| In the year 1954, Great Exuma welcomed its very first | | | | course in the first Out Island Regatta, held here over |
| Regatta. Although the race's first participants appeared | | | | the weekend. |
| to be amateurs, the rules were established, and the | | | | Most of the boats never before raced and confusion |
| competitors proved their worthiness. Since then, the | | | | reigned supreme in all quarters as the first part of the |
| Regatta has become an annual event, and one of the | | | | race got off to a slow start Friday afternoon. The |
| island's most popular activities. It is now called The | | | | scramble of sloops, smacks and one patchwork-sailed |
| National Family Island Regatta. | | | | schooner finally unwound and continued its colourful |
| The following three articles were written by Robert | | | | course over the 14-mile run. |
| Keir who attended the onset of Great Exuma's first | | | | While the bigger craft, divided into two classes, |
| Regatta. His account of the island's first organized | | | | lumbered off into Exuma harbour. 30 smaller and |
| boating competition is detailed, and well-describes the | | | | speedier dinghies formed a breathtaking sight as they |
| weather conditions, the exciting atmosphere of that | | | | started their three-mile jaunt. |
| weekend, as well as the race, its participants and its | | | | The shores and the Government Dock were lined with |
| winners. He comments on how this relatively small | | | | crowds of enthusiastic spectators. Out in the harbour, |
| event has played an important role in placing Great | | | | either following the fleet or anchored in full view of the |
| Exuma on the world's list of sun and fun destinations. | | | | races, were close to 40 visiting yachts. |
| Today, the Regatta--open only to sailboats that are | | | | Many of the visiting yachtsmen were astounded by |
| "designed, built, owned, skippered and crewed by | | | | the agility with which the natives handled their craft. |
| Bahamians"--has evolved into one of The Bahamas' | | | | While standard rules of racing were unknown, many |
| famous attractions. | | | | contestants ran the course like seasoned veterans. |
| March 26, 1954 | | | | Copping first place in the larger class was the 22-foot |
| George Town, Exuma - A snappy southeast wind at | | | | sloop Marie, owned and sailed by Nathaniel Cooper |
| 15 miles, combined with a clear blue sky and a warm | | | | from Staniel Cay, Exuma. Harley L. Fox's Edna K. from |
| sun to make conditions inside Exuma Harbour ideal for | | | | Salt Pond, Long Island, finished second, while third place |
| the first Out Island Regatta which got under way here | | | | went to Swan, owned by Nathan Bethel, of |
| Friday afternoon. | | | | Williamstown, Little Exuma. Finishing fourth was Gold |
| However, the weather outside the harbour was not as | | | | River, sailed by Sherwin Gray, also of Williamstown. |
| favourable and had not been so for the past few | | | | Alert, owned by I.D. McPhee. of Mangrove Bay. |
| days. In many instances native work boats and visiting | | | | Andros, placed second in the overall race, but took first |
| yachts alike were forced to take shelter in the | | | | place in the intermediate group. She was followed by |
| numerous inlets of the Exuma Cays. | | | | Ego, Hegron Moxey, Ragged Island; Kathrine L., |
| Since early in the week, boats have been arriving at | | | | Eustace Jacak Longley, Mangrove, and Airenas, |
| George Town. By noon, Friday, it was estimated there | | | | Clarence Sands, Staniard Creek, Andros. |
| were between 80 and 100 boats of every description | | | | Following the first run Friday, the race committee |
| anchored in the harbour. | | | | worked well into the night to determine the winners. |
| The original entry list showed that 67 boats had | | | | The handicaps for the large class were worked out |
| registered but, before noon, four more were added. | | | | by R.H. Symonette, M.H.A,, member of the committee. |
| Reports here that several others were en route but | | | | Others on the committee were J. Linton Rigg, |
| had been held up by heavy seas. | | | | chairman; Commissioner D.H. Burrows, Campen Heilner, |
| J. Linton Rigg, originator of the race and chairman of | | | | Donald MacKinney, M.H.A., Ward Wheekock and Bud |
| the committee, made the late announcement that the | | | | Mulloy. |
| starting time had been extended an hour and the first | | | | March 27, 1954 |
| race would be started at two o'clock. Despite this, | | | | George Town, Exuma - This tiny settlement of 330 |
| some ships did not arrive in time to participate in the | | | | has more than doubled its population over the |
| race. | | | | weekend as yachtsmen and racing enthusiasts |
| A short time later, the committee changed the race | | | | continued to arrive by air and sea for the first Out |
| course and the run was held inside the harbour instead | | | | Island Regatta. |
| of around Stocking Island as originally planned. This | | | | As the regatta got into full swing in Exuma Harbour, |
| kept the smaller craft out of the rough waters of the | | | | the townspeople made ready for the first visit His the |
| open ocean. | | | | Governor, the Earl of Ranfurly made here. The |
| At noon, a special meeting was held in the parade | | | | Governor and his party arrived Saturday morning |
| grounds where the race committee set forth the rules | | | | aboard H.M.S. Cygnet after a tour of the southern |
| and the revised course. There was some dissension | | | | Bahamas. |
| among the skippers over the rules. In light of this, it was | | | | Lord Ranfurly was given a regal reception as he |
| decided to handicap the boats on the basis of eight | | | | stepped ashore at Government Dock at noon. An |
| seconds per mile, per keel footage. | | | | inspection of the settlement followed after which the |
| The first race, over a four-mile triangular course, | | | | Governor watched the last major races in the regatta. |
| combined large and intermediate-class work boats. It | | | | In the evening, he made presentations to the regatta |
| commenced at 2 p.m., followed ten minutes later by | | | | victors. |
| the dinghy boat race. The latter course was a | | | | Prior to the ceremonies, the captains and their crews |
| three-mile run inside the harbour. Saturday, the same | | | | were treated to a free picnic supper in the parade |
| courses were run twice again. | | | | grounds. Following the presentations, the gala festivities |
| The winner in each event will be selected on a point | | | | began with a big celebration and dance. A native |
| system with ten for first, six for second, four for third | | | | calypso band which was to arrive from Bimini was |
| and two for fourth. | | | | unable to be present. |
| First prize in each class is 100 pounds with 50 pounds | | | | Among those who met the Governor were Donald |
| for second, 25 pounds for third and 10 pounds for | | | | McKinney, M.H.A., and R.H. Symonette, M.H.A.,Members |
| fourth. In addition, special prizes will be awarded in a | | | | for Exuma, J.Linton Rigg, chairman of the race |
| variety of dinghy races. | | | | committee, Commissioner D.H. Burrows of Exuma, and |
| March 27, 1954 | | | | Bahamas Police Commissioner R.J. Verrall. |
| George Town, Exuma - One of the last and most | | | | Special church services were held for all in attendance |
| picturesque sailing fleets in the world today carried its | | | | on Sunday morning. |
| competition from the fishing grounds to the race | | | | |