Harbour regatta alive and well
It’s an event synonymous with Baron Bliss Day itself, the Harbour Regatta. And while the organisers have met some stiff competition lately and have been struggling with sponsorship, they have no intention of giving up… In fact, this year’s race promises to be better than ever, and even more accessible to the public.
Jacqueline Woods, Reporting
In honour of Belize’s greatest benefactor, Baron Edward Ernest Victor Bliss, each year a good number of sailing boats and dories take to the water and compete in the Harbour Regatta Race. However, in 1998 the traditional event not only lost some of its popularity, but even its sailors to the fast new growing national past time… La Ruta Maya Canoe Race.
Walter Brown, Member, Harbour Regatta Committee
“We do hope that the Ruta Maya will continue and we wish they do because it’s beneficial to the country. However, we would like them to appreciate that their race should not overtake or compete with the Baron Bliss Harbour Regatta.”
“These boats race almost everyday. They go and they produce sand. They go down the coast, they load sand and they come back. They go every morning and come back every evening. In most cases, they all load almost at the same time, they try. And coming back to Belize City, each boat try to beat the other one here. As you know, they have to go sometimes all the way to Caye Caulker and San Pedro. And they have that rivalry going three sixty-five. Baron Bliss Day is when the dress up and compete for the roses as we would like to say.”
On Monday, a number of sailing lighters and dories will compete in six events. At sometime over the weekend, the boats will be put into the water for a trial run like the William Stella, United, and Radio. The boats, owned by Collet Maheia Junior, have been getting a brush up for the competition.
Edward Flowers, Chairman, Harbour Regatta Committee
“If you look around us, we have three vessels that will be taking part in the Baron Bliss Day Harbour Regatta. They overhaul, paint it, and I can tell you it’s not a little bit of money to do this work for them.”
It is fair to say that the boat owners spend far more money than what is actually awarded to the captains and sailors of their vessels.
On Monday, Leonard Myers will be the captain onboard the sailing dory, Samantha. Myers, who has been sailing for thirty-one years, has competed in both of the country’s boat races. Today, he is fully committed to the Harbour Regatta.
Leonard Myers, Captain, Samantha
“The first time I went in these dories it was a real thrill for me because I was against professionals and it was the first time. I was just trembling, feeling nervous and everything. In the big swells in front of the Fort George Hotel, I couldn’t really manoeuvre myself good. But after that, I calmed down and took the race away from the older captains.”
This year, the Harbour Regatta race will get underway from off the shores of the B.T.L. Park on Newtown Barracks.
Walter Brown
“We have moved from in front of the Fort area because at this time of year it is very rough. And so we have come a little bit north where the waves are not that high.”
“We are going to set a triangular course where the B.T.L. park will most likely be in the centre and the starting boat is going to be anchored somewhere out there. It will be clearly marked, you will hear the gun firing from it at the start of each race, and I think people will be able to enjoy.”
The Harbour Regatta gets underway from eleven a.m. According to Flowers, it costs about ten thousand dollars to put off a good and competitive event. The committee gets approximately three hundred dollars from the Baron Bliss Trust Fund, while the National Sports Council assist with several hundred dollars. It is then up to the committee to find the remaining funds. This year the cash prizes range from two hundred dollars to one thousand dollars including trophies. For those planning to come out to watch the race, there will be drinks and food on sale for the entire family to enjoy.
