danger of not coming off. When the cost of prize money, accommodation, crew subsistence, sailing money, meals, vessel towing and trophies was totalled, it constituted the major part of expenses. It would be very hard, Chairman Hart noted, to economise on that part of the programme. He also mentioned that Bishop Clifford Henfield saved the whole Regatta from disaster by installing conveniences in emergency circumstances after the Regatta was under way.
One thing was certain: the first Regatta was a resounding success. The next would be even better.
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