‘For years to come this will be around’ – Old Harbour Bay Regatta celebrate 40 years with perennial fun and excitement
Monday’s festivities on the shores of the Old Harbour Bay Fishing Village featured perennial competitions with the boat races serving as the traditional highlight of the day.
Other events such as fish-scraping and steam fish cook-off competitions, along with bun eating, and beer drinking contests kept the crowd engaged and entertained along with a host of other exciting activities.
Social Development Commission’s zone representative for Old Harbour, Monica Douglas-Gardener says the annual exercise is an event that the state agency fully endorsed.
“We are very proud of the Old Harbour Bay committee, which allows this unique entertainment feature to continue. I can safely say, there is nothing of this nature elsewhere in St Catherine,” she said.
"This type of activity fosters good community involvement, it allows for economic engagement and for residents and visitors to mingle in a joyous manner.”
Her view was the consensus of others, who added that the event has grown on the existence of the community.
“For years to come this will be around as it is the only respite these hardworking fisher folks get,” said Michelle Alvaranga, a visitor. “Old Harbour Bay is synonymous with fishing, so this activity allows for celebration and sadly the memories of those who never returned from sea."
Meanwhile, President, South St Catherine Chamber of Commerce, Treacha Reid, regards the event to a movement.
Said Reid: “Regatta forms a part of unity, strength and oneness in and around the community. It is a day when people put differences a side and come to enjoy themselves.
“For years it brings stability to vendors who sell on the location, it does help, especially with the back-to-school upon us, [and] we fully endorse this event.”
The occasion saw scores of residents from Old Harbour Bay and surrounding communities flocked the fishing beach, which has the enviable title of being the largest fishing community in Jamaica.
Meantime, Son of God won the Jamaica Energy Partners boat race, which carries a top purse of $100,000. The Son of God team register three wins on the Caribbean waters, after capturing the Member of Parliament Classic and the South St Catherine Chamber of Commerce Open.
Horald Walker won the Dr Kurt Waul Foundation veteran’s race, Super D claimed the Keith Goulbourne Small Boat challenge and Great One took home the PalWaul Invitational.
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