The Bahamas Olympic Committee (formerly Bahamas Olympic Association) was formed on 8th May 1952. The impetus for its creation grew from the Bahamian excitement of having two local yachtsmen, Durward Knowles and Sloan Farrington, who had proved themselves as leading Star Class yachtsmen of their day by placing third in the Star Class World's Championships in Havana in 1946, winning the Star Class Spring Championships in the Bahamas in 1947 and medaling at the World's Championship in California the same year.