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Last Updated: Apr 29, 2017 - 4:10:29 PM |
EXUMA, The Bahamas – Arlette and Phillip Figdore absolutely love the islands of The Bahamas, but they are in love with Long Island and Exuma.
Here in George Town for their fifth National Family Island Regatta, the Figdores, better known as Mrs. Fig and Doc Fig, originate from York, Pennsylvania.
They are amazed by the configuration and relationship of the sloops that sail in Elizabeth Harbour during the yearly traditional competition.
“It’s such a unique relationship; the mast, the size of the main, how fast they go, the fact that they come from a historical perspective of a working class boat is just so awesome. It is not the high tech like we have the US Americas Cup with more electronics than ever. Here, it’s mind, nature and the boat building too,” said Mrs. Fig.
“It’s just amazing! I just appreciate the cut of a jib and how they sail. Every day is different. The blue skies, the aqua water, [the direction] from where the wind comes, how heavy the winds are, how well your crew members are, it’s just fun.”
Doc Fig, a boater, and Mrs. Fig, a snorkeler, are water babies and used to race 18ft high performance day boats in Lake Houston after graduate school.
Priorities shifted and when it was time for a getaway from their farm 120-acre farm in York County, Pennsylvania they planned a vacation around the Long Island Regatta and got hooked.
“Being boat fans we thought we would love it, not only did we love it, we melted into the landscape,” said Mrs. Fig.
Because of their passion for boats and the Long Island experience, they were advised to go to Exuma.
Their research led them to the National Family Island Regatta in Exuma. One visit to Nancy Bottomely at Regatta Point in George Town was not enough. It’s been their home here in Exuma ever since.
“We’ve become so very respectful. Yes, the boats bring us here and the people, [but] it’s an overall eco-environmental, God’s place in paradise thing. There is something here for everyone,” said Mrs. Fig.
“We have not missed a year. We either front end or back end a trip to Exuma for an extra week to do something different, then we go to Long Island. We loved Stocking Island and Little Exuma. You can walk from one beach to another and it is different in terms of the sand, the shells and the green habitat.”
The Figdores have become benefactors for the island of Exuma and support the island in more ways than one.
“This is a melting of different pots,” said Mrs. Fig. “You cannot always rely on the government because that puts a burden on other human services. You cannot always rely on our corporate sponsors because there are good and bad years for them and pockets are only so deep. As a fundraiser it is so easy to ask about something you are passionate about and you find other people that are passionate or you tell them the story about why they should be passionate and write grants etc. I invite them to come here and if they like it, then I ask them to give. My next stop was the Exuma Foundation,” said Mrs. Fig.
She hopes to become more involved with Exuma and the choices the island makes its services including mothers, children and the Resource Centre for teachers.
Having become so much a part of the Long Island community the Figdores agreed to take in a boy from that island during his two years of college in Pennsylvania.
“It was our delight to sponsor him. He wooed his faculty and teachers who spoke highly of his work ethics. He was a pleasure to have. He is now in his last year and working on an internship. It is beautiful to see how he has blossomed.”
Although the couple loves the farm, the long term goal is to put it on the market and relocate to Long Island.
“I swam with the turtles here. It was surreal. It was a blessing. We have “Bahamian family” from Mayaguana. I would like to go there and I must see a flamingo.
“We love The Bahamas. You are a wonderful people. Oh so welcoming! Oh so friendly! If each and every one would have an opportunity to meet a Bahamian we would be so much better. It has to do with accepting you as a fellow child of God, the talents, the beauties, the respect, the sorrows and the joys that we share. We have lived in New York, travelled all around. I have never met people like this. On my Facebook page I have more Bahamian “family” than I do flesh and blood and I enjoy them.
“We’ll keep coming back until the good Lord takes us to our other home,” said Mrs Fig.
© Copyright 2017 by thebahamasweekly.com
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