For the first time in three years, the Lady Nathalie has been caught. Skipper Lundy Robinson and the crew of the Red Stripe sailed past the Lady Nathalie on Sunday to win the Sir Durward Knowles floating trophy, in the 'Catch Me If You Can' race.
This is the first time the trophy, named after Sir Durward, was presented, and it is expected to be the top attraction at all of the major regattas this year. The Lady Nathalie is usually given a significant head start, but boat owner Eleazor 'Barber J' Johnson said a key mistake four meters from the start line caused the sloop and its crew not to recapture its title. The Red Stripe was the first sloop to catch the Lady Nathalie on the 12-mile course, but the Good News won the overall race. The Rupert's Legend out of Mangrove Bush, Long Island, followed those three in fourth.
"Just a few minutes into the race the sail came down," confirmed Johnson. "The crew was able to fix it, but it came down again. We decided that we will fix it and go hard. To me it was a great race. The other sloops sailed good. We had problems, but only two boats caught me."
While Johnson and his skipper for the Lady Nathalie reflected on the mishap suffered on the sea, captain of the Rupert's Legend Tony Knowles said his crew wasn't about to let a broken boom stop them from competing. The accident happened just before the sloop hit the water.
Knowles said: "We asked the race committee to give us a little time after that had happened. We had the appropriate sail and rig on for the win, but it was short notice when we came down here to support Barber J. I am just happy that we were able to sail. We showed the support that we came down here to do. We are always happy to be a part of the camaraderie amongst sailors. The Rupert's Legend will be back. It will be ready and faster than ever for the Long Island and the National Family Island Regatta."
The Long Island Fundraiser Regatta will be held next month, in Long Island. The National Family Island Regatta, is set for April 24-28, in Elizabeth's Harbour, Georgetown, Exuma.
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