My photo of A-Class sloop Tida Wave from the island of Staniel Cay hangs on the wall at Sailor’s Choice. When her crew come to eat, they see themselves surfing down the waves.
Sailor’s Choice Restaurant & Bar Opens in Nassau Stop by to hang out and eat and drink with Bahamian Wooden Sloop Sailors and Owners Article and Photos by Jan Pehrson except as noted.
I
n Tthe Bahamas, friends and family are important. VERY IMPORTANT! Families have traditionally been large, so most Bahamians enjoy networks of first family, extended family, cousins, and friends. Realizing this, when proprietor Deno Albury reopened
Showroom Now Open by Appointment in Saint Petersburg, FL Up to 600 lbs. Capacity 120 Walled 316 Stainless Steel Several Sizes Available Universal Mounting Easily Rotate or Remove Integrated Cleats 2-Year Warranty
Premium Davits at a Reasonable Price… 26
April 2020 S O U T H W I N D S
Martekdavits.com 727-826-0814
his family-owned waterfront restaurant at 307 East Bay St, Nassau, he chose a theme of community. Deno knows that there is no better way to experience Bahamian communityin-action than go to a sailing regatta, a social event and competition not to be missed. Sloop regattas started officially in 1954, when a small group of Bahamian and American yachtsmen conceived the idea of holding races for the Bahamian working sailing craft during the off-season when they were not being used for fishing and transportation. These early regattas morphed into the exciting, extreme, crowd-pleasing sloop racing of today. Bahamian wooden sloop sailing is about cousins and friends from one island racing their cousins and friends from another island for prize money and fun. A-Class sloops, the largest class, are 28 feet long with long, overhanging booms and 60-plus feet masts. In windy conditions, they are way-overpowered and sailed with crews of as many as 15 people. Community-in-action! Precariously balanced on pry boards, hiked-out crews balance the sloops’ huge billowing sails.
www.southwindsmagazine.com
