Regatta Primer: The Bahamas’ National Sailing Championship
The 69th National Family Island Regatta takes place April 22–26, 2025, in Elizabeth Harbour, George Town, Great Exuma, Bahamas.
(Pro Tip: Regatta is always the last full week of April—unless Easter falls during that time.)
Staniel Cay Has Regatta Fever!
Around the world, regattas—sailboat races—are held in various forms, and the Bahamas is no exception. But here, when we say “Regatta,” we’re talking about the Regatta: the National Family Island Regatta in George Town, just down the Exuma chain from Staniel Cay on “mainland” Exuma. This event is the crown jewel of Bahamian sailing, the country’s official national sport—a title that until recently belonged to cricket, believe it or not!
Like any high-profile sport, Bahamian sloop racing is fiercely competitive and a source of immense local pride. The sailboats are traditional wooden sloops and must be Bahamian-made, Bahamian-owned and (mostly) Bahamian-sailed. In the largest “A-Class,” each boat is approximately 28 feet long with a towering 60-foot mast, huge 36 foot boom, and a 7 foot draw (draft). The boats harken back to the “smack” boats of Bahamian fishermen, and they carry tradition and honor along with the thrill of sport.
The inside of the hull is mostly empty and is also where the crew stores lead ballast. The moveable ballast allows the crew to add or remove weight as needed before each race. The heavy lead bars weigh 44 - 85 pounds each! Additionally, the sailors themselves serve as ballast! Two wooden planks—the pry boards—lie across the width of the boat and slide from side to side. The crew pile up on the pry to add weight to the opposite side as the strength of the wind in the massive sail pushes the boat on a hard lean. This is one of the most exciting parts of Bahamian sloop racing!
It’s exhilarating, skillful, and unlike any other sailing competition in the world—and a breathtaking sight. These traditional Bahamian sloops are so beautiful – for their clean lines and sail-filled grace, as well as for the hard work and decades of tradition that go into building, maintaining and racing them.
Staniel Cay’s Rich Sailing Tradition
Bahamian sloops are more than just racing vessels; they’re symbols of dedication, hard work, and cultural heritage. Staniel Cay has a strong tradition of boat-building, skilled craftsmanship, knowledgeable sailors, brilliant racers, legendary skippers, and championship boats and crews.
The races are divided into different classes based on boat size, with the “A-Class” being the largest and most prestigious. For decades, Staniel Cay has boasted two beloved champion A-Class sloops: Tida Wave and Lady Muriel.
This year, our very own Tida Wave #16 will be representing Staniel Cay at Regatta again. Tida Wave boasts more national championships than any other A-Class boat in the Bahamas!
Tida Wave has been getting ready for Regatta! If you follow us on Instagram @stanielcay.life (don’t forget the dot before life!), you will have seen photo and video progression of the sailboat’s Regatta prep:
March 3: Freight barge uses crane to remove Tida Wave’s massive mast, boom and pry boards.
March 8: Human assembly line offloads the heavy lead ballast.
March 14: Tida Wave is brought ashore.
March 22: The fellas used some muscle to "stand up" Tida Wave so she is in position for a fresh paint job.
All sailboat work or maintenance takes place in the local boatyard, right on the water’s edge in the Village. With a beautiful backdrop of the turquoise water and stunning sunsets, the sailors gather to work on the boat, chatter and trash talk, grill out and drink beer, often joined by the community and passers-by.
Some of my fondest memories are of the Staniel Cay boatyard, watching as a local sloop was stripped down to its bones and completely re-planked by hand. These boats are a labor of love, and the entire community takes pride in seeing them look their best as they skim the water and perform their best to represent Staniel Cay throughout the Bahamas.
The Regatta Experience
What’s next? Tida Wave received her fresh coat of paint and was re-launched into the water. Crew reloaded the lead ballast into precise positions in the hull, and coordinated schedules for crane assistance to reset the mast. Then, on a beautiful Saturday afternoon, the crew "tried out” (practiced). She looked glorious! It is truly a sight to behold - and they weren’t even fully crewed.
Having monitored marine weather closely for a good weather window, some of the crew left at 5:00am today by moonlight - in a local trawler with Tida Wave in tow along with the chase boat trailing behind on another tow line. After a nearly full-day journey to George Town on mainland Exuma, they safely arrived, and secured Tida Wave to her mooring. As I type, the sailors have just gone ashore for a celebratory beer at Regatta site! In the coming days they will complete rigging and finish getting her race-ready.
And then, it’s go-time! The Race Committee fires the start gun for an exhilarating anchored start, as sailors scramble to hoist the spectacular sails and launch into action. I’ll be following in Tida Wave’s “chase boat” which assists with last-minute boat adjustments, transporting crew on/off the sailboat (remember human weight adjustments!), setting the anchor at the start line and being available for anything unexpected. While the chase boat is primarily there for support, it also offers an unbeatable, up-close view of the action!
I won’t attempt to describe the rules—I’d surely miss something! If you’re a true boater looking for the technical descriptions, drop me an email, and I’ll point you to the official Regatta rules. But for me and many others, Regatta is about the sheer thrill of the experience and the unmatched community spirit that accompanies it.
Regatta draws thousands of Bahamians and visitors worldwide every April. “Regatta Site” is full of “stalls” serving delicious Bahamian food and cold drinks. At the center of the action is a large stage for musical acts and the Awards Ceremony with dignitaries from the highest levels of government. Bahamian marching bands add to the pulsing excitement.
Regatta is also a wonderful reunion of sailors and friends from all over, a homecoming of sorts. The competition is fierce, but there are deep connections between the different islands and their sailboats. You will often hear it said, “On land, we friends.” But once on the water, the battle begins to bring home the coveted trophies, prestige and bragging rights!
Want more?
As Regatta approaches, anticipation is sky-high. If this little primer has piqued your interest, stay tuned—there’s plenty more to come!
Keep an eye on our Instagram Stories for daily developments and exciting video captures of the action in real time!
If you miss any stories, see our Regatta Highlights reel button on our Instagram profile .
Watch the races LIVE on YouTube, Facebook, and the NFIR app. Also, note that the daily race schedule will be published but may fluctuate with the weather and tides.
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