SAILING LEGENDS OF LONG ISLAND T By Bianca Major Photographs courtesy of Philip ‘Doc’ Figdore and Bianca Major
he age-old art of sailing – the adventure and thrill of gliding across the open waters; breathing in the crispy, fresh, salty air; inhaling Mother Nature in all her magnificent wonder; appreciating the solitude; “unplugging” from the noise of the world. Bahamian handcrafted wooden sloops, masterpieces of art on water, brings to mind Van Gogh, evolving within its own universe. In the more laid-back Family Islands of The Bahamas, sailing has long since been used as a sport form, and not just a means of transportation, fishing, defence or pure leisurely fun. Long Island is home to the popular sport and pastime of sloop racing. The most anticipated sailing extravaganza of the summer, the annual Long Island Regatta, takes place on the shores of the settlement of Salt Pond, which is the second largest regatta held in The Bahamas, next to George Town, Exuma’s National Family Island Regatta (NFIR).
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up and away
The essence of regatta was birthed out of the love of boat building and friendly boat racing. For the car racing enthusiasts out there, it’s comparable to the NASCAR Cup and the guys who build cars. You can also call it the “Super Bowl” of sailing. Either way, a sloop is going to tack around the buoy to cross the finish line and collect a whole load of prizes, and then some! When speaking of regatta and Long Island, you cannot forget about Exuma— the one and only George Town. The NFIR, which is held annually at Elizabeth Harbour, is where all the excitement happens. Exuma birthed the first known regatta in The Bahamas, with a competitive sailing spirit resonating between the two neighbouring islands; the future anchored in the art of “boat building” and “sport sailing” over the decades and years to come. Traditional handcrafted Bahamian sloops, built by the most talented boat artisans, converge on these islands’ harbours for a few days of fierce competitive sailing.
