Sir Durward Knowles presents Paul Cayard with the Santa Maria perpetual trophy following his win the last time the Star Western Hemisphere Championships was sailed in Nassau in 2005. This trophy is only competed for when the Western Hemisphere Championship is sailed in Nassau. In honour of Sir Durward's history with the Star class, the Santa Maria trophy was renamed the Sir Durward Knowles trophy during the presentation ceremony.
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Nassau, Bahamas - The last time Sir Durward Knowles
decided to get into a sailboat and compete, his friends and family were
impressed by his ability. He was, after all, 8o years old.
But fast-forward 12 years and they
have a different outlook on his decision to compete in next week’s Harry
Knowles series.
“Oh, they all think I’m crazy,” he
laughed, “They know that to try to stop me, that wouldn’t work, so they’ve gone
along with it and said if you’re foolish enough to try it, go ahead.”
And so he is. Sir Durward, the Bahamas’ first Olympic
gold medalist in Tokyo, 1964, plans to compete in one race of the Harry Knowles
series which serves as the warm up to the International
Star Class Western Hemisphere Championship 2010.
Steven Kelly,
who served as his crew in the 1988 Seoul Olympics, will be on board with him
again next week.
Unlike others who will be competing
in the big event, Sir Durward isn’t putting in any practice time. When asked
about a training regiment, he said ‘Training? If I get out in the boat once,
that’s it. I’m not going to try it again.’ In fact, he admits that his biggest
concern is actually getting into the boat, but said ‘If I get in, I know I’ve
got it made.’
While age won’t stop him, there is
one thing that could – bad weather.
“It all depends on the weather
conditions. I’m not stupid enough to say I’m going out there in a 15-20 knot
breeze. The weather conditions have got to be right. Everything’s got to be
just right for me to do this,” he said, “That’s the only thing I promised my
family; that I won’t sail if it’s too windy and rough. I’m not that stupid.”
The three race Harry Knowles series
will be sailed Tuesday, April 13. On Wednesday, some of the world’s leading
sailors will take to the water.
Thirty eight two-man teams have entered
the challenging four-day race set for April 14th through 17th.
Twelve countries, including Australia and Ukraine will be represented. The
Bahamas will be represented by brothers Mark and William ‘Billy’ Holowesko, who
have both represented the Bahamas in star class sailing at the Olympics.
Races will be sailed in the waters
off eastern New Providence and will give the sailors a chance to size up the
competition ahead of the 2012 London Olympic Games.
The championship racing is being
hosted and organized by the Nassau Yacht Club and supported by the Bahamas
Ministry of Tourism and the Nassau branch of private banking firm Lombard Odier
Darier Hentsch.
The last time this prestigious event was held in the
Bahamas was 2005 when Sir Durward, who continues to serve as Commodore of the International Star
Class Yacht
Racing Association, presented first place finisher Paul Cayard with the Santa
Maria perpetual trophy which is only competed for when the Western Hemisphere
Championship is sailed in Nassau. In honour of Sir Durward’s history with the
Star class, the Santa Maria trophy was renamed the Sir Durward Knowles trophy
during the presentation ceremony.
SCHEDULES (as per Mar-3, 2010)*
Saturday
Apr-10
1100-1500: Registration & Check-In
Sunday
Apr-11
1100-1500: Registration & Check-In
Monday
Apr-12
0900-1600: Registration & Check-In
0900-1600:
Measurements
1800: Opening Ceremony
Tuesday Apr-13
0900-1200:
Registration & Check-In
0900-1200: Measurements
1300: Warning
Signal Harry Knowles Series
Après-Sailing Bar & BBQ @ the pool
Wednesday
Apr-14
1200: Warning Signal Spring Series
Après-Sailing
Bar & BBQ @ the pool
Thursday Apr-15
1200:
Warning Signal Spring Series
Après-Sailing Bar @ the pool
1900:
Dinner Party to celebrate the participants of the Star Class Western
Hemisphere Championship 2010 @ Montagu Gardens (across the street from
NYC)
Friday Apr-16
1200: Warning Signal
Spring Series
Après-Sailing Bar & BBQ @ the pool
1900: NYC
Weekly Club Buffet, competitors are welcome to join the members
Saturday
Apr-17 | Reserve Day
1000: Warning Signal Spring Series
0800
(or right after sailing)-1700: Boats Packing & Check-Out
1900:
Dinner & Award Ceremony
Sunday Apr-18
0800-1200:
Boat Packing & Check-Out
*Please always refer to the NORs for
official schedules.
Official Website
for the Star Western Hemisphere Championships 2010
