By

NG Sports Reporter

There is a bet between the two most boisterous sailors in town, 'King' Eric Gibson and 'The Sailing Barber' Eleazor Johnson, that whoever performs the worst at the 2nd All For One Regatta, set for January 26-27 at Montagu Bay, must be silent for two months.

Gibson, the regatta organizer, expressed this at a press conference held at the Spice Restaurant and Sports Bar located on West Bay Street.

"Okay, if he loses I can't talk or say anything for two whole months and if I win Eleazor can't say anything for two straight months," confirmed Gibson.

"Now I know 'The Barber' does not want to lose because his Valentine Massacre/Catch Me If You Can Regatta is set for next month and he will have to do a lot of talking between now and then."

The regatta organizer is expecting a large fleet of sloops to participate in all classes at the first points race and regatta, of the sloop sailing season.

The A-class sloops that have shown interest in participating in the regatta, according to the 'King', include the 2007 BahaMar Boat Of the Year (BOY) champion the Good News, Silent Partner, second place finisher, the Thunderbird, who came in third place, Anna Nicole, BOY fourth place finisher, New Coura-geous, Pieces of Eight, Red Stripe and Southern Cross.

Meanwhile the B-class sloops, that gave verbal commitments, include the 2007 Bahamar "Boat of the Year" champion Ants Nest, BOY second place finisher the Eudeva, Ansbacher Queen, third place, Heath-cliffe, Barbarian, Three Sisters, Cobra, the Campari Lady Nathalie (owned by Johnson), the Passion and the Hummingbird.

The C-class sloop that is likely to show up at the starting line is fairly new, Sweet Island Gal.

The registration deadline for all sloops is this Friday, January 18.

"Also I spoke to Chester Fox out of Long Island, who is the regatta committee chairman down there and he said he will try and send one boat apiece from each class to this regatta," added Gibson.

Two weeks ago there was a dispute between Gibson and Reverend Dr. Phillip McPhee, highlighted in the local dailies. To this end it seems as if the legendary sailor, Gibson, wants to settle their dispute on the water.

"Oh and when we line up I want them to put my good buddy McPhee from the Thunderbird right on the side of me. I am going to be on him like white on rice. Whenever he tacks I am going to tack, the same time he hoist his sail I'll hoist mine as well," added Gibson at the press conference.

The Passion's owner, Rubin Knowles also sent a challenge out to all of his competitors, "I dare any of them to come and try to take my place which is last position."

According to the schedule, the starting gun will be fired at 8 a.m. on Saturday and tentatively at 10 a.m. on Sunday. The race coordinator Richard Munroe, the National Sailing Association's Commodore, emphasized punctuality.

Munroe said: "We want to get in nine races in all but that depends on the tide. On Saturday we plan to have two races apiece in the C and B-classes and one race in the A-class. In order to get all of these races in we must start on time.

"Then on Sunday we are set to kick-off at 10 a.m. We plan to have two A-class races and one race apiece in the B and C-classes," explained the race coordinator.

James Wallace, the NSA's treasurer said the budget for the cash prizes has not been released yet and it would not be known until all of the sloops have registered.

"I want to encourage the various Family Island Regatta Committees who are interested in raising funds for their respective bodies by having a stall out there to contact us at Sailor's Choice Restaurant.

"Space is available for 10 stalls and only one of them can serve alcoholic beverages. It only cost $100 to set up a stall for the full two days and we will be responsible for setting up the tent," explained Wallace.

The defending champions are the A-class New Courageous, the B-class Ants Nest and the C-class Legal Weapon.