“Spectacular 16’s” led traditional harbour regatta
Each year since its inception in 1998 La Ruta Maya Belize River Challenge has captured an increasing share of the public’s imagination–and attendance–over the ninth of March weekend. So much so that, barring a miracle, the traditional Belize Harbour Regatta is dead in the water. But before high-tech Kevlar canoes raced down the Belize River, there were lovingly crafted wooden dories sailing in the Caribbean Sea. In 1988, the television show “Belize all Over” profiled the “spectacular 16’s” and the men who manned them. Silvana Woods reports.
Silvana Woods, Reporting
“Sailing used to be a way to transport goods and people up and down the coast and along Belize’s many rivers and lagoons. Today, although sailboats are used for fishing and for hauling sand, sailing is primarily a weekend and holiday sport. And nowhere is the competition more keen than on the ninth of March in a sailing dory as we’re about to find out.”
They’re called the spectacular 16’s. Sixteen feet long and no more than forty inches wide, these cranky crafts are as exciting to sail as any boat afloat. So exciting in fact, that they even provoke controversy on dry land.
Man talking to crowd
“This dory has won the most race in the country of Belize. “Elma B” has win the most race, the most first and the most second in the whole country of Belize. I telling the truth or I lie?”
George Brown and his father Todd Brown have been racing dories for as long as they can remember. They’re dory “Elma B” is the oldest boat taking part in this year’s competition. Though Hurricane Hattie broke her up into thirteen pieces in 1961, she was painstakingly rebuilt and captured first place as recently as Baron Bliss Day 1985.
George Brown
“I have been sailing the “Elma B” since 1949 when she was built. I was only about five years at that time; I’ve been in it since. In fact, she has only failed to complete one Sunday throughout her lifetime.”
Silvana Woods
“Your friend and competitor Eckert Lewis, also is entering two boats in this year’s races, that’s the “Samantha” and the “Gilda J”. What are your chances of winning?”
Eckert Lewis
“My chances are as usual, a winner.”
For Eckert Lewis, an architect by profession, the design and building of a sailing dory, is a tradition which takes on almost mystical dimensions.
Eckert Lewis
“As a man, going into the bush, finding a tree, a large tree, using an axe, cutting down this tree. And in his own conception says, I will put into this piece of wood certainly elements, which will make it perform in a certain way. He is an artists and he does that.”
Although the designer and the builder create the dory, it is left up to the crew to rig and to sail her, no mean feat. As Renford Tillett, the captain of “Martin L” tells it, the most important factor in winning is no much the build of the dory, as the type of sailing being done.
Renford Tillett, Captain “Martin L”
“Well there’s two kinds of ways. If you di sail in a slow dory, we can’t look fast. And if you’re not a good captain and you di sail in a fast dory, yuh look bad. So you have to depend pan yuh skill a sailing.”
Silvana Woods
“How long have you been sailing, and what got you interested in it?”
Renford Tillett
“I di sail fi bout eight years now. That dah the only sport I have, sailing, and I love sailing.”
Silvana Woods
“Have you sailed anything other than the dory?”
Renford Tillett
“Well we sail different boats and so, but my interest is the dories.”
Silvana Woods
“Why?”
Renford Tillett
“Yuh get more thrills in the dories.”
The great thrill is of course the thrill that come when yuh “heng kingdola.” Along with a captain, each dory sails with a first kingdola and a second kingdola man.
Kent Meyers was the first kingdola man for the “Gold-Finch”, Dean Lindo’s dory, which was this year’s defending champ. Like all the other crewmen, Kent has a love affair with dory racing.
Kent Meyers
“I love it and I feel great to know that I am the champion and expect to retire my championship I don’t know when. I just like it.”
Silvana Woods
And you’re the second kingdola man. I know the first kingdola man is the one who gets all the advertisement and popularity, but what do you do to help him?”
Second Kingdola Man, “Gold-Finch”
“Well I’m the second kingdola man and I play a great role. I got to pull the jib and I got to tend to the strap when the breeze is hard, and help bail out the dory and keep it dry.”
Silvana Woods
“Have you ever had an incident where the first kingdola man has not been able to run the course and you have had to take over?”
Second Kingdola Man
“Man times, depends on the speed the dory is going at. On the high waves, they just keep soft the dory and I take his take.”
Silvana Woods
“How do you feel when you’re in this sling out there hanging on the side of the dory?”
Second Kingdola Man
“It feels nice because it’s fun and the fun of it, you get the sport out of the fun of henging.”
Silvana Woods
“How long have you been a kingdola man?”
Second Kingdola Man
“For at least five years.”
Silvana Woods
“And what are your chances of winning on the “Gold-Finch”?
Second Kingdola Man
“I do it last year and I believe I’ll do it this year.”
But it was not to be, at least not this ninth of March at the Belize City Harbour Regatta. In the dying afternoon breeze, captain and kingdola men raced the triangular course around Fort Point, but there could only be one winner. It was Dean Lindo’s “Martin L”, which clearly took the winner’s trophy as she passed the red flag.
But the end of the race was only the beginning of my own love affair with sailing, next year you guys better watch out
