“Sea Wolf” Honoured at Stars Regatta
Nassau, Bahamas April 12, 2005. The Nassau Yacht Club honoured legendary
Bahamian sailor Sir Durward Knowles at the Star Western Hemisphere Spring Championships
that were held at the Club from April 5-9 last week.
A highlight of the presentation evening held at the Club on April 9, was
the honouring of Sir Durward, a longstanding member of the Nassau Yacht Club, who during a
regatta in Spain once memorably earned the nickname “Sea Wolf” from the local
press corp there for his seemingly uncanny ability to read the wind and seas.
In honouring Sir Durward, the Club chose to retire the name of the Santa
Maria Trophy that since the 1940s has been presented to the winner of the Star Spring
Championships when held in Nassau.
To a standing ovation from his peers in the Star class, the award was
renamed the Sir Durward Knowles Trophy, a name that it will henceforth carry. In receiving
the award, international sailor Paul Cayard, a longtime friend and admirer of Sir Durward,
expressed his delight at being the first winner of the newly renamed trophy.
Brian Sharp - Sir Durward Knowles - Paul Cayard
In his Star “Gem,” Sir Durward has himself been a past world
champion in 1947, in addition to winning a bronze medal in the 1956 Melbourne Olympics,
and the Bahamas first ever Olympic gold medal at the Tokyo Olympics in 1964, with crew
Cecil Cooke. Astonishingly, Sir Durward’s Olympic career spanned 40 years, from 1948
to 1988.
Twenty five Star boats manned by world renowned sailors from five
countries, many of them with Olympic and Americas Cup campaigns to their credit, competed
during the four day regatta. The breezy conditions off the eastern end of New Providence
brought out the best in the competitors.
The world class event has been hosted by the Nassau Yacht Club more times
than any other venue worldwide.
In the three race Harry Knowles series sailed on April 4, fierce
competition saw Canadian skipper Ross Macdonald and crew Mike Wolfs win the day, with Paul
Cayard and Brian Sharp in second place, and John MacClausland and Brian Faith in third.
Not to be outdone, however, veteran campaigner Paul Cayard from the USA,
with crew Brian Sharp, turned the tables on the rest of the fleet in the three day, six
race Spring Championship series with consistent results across the board. Second place
overall went to John Dane III and Austin Sperry who also distinguished themselves by being
the top placed Masters competitor for those aged over fifty. Rick Merriman and Steve
Mitchel placed third.
Top Bahamian finisher was Steven Kelly with crew Billy Holowesko, who
placed a highly creditable 14th amongst the 25 entries.
Harry Knowles was Sir Durward’s father.
Results (click here)
About the Nassau Yacht Club
The Nassau Yacht Club was founded in 1931 as a private not for profit Club open to
membership by anyone with an interest in boat building and sailboat racing. The Club has a
proud history, and members have achieved remarkable feats in international sailing,
including Olympic medals in the Star class, and World Champions in the Star, 5.5 metre and
Sunfish classes.
The Club plays an active role in hosting international regattas, and often
welcomes world class competitors from across the globe to competitions of the highest
quality. The Club is actively involved in junior sailing, and has recently partnered with
the Bahamas Sailing Association to help generate a national sailing school open to young
people throughout the public school system.
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