Gone Racin'
Few non-Bahamians know about or attend the National Family Islands Regatta, though it's the biggest sports-cum-cultural festival in the country, giving visitors a look back at the sailing traditions that defined the islanders' character as well as a great excuse to party hardy.
The regatta is traditionally held the third week in April, and while preliminary events are held throughout the week, many spectators arrive on Friday in time for the second class-A time trial and stay through to Sunday afternoon or Monday morning.
If you go, consider combining a trip to the regatta with a couple of days in Nassau, either before or after the race. Or, get to Exuma early and take a day trip over to San Salvador or Cat Island. The scenery on the islands is very different from that of Exuma: San Salvador has sea caves and some of the best wall diving in the hemisphere; Cat Island has a pint-size chapel built by a Catholic hermit on top of a hill.
Whatever you decide, book airline and hotel accommodations early. Especially for the National regatta in Great Exuma, there are no "spare" rooms anywhere on island and flights are scarce, even though BahamasAir puts on additional flights to and from Exuma that week. Hoteliers recommend booking by mid-January at the latest.
For more information on any of the regattas, call the Bahamas Out Island Promotion Board at
800-688-4752.
Posted online 10/01/98.
