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High-performance athletic apparel built for tropical living. Combining durability, style, and the thrill of tropical exploration. ISLANDER B was born out of the Bahamas' rich tradition in sailing, which is the country’s national sport. The brand is dedicated to providing the highest quality performance fabrics and apparel, designed for durability and long-lasting use in island environments. As a proud sponsor of sailboats in the Bahamas, ISLANDER B is deeply connected to the world of water sports and is committed to supporting athletes in their pursuits.

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UNIQUE But FAMILIAR: THE 69TH Annual National Family Island Regatta, sailed April 22-26 in George Town, Bahamas. Observations from the Outside

Article by Del Olsen, Photos by Jan Pehrson

I have much experience racing sailboats of many sizes in many settings, and much experience as a race organizer for national and international sailing events. This year I attended a Bahamian Wooden Sloop Regatta for the first time. These are my observations.

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Article by Del Olsen, Photos by Jan Pehrson
The first thing that strikes you about the 2025 National Family Island Regatta, sailed on Elizabeth Harbor in the Southern Exumas, is simply the venue. Crystal clear water that shames any swimming pool for its shades of teal and aquamarine blue. With a water temperature of 78°F and air temperature to match, and white sand beaches that make sugar blush, the venue is simply stunning.

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A huge thank you Jan Pehrson for capturing these amazing moments from the 69th Annual National Family Island Regatta! Jan, Your passion for sloop sailing shines through every one of your shots.

We’re grateful for your years of dedication to telling the story of our beloved sport through your lens!

View more amazing photos from past and future Regattas on her website at www.janpehrson.com

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One of a kind sailbags made in the Bahamas! Here's a little about this fantastic island.

Harbour Island, also known as Briland to local residents, is only three miles long by half a mile wide. It is home to Dunmore Town, a quaint village that is one of the oldest settlements in the Bahamas. The island’s hilly narrow streets are lined with pastel New England style houses. 

​The warm clear waters surrounding the island provide world-class fishing, diving and boating. Harbour Island’s famous Pink Sand Beach and colorful reefs provide picturesque swimming and snorkeling spots. Other island activities include bone-fishing, kiteboarding, deep-sea fishing, tennis, shopping, wind-surfing, shelling, kayaking, fine dining and shopping at Harbour Island Canvas of course!​

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We are thrilled to share a stunning collection of images captured during the recent Best of the Best Regatta, taken by the incredible photographer, Jan Pehrson!

Her keen eye for detail and ability to encapsulate the energy of the regatta brought the races to life in a way that truly does justice to the spectacle of sloop sailing.

From breathtaking shots of the boats gliding over the water to candid moments of the competitors, Jan’s photography captured the spirit of competition and the beauty of our sport.

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The Best of the Best Regatta draws wooden Bahamian racing sloops from the many far-flung islands of the Bahamas. This year’s regatta, the largest ever with more than 85 entries, was sailed off Montagu Beach in Nassau, The Bahamas, from December 5-8.

On the land, there is so much entertainment that many regatta goers don’t realize that sailboat racing is going on – they are there to party! On the water, inter island rivalries lead to fierce competition.

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Is the America’s Cup a futures influencer? Or just a billionaire’s playground and a big waste of money?  Some people feel the money spent around the America’s Cup should be better spent helping humanity instead of on sailboat racing. But let’s consider an America’s Cup cost/benefit analysis – what if the benefits to humanity of the America’s Cup trickle down into our global culture, and exceed, over time, the cost of the event? The space program has spun off many new commercial applications. Why not the America’s Cup?

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The AC75's have been a game changer not only for sailors, but for sailing photographers as well. The action is so quick, with boats speeds in the 40 knot range and even to 50 knots plus, that photographers and photo boat drivers must make lightning-like decisions in order to get the shots that they want.

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Marina Life: 2024 Seasonal Events Calendar in Florida & The Caribbean

Fall and winter are the perfect times of year for snowbirds to head south and catch ideal weather for outdoor events. From Florida’s coastal towns to the Bahamas and Caribbean, check out these exciting fishing tournaments, music events, food festivals, cultural celebrations and more.

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The inaugural Women’s America’s Cup sought to give opportunity and experience to female sailors in the AC40 boat, the foiler used for training by the America’s Cup teams. But advance access to the boats varied among the 12 entrants, especially as six teams were affiliated with America’s Cup efforts, while six independent teams were not.

How’s it going for the women? Jan Pehrson checks in with the independent teams:

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Richard Slater, Chief Umpire for the America’s Cup, explains how the rules are enforced at high speed. Report by Jan Pehrson for Scuttlebutt Sailing News:

The steering wheels for the AC40s and AC75s look like Formula One steering wheels, with buttons to press when ‘hailing’ protest. With boat speeds upwards of 50 knots, accurate and instantaneous decisions are critical not only for fairness, but for safety. This can only occur in the world of digital umpiring.

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As a SailGP commentator and presenter, Olympic medalist Lisa Darmanin has an approachable, casual style. But when the Women’s America’s Cup gets underway October 5, she will be in front of the TV cameras as starboard trimmer for the Australian team.

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The Youth America’s Cup competition has highlighted the difficulty of racing the AC40, with all forms of maneuver mistakes amplified by the foiling monohull. Jan Pehrson, who is in Barcelona for the event, shares the struggle:

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If you’ve been a passive viewer of the 2024 America’s Cup but now want all in, this refresher report by Jan Pehrson for Scuttlebutt Sailing News comes direct from the America’s Cup Media Center in Barcelona, Spain:

Save the Dates: The Long Island Regatta will be sailed June 5-8th, 2024. Don’t miss it! My photos of Stefan Knowles, the Bahamian Sloop Sailer called "Tripple Crown" because he has won the national championship in all three sloop classes. Stefan is blazing fast because he sails "on the edge of control." This design will be printed on tumblers and sold to support the Bahamian Long Island Sloop Regatta. These regattas are so much fun!

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Getting the Formula Right: Significant vessels are falling apart before our eyes… Entrants are vanishing from Wooden Boat events in droves…. Timber yachts prices are plummeting… Respect for maritime traditions is disappearing down the sewer of short attention spans and social media…
RUBBISH!

Save the Dates: The 69th Annual National Family Island Regatta will be sailed April 22-26th, 2025. Don’t miss it!

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The National Family Island Regatta is the largest and oldest of the 22 yearly Bahamian wooden racing sloop regattas. This year’s NFIR regatta, the first since sailing became the national sport of the Bahamas, was sailed in Elizabeth Harbor in George Town, Exuma, Bahamas from April 23-26.

Regatta Time: Download the NFIR App from your phone’s App Store. Watch live, get up-to-the minute scores, latest news, meet the skippers, and vote for your favorite boat. NFIR is the first use of my Bahamian Wooden Racing Sloop photos in a phone app!