MARLIN TOURNAMENT GETS UNDERWAY SEPT. 26
The 46th Annual International Marlin Tournament will get underway at the Port Antonio Marina Saturday, Sept. 26. A small army of volunteers has been “tuning up” the marina so everything is working properly when the expected 40-plus entrants begin to arrive in a few weeks Fishing days will be on Sept. 28, 29 and Oct. 1 and 2. The Custos of Portland Roy Thompson will be greeted early (yes, 7 a.m.)Monday, Sept. 28 by the Port Antonio Marching Band and officially open the tournament. The fishing will officially begin with a Bimini start at approximately 8:45 a.m.. Jamaica’s Coast Guard Cutter “Cornwall“ will signal the start with cannon fire. During the week there will be a host of special events capped off by awards night Friday, Oct. 2. Numerous sponsors have joined hands with the Sir Henry Morgan Angling Association Ltd., in presenting the tournament. Also during the week there will be the 25th Annual Local Canoe Tournament which is one of the week’s highlights as it frequently happens that these marginally equipped small boats bring in the biggest fish. Late registrations can still be accepted. For information and registration, contact Dr. Ron duQuesnay at 876-927-0145 or 876-909-8818.
SEE US IN FORT LAUDERDALE NEXT MONTH
It’s billed as the world’s largest boat show and it covers some six locations on Fort Lauderdale’s beach. It’s the 2009 edition of the Fort Lauderdale International Boat Show and you will find Errol Flynn Marina and Boatyard exhibiting in Booth 3078 on the main floor of the Broward County Convention Center.. The show runs from Thursday, Oct. 29 through Monday, Nov. 2. Show hours are 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. except Monday when the show closes at 5 p.m. This will be the 50th Edition of the show which covers some three million square feet of area and includes more than three billion dollars worth of yachts and accessories. For those who prefer to avoid the “tire kickers” and weekend crowds, Prime Time Viewing is set on Thursday, Oct. 29. Complete details can be found on the show website: www.showmanagement.com
DON’T MISS ERROL FLYNN BALL NOV. 14
The planning committee tells us this will be the “Event of the Year” in Port Antonio and Jamaica as well. The semi-formal “Errol Flynn Centennial Ball” will be held on the Ken Wright Pier Saturday, Nov. 14 and feature big band dance music of the 50’s-60’s. While the event marks the 100th Anniversary of the legendary actor’s birth, it also serves to benefit Port Antonio’s Marching Band which is in desperate need of equipment and uniforms. It is the goal of the event to raise $1 million Jamaican Dollars. The band is viewed as an important means for keeping the community’s youth off the streets and giving them a sense of pride in both their community and themselves. The band presently has a waiting list of more than 60 youth hoping for the opportunity to join the group. The “Ball” will get underway with a cocktail hour featuring wine and cheese sampling at 7 p.m. A 8 p.m., the music of Sonny Bradshaw’s “Big Band” will begin on the pier’s lighted dance floor. The backdrop of the band will be a rear projection screen featuring scenes from both the movies and life of Errol Flynn. Tickets, at $5,000JAD each are available at the marina office.
POOL BAR, DELI/GOURMET SHOPS OPENING
Leasing arrangements are being finalised for the operation of the Errol Flynn Marina pool bar and also the gourmet shoppe/delicatessen. This will mark the first time the pool bar has been in operation on a full time basis since the marina opened in 2004. The deli-gourmet shoppe will open in the building previously occupied by Rum, Roast and Royals. While opening dates have not been set, both are expected to be in operation not later than the start of winter tourist season on or about Dec. 1.
JAMAICA SPRINTS TO CLIPPER RACE START SEPT. 13
Olympic gold medallist sprinter Usain Bolt was on hand to help celebrate the announcement that Jamaica will field an entry in the Clipper 09-10 Round the World Yacht Race. Jamaica’s Minister for Tourism revealed the entry at a media conference for leading sports journalists in Berlin at the end of the IAAF World Championships.
The boat, named Jamaica Lightning Bolt, in honour of the fastest man on earth, will compete against nine identical stripped down 68-foot yachts in the 35,000-mile race around the world. It sees the Caribbean island’s return to the event after first fielding an entry in the 07-08 running of the Clipper race.
Jamaica Lighting Bolt will compete against international entries including Spirit of Australia, Uniquely Singapore, California, Qingdao, Cork, Edinburgh, Inspiring Capital and Hull & Humber. Sponsors recognise that the Clipper Race provides a cost effective and high impact platform to promote tourism, attract inward investment and generate a strong sense of community engagement. The race is unique because the crews are all non professionals – and 40 percent of them were new to the sport of sailing before beginning the obligatory training programme. The crew taking part come from 33 nationalities and range in age from 18 to 69.
Each yacht is led by a highly qualified, professional skipper and taking the helm of Jamaica Lightning Bolt is Peter Stirling. Commenting on the announcement from Berlin, Peter said, “I can’t tell you how proud I am to be leading the team that will represent Jamaica. The race route will take in a visit to the island when we arrive at Errol Flynn Marina in Port Antonio next May and the team and I want to ensure that we arrive there in first place.”
Jamaica’s Minister of Tourism, Hon. Edmund Bartlett said, “Sports tourism in Jamaica had a shot in the arm this week with Bolt’s amazing 100m world record time and with the gold medal performances from the rest of the Jamaican squad. To be involved again with the Clipper Round the World Yacht Race is yet another elekment of our strategy to put Jamaica on the map by using our sporting events, our sporting heroes and our sporting facilities to show the world that we may be a small island but we are a great nation of sporting excellence.” While Bolt covered 100 metres in a world record time of 9.58 seconds at the Berlin meet, and went on to break the 200m record, the racing crew will need to stay competitive for quite a bit longer – their circumnavigation will take ten months to complete. Bolt is one of a long list of household names backing the biennial Clipper Race.
The Clipper Race was founded by sailing legend Sir Robin Knox-Johnston, the first man to sail single-handed and non-stop around the world. He wanted others to be able to follow in his footsteps regardless of previous sailing ability and this will be the seventh running of the race. Sir Robin says, “It’s great to welcome Jamaica back to the race track and we look forward to working with the Jamaica Tourist Board as we take their message, ‘Once you go, you know,’ around the world.” The Clipper 09-10 Race will start from the Humber on the east coast of England on 13 September 2009, returning on 17 July 2010
Errol Flynn Marina and Shipyard
Box 188-Ken Wright Drive- Port Antonio, Portland, Jamaica, W. I.
Tel: 876-715-6044 or 876-993-3209 Fax: 876-715-6033
www.errolflynnmarina.com – email: info@errolflynnmarina.com
VHF Channel 16/9—18 11.65’N, 76 26.875W – Use DMA Chart 26129 or Admiralty 458 (Recommended)
