Local Fleets

SNIPE FLEET NO. 391: THE FIRST 25 YEARS

Basil T. Kelly, P.O. BOX N-10379, NASSAU, BAHAMAS, TELEPHONE (242) 324-1229

January 6th 1981

Mr. Lowry Lamb, Privateer Road, Hixson, Tennessee 37343.

Dear Buzz,

Ralph Swanson

Nassau Snipe Fleet No. 391

(1954 – 1981)

A few facts about The Bahamas should be made known before the 27 year history and accomplishments of Nassau Snipe Fleet No. 391 are related in this 50th year of the Snipe Class International Racing Association.

The Bahamas is an archipelago of 100,000 square miles stretching 760 mile southeast from Grand Bahama Island (about 50 miles east of Palm Beach, Florida) to Inagua Island (near the eastern end of Cuba), and boasting of 700 islands. These 100,000 square miles are comprised of water and about 5,400 square miles of land. The estimated population is 240,000. Of this number 140,000 live on New Providence Island where the capital City of Nassau is situated and 40,000 live on Grand Bahama Island where the City of Freeport is situated and about 60,000 inhabit the remaining Islands.

Although The Bahamas is, and must be, by its very nature, a country where men must “go down to the Sea in Ship”, at no time during the 27 year history of the Snipe Class in The Bahamas, was there ever more than a total of 50 persons actively interested and participating in Snipe racing.

It is, therefore, with a great deal of pride that the Nassau Snipe Fleet wishes to record its accomplishments and contributions to the Snipe Class International Racing Association and to the furtherance of International Snipe racing.

The Nassau Snipe Fleet was founded on May 11, 1954 – the 24th birthday of Basil Kelly the 1966-1967 Commodore of SCIRA.

It was through the efforts of the founder of the Fleet, Dr. Paul Poad, that six wooden Snipes were obtained from Botved in Denmark, to be followed soon after with another order for six. Older members of the Royal Nassau Sailing Club purchased these Snipes but soon turned them over to younger members to sail. These Snipes were actively raced until 1961 when members started purchasing other make Snipes from builders in North and South America.

On the 2nd April, 1954 the first Snipe race took place in Montagu Bay and was won by Godfrey Kelly and Peter Christie sailing John Bethell’s “Chiccharney”.

The first International Regatta that members of the Nassau Fleet attended was the 1954 Western Hemisphere Championship in Havana, Cuba. Godfrey Kelly with Peter Christie as crew came seventh. It is interesting to note that these two started Fleet No. 391 in International Racing and are still the backbone of Fleet No. 391. They have shared the duties of National Secretary during the past 27 years and are the only two of the original sailors who still actively sail Snipes.

During the 14 times since 1954 that the Western Hemisphere Championship has been held, the Nassau Fleet was represented 8 times and recorded best finishes of 2nd, 3rd, 4th, (twice) and 5th. In 1958 this Championship was held in Nassau when Basil Kelly and Buck Johnson came second and Godfrey Kelly and David Kelly were fourth.

Since 1955 the Nassau Fleet has figured 9 out of 13 times in the World’s Championship recording best finishes of 3rd, 4th, and 5th, (twice). These performances were turned in by Basil Kelly, skipper, with Buck Johnson crewing in 1961 (5th) and Pedro Wassitsch crewing in 1963 (3rd), 1965 (4th) and 1967 (5th). The 1967 World’s was sailed at the Coral Harbour Club, Nassau.

Since 1955 the Nassau Fleet has participated 14 times in the Mid-Winter Championship in Clearwater or Tampa, Florida. In 1955 Tippy Lightbourn and David Kelly finished ninth and the following year were third. The Nassau Fleet’s best finishes were two 2nds, three 3rds, and two 4ths. Basil Kelly and Buck Johnson recorded one second and two thirds with John Dunkley and David Weir the other second and Colin Rees and Buck Johnson with one fourth and Godfrey Kelly with the other fourth.

Basil Kelly attended the Clearwater Regatta for the first time in 1957 at which time his wife Paula was carrying their second son, Gary. Basil last sailed in Clearwater in 1972 when Gary crewed for him. They finished eighth. It was Basil’s ninth try for the Championship.

In 1960 The Dudley Gamblin Memorial Trophy was donated for international yacht racing and in the early years it was presented to the Snipe winner in Bahama Regatta Week, an international event. In 1964 SCIRA sanctioned the Bahamas Snipe Class International Winter Championship Regatta to be held for the first time by the Royal Nassau Sailing Club on Montagu Bay from the 28th February to the 3rd March, 1965. Since 1965 the Gamblin Trophy has been presented to the winner of the annual Winter Championship in Nassau. This is a part of the Southern Winter Circuit and has been held in Nassau in March of each year together with The Bacardi Cup which was introduced in 1965. In the beginning the Southern Circuit races started in Nassau then Miami (Don Q Regatta) and ending in Clearwater. The Southern Winter Circuit was sanctioned by SCIRA in 1967 and the Zimmerman Trophy is presented to the Snipe with the best score for the 4 Regattas. In 1972 the Circuit was reversed with the first races taking place in Clear water, then Miami and finally in Nassau. Since 1960 the Gamblin Trophy has been won 4 times by sailors of the Nassau Fleet who have also places 2nd eight times and 3rd twice. Godfrey Kelly won it twice, was 2nd once and 3rd twice. Tippy Lightbourn and Pierre Siegenthaler got a 2nd each with Pierre capturing three 3rds and Tippy one.

Since 1965 the Bacardi Cup has been won 5 times by Nassau Fleet sailors who have placed 2nd three times and 3rd five times. Basil Kelly won three times and was 3rd twice. Tippy Lightbourn and John Dunkley shared the other two firsts. Godfrey Kelly got two 2nds and Pierre Siegenthaler the other. The other 3rds were shared by Pierre with two and Godfrey with one.

The Don Q Regatta in Miami started in 1967 as the second leg of the Southern Winter Circuit with the Bahamas participating seven out of twelve times. Pierre Siegenthaler has one 2nd and one 3rd and Godfrey Kelly had a 3rd, completing our best performances there.

The Zimmerman Trophy has never been won by a Bahamian team. However, Basil Kelly was 3rd in 1967 and Pierre Siegenthaler was 3rd in 1977.

In August, 1962, the Caribbean and Central American Games were held in Kingston, Jamaica. Basil Kelly won a gold medal in the Snipe Class for the Bahamas. It is interesting to note that the Nassau Snipe Fleet loaned its Snipes for this event.

Other major Snipe Championship Regattas in which members of the Nassau Snipe Fleet participated were the Pan American Games in 1959, 1967, and 1975 and the 1966 Halloween Regatta in Atlanta.

In 1962 Godfrey Kelly and Derek Higgs went to Bermuda where they won the first Bermuda Race Week Regatta.

In 1966 the Bahamas took first, second and third in the Virgin Island Regatta at St. Croix. Godfrey Kelly and George de Cardenas were the winners.

As Commodore of SCIRA Basil Kelly was eligible to enter the 1966 U.S. National Championship sailed on Lake Chautauqua, New York. He placed sixth with his eleven year old son, Steven, as crew.

In 1976 the North American Championship was held in Nassau with Pierre Siegenthaler and John Dunkley copping second and third respectively.

In 1977 John Dunkley participated in the North Americans at Mission Bay, California.

Basil Kelly and Susan Holowesko placed 8th in the 1980 U.S. Masters Championship at Lade Chautauqua.

The Nassau Fleet hatched the 31st Commodore of SCIRA. Basil Kelly was Commodore for the years 1966 and 1967. He served 8 years on SCIRA’s Board of Governors (1960 – 1968) – five years as an officer and thee years as a member.

On 17 occasions during the past 27 years members of the Nassau Fleet and their boats have been featured on the front cover of the Snipe Bulletin.

In addition to Montagu Bay, the Nassau Fleet has held regattas in the Bahamas at Rock Sound, Eleuthera (December 27/28, 1957); Treasure Cay, Abaco; Freeport, Grand Bahama; Current Island, Eleuthera; and Coral Harbour, New Providence.

Outstanding among Nassau regattas is the annual 5-race series for the King’s Cup. This solid gold Cup was presented to the Royal Nassau Sailing Club by King George V in 1926. In April, 1959, while Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh, was on an official visit to The Bahamas, he viewed the final race of the King’s Cup from the helm of a Star. After the race he presented the Cup to the winners, Basil Kelly and Buck Johnson, this being the only occasion when Royalty has presented the Cup.

In closing this 27 year history of the Nassau Fleet special thanks and appreciation go to the following devoted persons whose support and encouragement contributed greatly to the success of the Fleet: Dr. Paul Poad, Founder and first Fleet Captain; Walter Moore, the late Dr. Kenneth Eardley, Eric Fisher, Fred Goosen and Dr. Maurice Kelly, outstanding Race Committee Charimen; C. Trevor Kelly, owner of the M/V Betty K used in transporting Snipes to and fro between Nassau and Miami for International Regattas and, last but by no means least, Captain Ishamel Key, retired Club Boatman and Captain of the Committee boat for 25 years.

The Nassau Fleet has shown the yachting world what so few can do to make an impression amongst so many. It is good to report that the Nassau Fleet, after being in the doldrums for several years, is now waxing and not waning. It has 7 active Snipes with more on the way. In 1980 Peter Christie bought a new boat and John Dunkley has ordered a new boat for 1981. Jimmy Lowe and Donnie Martinborough have acquired Snipes from other Nassau Fleet members and are actively racing them.

This fresh enthusiasm is cause for optimism and with a little more time and effort put into racing, the Nassau Fleet may be restored to its former glory.