Abaco Islands provide the perfect conditions for a hot Christmas holiday. Beautiful beaches, friendly people, and an excellent rum punch.Now before you punish me by spamming my inbox, know that I was actually working on your behalf. Oh yes! As I sipped my drink and watched the sun setting gently down behind diamond encrusted waters, I was looking around for other reasons why you, should visit this place. One can only take so much of the sand and sun.
Fortunately, the richness of small sailing craft here is truly remarkable. There are many intriguing designs, once you can see past the triple decker sport fish boats. Here are just three that I saw in just 9 days in the Abacos. I'm certain there are many more.
Abaco Dinghies, built by Winer Malone
This boat pulled up to a long shallow beach where we had stopped to search for
shells. It is one of the last made by Mr. Winer Malone, a well-known boat builder from nearby Hope Town on Elbow Cay. He builds these coveted boats without power tools of any sort, entirely by hand, in the traditional manner. Sadly, he is no longer taking orders for these boats, which makes this one even more special.Mr. Malone's work sails around the Abacos, but designs and models can also be seen in detail in the Wyannie Malone Museum in Hope Town.
The Bahamian Racing Sloop
Abaco RAGE is a high-powered Bahamian racing vessel, geared to win the annual National Family Island Regatta, which is THE major Bahamian sporting event held in George Town, Exuma, each April.Here again, tradition is King. Says one website "Strict rules govern the races. Competing boats must be designed, built, owned, skippered and primarily crewed by Bahamians. Overall length must be 28 feet, three inches or less. Sails must be canvas with a single mast. Hull and mast must be wood. No vertical transoms. No bowsprits. No spreaders or aluminum spars. No winches. No wind or speed instruments or tell-tales. No bending masts."
The Rage holds a crew of 9 minimum and 15 maximum. Drawing 4.5ft. and carrying a mast of 60 ft. and boom of 34ft. long, she cruises along at high speeds with up to 1000lbs of extra weight.
The boats start from anchored, raising their massive mainsail at the gun. While sailing upwind or reaching, the crew are perched out on heavy "Pry boards" to help the vessel counter the heeling force of its massive sail area. At each tack five or more crew must slide into the middle of the boat, pull in the pry board from one side, push it out the other side, and wedge it into the new lee side. All this while the huge main is flogging just overhead. Yikes.
Herreshoff BONUS!
During a fun regatta on December 26th I got an extra treat - to race alongside Louise, a Herreshoff designed Buzzards Bay 25, designed in 1914 and launched in 2002. This boat is not designed or even built in the Bahamas, but it doesn't matter when you see her rip up the race course.
The legendary Herreshoff brothers designed and built sleek and fast racers for the elite of their day, and the designs live on. For me seeing a Herreshoff design is like seeing royalty - and it has nothing to do with who is holding the tiller.Pleased to report that Louise placed in the medals (2nd or 3rd) for this race, being very well sailed in the medium-light conditions.
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Which got me to thinking about my own need to steep....
Shall it be another Rum Punch or a Piña Colada this time?
So difficult to choose....
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Further Reading, beyond links embedded in the text:
"Bahamian Sailing Craft " by William R. Johnson Jr , published by White Sound Press, first print 1973, reprinted 2000.
"Winer Malone and the Abaco Dinghy" as told to Edward Collins. Copyright 2005.
For more on the Regatta, visit page 45 of http://www.southwindssailing.com/pdfs/southwindsoctober2006.pdf
Many thanks to Summer Tilt, the Wabi Sabi 'Leftovers' , and the Hope Town Sailing Club.
