All roads led to Blowing Point on Wednesday, August 8, where some eleven A-class boats finished their race in the busy harbour after sailing for two to three hours from Road Bay, Sandy Ground. It was Blowing Point’s turn for the third of some five boat races – during the August holiday week – a major part of the 2018 Summer Festival.
The sleek racing boats, sailing in close formation, skirted their way around several anchored and incoming ferryboats o reach the terminating stake at the eastern end of the harbour.
Just outside the inshore waters, the recently-cleaned beach was the scene of hundreds of people from throughout Anguilla, including visitors, who witnessed the conclusion of what was a well-organized and patronized event dubbed the return of boat racing to Blowing Point.
It was a party-like affair with an abundance of local cuisine and entertainment – but with many persons taking shelter under tents from the scotching sun. The entertainers included the North Sound International Band; the Musical Brothers; the Mussington Band; a number of DJs; the Mighty Springer (John Lloyd); Darwin Mussington and Bankie Banx.
Apart from the excitement of the boat race, there was another reason for the delight and celebration at Blowing Point. It was that the popular resident, singer and musician, the Mighty Springer, had just won the Calypso King Competition -returning that crown to the village community after many years. He won the competition several times before: in 1991; 1995; 1998; and 2008.
With the Mighty Springer’s come back in 2018, there would have been even more delight had De Tree, the Blowing Point community boat, won the race, but first place was taken by UFO of Island Harbour. In second and third places were Real Deal and Sonic of North Hill; and in fourth and fifth places were Speed & Comfort and Blue Bird of West End. A total amount of US$ 6,500, collected in donations, was earmarked for the boats in cash prizes ranging from US$1,500 to US$1,100; and the boat which placed last in the race was to receive US$250.
Mr. Curtis Richardson, the Elected Representative for Road South, which includes Blowing Point, was overjoyed by the success of the boat race and the supporting activities. He took the opportunity to sail as a crew member of one of the boats.
Just before taking off for the race, he spoke to The Anguillian newspaper. “When I was a little boy, growing up a lot of years ago, they used to have the small boats racing from Sandy Ground to Blowing Point, followed by a race involving the big boats along the same route,” he recalled. “It created a lot of energy, excitement, fun and fellowship within the community and I felt over the years that it was something which should be returned to the village. I was pleased that the Blowing Point Community Group, made up mainly of a number of lovely young ladies from the village, came forward to push that idea. As a result I undertook to give them a lot of financial support by raising the money for them to do it well. We are happy that the Blowing Point Group, supported by me – ‘Curtis Love’ – is now bringing back boat racing to Blowing Point.
“I can already feel the excitement and it is going to grow, over the years, to something we all can be proud of in Anguilla as well as in the Blowing Point community. Next year, we should be able to attract a lot of people from Martinique, Guadeloupe and St. Martin/St. Maarten because I am committed to doing a lot of advertising in those islands – especially in St. Martin/St. Maarten. This year we have live bands and I am very happy for the support I have received from between fifteen and twenty businesses throughout Anguilla, but mostly within the Blowing Point community which gave significant sums of money. They ensured that we had all the necessary funds to provide the cash prizes for the boats. The total sum for the boats is US$6,500. First prize: US$1,500; second prize: US$1,400; third prize: US$1,300; fourth prize: US$1,200; and fifth prize: US$1.100. I am also giving US$250 for the boat that comes last in the race.”
Mr. Richardson continued: “This race means a lot for the people of Blowing Point because we had a number of boats, over the years, that raced out of the village itself. We have a lot of captains from Blowing Point, and we also have a lot of people there who are involved in the food vending and the ferryboat businesses. This will really give them a chance to boost their businesses, and to expose themselves to other people within the rest of Anguilla as to what services they provide with respect to food and so forth.”
He added: “It is always good when you can get a lot of people to support any endeavour. One of the things I have learnt in politics is that you really need people – not just to win an election – but to push any agenda or idea you have within the community. I am very proud of the Blowing Point Community Group and I intend to work with them to get a lot of things done when it comes to the social side of life.
“This boat race means a lot for the people of Blowing Point in particular. I grew up there with a certain joy and pleasure in life and a lot of that came from many of the activities in the community. I would therefore like to give the youngsters growing up there, in this age of technology, some exposure to some of the joys I had in my interactions while growing up with the community there. This boat race, ending in Blowing Point today, will give people a time to fete, socialize and fellowship among themselves, with the bands playing and the racing boats coming in. It will create a very energetic, communal and interactive time for everybody, and I think it will serve Anguilla on a whole to rebuild some of the cohesiveness among us as a people.”
In addition to the Blowing Point Community Group, the boat race was sponsored by the Anguilla Ferries and Charter Boats along with the support of a number of other groups and individuals.
The members of the Community Group are: Venetta Connor-Webster; Leonard Bennett; Marynell Connor; Aldrin Connor; Marie Connor; and Delano Mussington.
