Left to right: Joseph Darville, GBSY Workforce Development Director; Ed Pavey, Director of Technical & Planning at the GBSL; also Tournament Chairman; to his left: Lee Wallace, General Manager, Freepoint Tug and Towing Service. Photo: Yasmin Popescu

Grand Bahama, The Bahamas - A great day of fishing fun for all in aid of better sporting facilities for a school on Grand Bahama is taking place this month. That is what the Grand Bahama Shipyard with a number of corporate sponsors are offering through the 1st Youth Benefit International Fishing Tournament to be held on May 21st, 2011 at the Xanadu Resort.

Making the announcement on Friday was Mr. Joseph Darville, GB Shipyard's Workforce Development Director, who said they intend for this to be an annual affair and this fundraiser is to help the students and residents of the Eight Mile Rock High School with a Youth Sports Center.

While this time around they hope to raise in the neighbourhood of $30,000 to $40,000, of which they have received donations totaling $25,000 so far, there is no clear indication of the overall cost of the project. Mr. Darville noted that much of the work on the field is being done by volunteers from the various sponsoring companies.

The tournament yields prizes totaling $5000.00 and registration for enthusiastic anglers has a nominal entrance fee. Only four persons are allowed per boat, but the boats can be of any size.

The launch time is 7am with weighing-in taking place between 3 – 5pm. The awards ceremony will take place at 7pm during the fish fry dinner, which begin at 4.

The Overall 1st place winner gets $400 cash and a marine radio and GPS; the 2nd gets $300.00 cash and a depth finder; while the 3rd place winner receives $200.00 cash and a fish finder.


On the Aggregate Catch category, the 1st place winners gets $300, and Penn Reel Offshore Master; the 2nd place winners get $200.00 and a Master Rod; and the 3rd place winners gets $100.00 cash and a GPS.

For Individual Catches, $200 will be awarded too each winner of the Largest Grouper, Largest Snapper, Largest Mahi Mahi, Largest Tuna, Larges King Fish and the Largest Wahoo.

This tournament will also feature a Chidren's Category and individually they can win $100 for Largest Fish, Largest Grouper, Largest Snapper, Largest Mahi Mahi, Largest Tuna and Largest King Fish.

According to tournament committee chairman Mr. Ed Pavey, the day is not just about fishing as it will encourage everyone of all ages to have fun, while taking advantage of a number of activities around the resort. All persons coming to take part or spectate have free use of the resort's facilities. There will be a free water slip-n-slide; free bouncing castle; free face painting; free ice cream by Frank's Ice Cream; free snow cones; and free live band in the afternoon and evening.

For dining there will be hot dogs, hamburgers, chips and soda for a small donation. There will also be a dunking booth for a small donation where management at Shipyard will be sitting in the cage to be dunked.

A raffle for the door prizes, fish fry dinner and cash bar will all be available for a nominal fee / donation.

Registration forms are out already with hopes of getting as many anglers as possible interested and signed up. Deadline for the registration is May 15th.

Lee Wallace of Freepoint Tug & Tow and Dio Vasquez of Verified Services were also present at the press conference for this announcement, and added their companies pledge to this worth cause.

REGISTRATION FORM BELOW: (Completed application forms can be dropped off at the GBSL Security Gate to the attention of Mr. Ed Pavey)