By BRENT STUBBS

Senior Sports Reporter

bstubbs@tribunemedia.net

WHEN the Star Sailors League came to the Bahamas last year, they forged a relationship with the local sailing community and now they are looking forward to putting on a mega sailing event in Montagu Bay called the Best of the Best Sloop Sailing Regatta.

The event is scheduled for November 26 to December 5.

“After they got an opportunity to sail our sloops, they decided that they want to make it an annual event in the Bahamas,” said Rev Dr Philip McPhee, the consultant at the Ministry of Agriculture and Marine Resources.

“This year, they came up with a plan on how they would want the Best of the Best to take place. That was important because immediately, our Minister, V Alfred Gray and our permanent secretary, Renee Glinton, myself and the Regatta Desk, got together with them and we liaisoned over the year and came up with a plan for that event.”

McPhee said they agreed to use the criteria of allowing only those sloops in the A, B and C Classes who have won a regatta during the course of the year to be able to compete in the Best of the Best Regatta.

So far, all of the boats have been selected for both the A and B Classes, but McPhee said they will complete the final two spots for the C Class at the end of the Rock Sound Regatta that will take place in Eleuthera this weekend.

Qualified for the A Class are the Running Tide, Courageous, Lady Muriel, Tida Wave and the Red Stripe.

McPhee said they are the top five boats in their class in the Bahamas and they will get an opportunity to determine who is the best in their class.

Jeb Munroe, representing the Courageous, said they have one thing in mind and that is to win the title.

“I can take you one thing. Everybody can expect the unexpected,” he said. “They all know what to expect, but they can expect the unexpected. I feel good. All the hope and pray for is the good Lord will send down some breeze and we’re taking it from there. Brooks Miller, Steve Smith, Stefan Knowles, Lundy Robinson, you better come ready because the Courageous will be ready.”

As for the B Class, Susan Chase, the Barbarian, Queen Drucilla and Ants Nest have earned the rights to compete in the Best of the Best Regatta. McPhee said they would look at the possibility of adding one more boat following the Harbour Island Regatta in October.

In the C Class, the excitement is starting to brew with a total of 10 boats scheduled to compete. So far, there are a total of eight boats that have already booked their spot in the Best of the Best Regatta.

When the regatta takes place, McPhee said only three boats in each class will compete in the final for the coveted trophies that will be presented to the eventual winners.

“We will drop two boats in the A Class, two in the B Class and seven of the C Class,” McPhee said. “The finals will only be between three boats in each class.”

As an added incentive, all of the sailors from the SSL will get an opportunity to sail in the other C Class boats that will not be a part of the final.

“The prizes are very good, some of the best prizes that we have had in the history of sailing,” he said. “It is going to be ran by professionals. It’s a regatta that we are placing a lot of emphasis on because we want to let the world know that we are capable of having professional races in the Bahamas.”

McPhee stressed that the Best of the Best Regatta has certainly brought the local sailing community closer together and they hope to improve on some of the things that have hindered the sport in the past, including establishing their own Regatta House where they can meet on a frequent basis to discuss the affairs of the sport.

“This is a new day in sailing,” McPhee stated. “The younger sailors are making more of impact and the elderly ones are standing around and giving directions so that we can accomplish much of what we want to do.”

With just about every island that host a regatta being represented, McPhee said the Best of the Best Regatta is going to take on a mini Bahamas Games concept and they are looking forward to interacting with the SSL.”

The SSL is bringing in sailors from all over the world as they participate as well in the final of their sailing competition for the year to determine their overall champions.

All of the races will be streamed live around the world. While there will be a number of international entertainers coming in, McPhee said they are also planning to host a Church service for all of the local and international competitors to participate in.