The announcement and cocktail reception for the presentation of the new Trophy to Sir Durward in honour of his life and sailing times, was held at the Palm Cay Marina Club House on the Eastern Road with many well known boat owners, boat captains and industry stalwarts to witness the event. Palm Cay CEO Richard Browning presented the new trophy to Sir Durward’s son, Randy Knowles, saying it was his honour to do so and that Palm Cay was proud to be the originator of a sailing trophy bearing Sir Durward’s name.   

Its  first public presentation along with a cash prize will be to the winner of the, ‘Catch Me If You Can’ St. Valentine’s Regatta race on Sunday February 19th at the Montague foreshore, Nassau.  And for the first time, if the Class 'B' boat is  not caught by the Class 'A' boats,  Eleazor 'Barber' J Johnson and his Lady Nathalie will get a $1,000 cash prize and the first annual floating, 'Sir Durward Knowles Regatta Cup Trophy'.  A $1,000 dollars will also be awarded to the boat who is closest to catching him, giving this exciting race an added boost of incentive for sloop owner Eleazor 'Barber' J Johnson and his Lady Nathalie to get away, and for the dozen-plus A-Class sloops to catch him.  

“Even ‘though I’ve been in The Bahamas for under a year, as the CEO of a residential Marina development with 194 slips, Sir Durward’s name, reputation and accolades are well known to me,” said Mr. Browning. “Our idea was to have a Trophy in Sir Durward’s name to honour his life of sailing and philanthropic accomplishments.  This is therefore a floating trophy to be presented each year at a different Regatta event of Sir Durward’s choice.”

About Palm Cay Marina Development

Palm Cay Marina is a 400-home development on the Eastern Road in a secure, gated environment with an expansive Marina and Club House offering a water-front lifestyle. The development combines turnkey and land purchasing opportunities and boat slips for each home owner.

A new Regatta trophy was commissioned for the national sloop sailing circuit by Palm Cay Marina Development CEO Richard Browning. Named for Sir Durward Knowles in honour of his sailing career achievements, it was presented to Sir Durward's son Randy Knowles at a cocktail reception at the Palm Cay Club House on the Eastern Road, Nassau. Left to right: Randy Knowles, Richard Browning, CEO Palm Cay Marina Development, Angelique Mackey, Regatta Desk Ministry of Youth, Sports and Culture; boat owner/skipper Real Storre and James 'Jimmy' Sands, president of Bahamian Brewery Company, look on.