Sloop sailing documentary premieres

“See How The Main Sail Sets” - a 90-minute documentary about sloop sailing in The Bahamas recently premiered at Fusion Superplex.

The documentary, created by filmmaker Charlie Smith, AKA Charlie Bahama, and executive producers Fred Munnings, Nadir Hasan, and National Family Island Regatta Commodore Danny Strachan examines both the history of regatta and the development of the family islands.

For over a year, producers along with the Movi Group travelled throughout the Family Islands where boatbuilding is prominent in Abaco, Andros, Exuma, Long Island and New Providence.

“This started before I came on board. Strachan, Hasan and Munnings asked me to come on board to direct the film,”

Mr Smith said.

“This was really a collaboration with the entire committee and a labour of love. Regatta is like Junkanoo. It’s not about the money. It is about the love of sailing. They eat, sleep and dream it. And when I was thinking about the direction and which way I wanted to go, all I had to do was dream it,” he said.

Mr Smith said it is important for people to know the history and background behind regatta.

“This was even done for our archives. This is why the committee wanted to do it. They wanted people to know about it going back to when the Lucayans were here. It is more than just academic. The beauty of sailing was something I made sure is there. We couldn’t do everything, but we did manage to marry history with stories.”

Mr Munnings added: “I’m sure that Bahamians know that these work boats were used to connect the islands whether it was for communication purposes, distribution of food, or traveling throughout settlements and islands. So, this film is really about the development of Bahamians.

“We did interviews from the perspective of the sailors, who speak about a unique style of sailing that is found only in The Bahamas. From that perspective, these boats were more than just regatta racing boats – they were the lifeline of the country more than 60 years ago.”

The documentary is the brainchild of Mr Strachan, who has been commodore for three decades. He said he was delighted that the documentary was completed.

“The regatta has been around since 1954 and there has not been any historic document of what the regatta is all about and so we are cataloguing the history of regattas from that time. When we conceived the idea, we thought that it should be a learning tool for all over The Bahamas and since the government is moving to make sailing the national sport of The Bahamas, we want to make sure that it gets in all schools all over The Bahamas,” he said.

SCENES from the premiere of the documentary, with guests including Governor General CA Smith, Dame Marguerite Pindling and Deputy Prime Minister Chester Cooper.

“Historian Dr Christopher Curry’s research and script writing of the documentary and narrator Philip A Smith’s eloquence were the basic auditory elements of the documentary,” said Mr Hasan. “Our team’s successful completion of the documentary would have been very difficult without Dr Curry’s and Philip Smith’s unique insights, continuous inputs and critical contributions.”

Minister of Agriculture, Marine Resources and Family Island Affairs Clay Sweeting said it was important for the ministry, which is responsible for regattas to support the film.

“We looked at how regattas and sailing encapsulate us as a people – whether it is through the culture or land activities.

“What is wonderful about this is that the team was able to travel throughout The Bahamas to capture the essence of what sailing and regattas mean not just to the sailors but also to everyone in the Family Islands.

“So, I think it is important for us as a government and as a ministry to ensure that we support our culture, the sport – as we announce that it is the national sport – that this is only the start of what we will do as a ministry as we expand it to schools throughout our country.”

Mr Smith said he wants to take this film internationally.

“We want to take the beauty and the culture of The Bahamas internationally. We will probably edit it down a little bit for international, but we are going to go to Fort Lauderdale Film Festival, but we are going to go to a lot of boating and water-themed film festivals around the world,” he said.

Sponsors of the film include the Ministry of Agriculture, Marine Resources and Family Island Affairs; the Ministry of Tourism, Investments and Aviation; Allen Exploration; Campbell Shipping; Commonwealth Bank; Caribbean Bottling Company; the Grand Bahama Port Authority; John and Susan Lawrence; Exuma Foundation of Canada; Breezes Superclubs; Peace and Plenty Resort and Bahamas Local.

Numerous dignitaries attended the event including Governor General Sir Cornelius A Smith; former Governor General Dame Marguerite Pindling; Deputy Prime Minister Chester Cooper; Minister of Agriculture, Marine Resources and Family Island Affairs Clay Sweeting; former Prime Minister Hubert Ingraham and his wife Delores Ingraham, cabinet ministers and members of Parliament.