|
From:TheBahamasWeekly.com Sports
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.
|
