Family Island Regatta

The end of April saw the 57th Family Island Regatta take over the Exumas for great days of sailing. The races are sailed in purpose-built versions of traditional Bahamian sloops—over-canvassed boats that stay upright by means of human ballast on prybars. Jed Munroe, skipper of New Courageous won class A and Jeff Gale took the Class B trophy for Dove.
Bimini Bay Helps Kids Go Green
A new educational, eco-movement to teach Bimini’s youth the importance of protecting their island’s environment launched on Thursday, April 22, Earth Day.  Movement organizers Danielle Dunfee and Lucy Lopez, both employees of Bimini Bay Resort outlined the event to students during school hours the preceding day.  Each student was asked to  wear green, collect bottles and round up old auto batteries for the recycle drive.  “Every single student complied with our requests.  We collected 14 auto batteries, more than 6,000 bottles and 15 bags of trash,” said Lucy Lopez.
“Earth Day was an exciting day for Bimini this year, we hope to maintain efforts on conservation and clean-up throughout the year now,” said Danielle Dunfee.

Towing Services Slim in Bahamas

Port Canaveral TowBoatUS operator Jess Cooley announced he has severed his relationship with the company and will no longer provide towing services from the locations in Grand Bahama and Marsh Harbour. Knowles Marine, which provides towing in Freeport, may be able to pick up some slack in the northern Bahamas Contact them on VHF 16. Bradford Marine–Bahamas, based in Freeport, provides towing and repairs throughout the Bahamas, the Turks and Caicos and even south Florida. Captain Mike Stafford manages their towing and salvage operation and maintains a fleet of response vessels to provide the appropriate response in case of an emergency or breakdown. Bradford’s Freeport facility has been through a major renovation. Contact Mike at 242-352-7711 or at mike@bradfordmarinebahamas.com.

Take your Boat for a Ride

Bahamas New Hope Holdings has struck a deal with the new cruise ship Bahamas Celebration to transport small boats on trailers to Freeport, Grand Bahama. The owners of the boats would receive discounted monthly dockage at either marina and be able to use their boats to spend a weekend on Grand Bahamas Island. Round trip transportation from Palm Beach for the boat is $750, and the crew can book overnight accommodations aboard the Celebration, including meals, for $75 each.

Grand Bahama Yacht

Club Litigation Ends

Preben Olesen, chairman/CEO of New Hope Holdings Ltd., announced that a settlement has been reached over the ownership of Grand Bahama Yacht Club. The Freeport property and assets had been in receivership until the process ended April 12, 2010. Olesen, who also owns Port Lucaya Marina, will retain control of GBYC’s marina and all the assets of the company.
“We have already booked several large groups for their summer cruises to Grand Bahama Yacht Club and our nearby Port Lucaya Marina,”said Olesen.“ The new club house and pool bar make ours a perfect setting for these large groups.”