Group Photo at Exuma International Airport. Leonard Stuart, Islands of The Bahamas Aviation Dept, far left. Sharmaine Deveaux, Assistant Manager, Bahamas Ministry of Tourism and Aviation’s Exuma Tourist office, far right.

FORT LAUDERDALE, FL – April 19, 2010 – A group of some 57 general aviators accompanied by members of the international media, swarmed the streets of George Town, as they arrived in Exuma, Bahamas this past weekend, for the first wing of the Governor General’s International Air Rally, Caribbean Air Challenge, which got underway Saturday April 17th and will continue through Tuesday, April 27th.

General aviation pilots from across the globe including , Australia, Switzerland, France, Canada and the U.S. arrived in The Bahamas to compete in the International Air rally. The award for the winner of the competition, the “Governor General’s Cup”, was established in 1953 by the Right Honorable Charles Vincent Massey, First Canadian appointed Governor. The award has been lauded by Catherine Tobenas, organizer of the event, as “one of the most prestigious aviation trophies.”

The event will challenge the pilots in the areas of general aviation knowledge, flying skills, team work and collaboration, and will, take them throughout spots in the Caribbean including the Dominican Republic, Puerto Rico and the Turks and Caicos Islands.

The group of small airplanes created a welcome spectacle as they arrived throughout the day on Saturday. The members of the group were met by representatives of The Islands of The Bahamas under the leadership of Sharmaine Deveaux of the Ministry of Tourism and Aviation’s Exuma Tourist Office, and Mr. Leonard Stuart, representing the Bahamas Aviation Market team, based in Florida. The group was also warmly received and assisted by the staff of Odyssey FBO at the Exuma Airport, before being whisked off to their hotel, Peace and Plenty, centrally located in the hub of George Town.

Ms. Tobenas, in brief comments on Saturday, affirmed that one of the main functions of the event, is to expose the pilots to the culture and history of the countries they visit especially through their interactions with locals. To ensure the groups exposure to the Island, they were given a tour of the George Town area including historical churches, government buildings, the straw market, the National Family Island Regatta site, and the Elizabeth Harbor area, as friendly locals looked on, ready to provide information or assistance where necessary.

The group enjoyed a taste of the Islands – delicious conch fritters and Bahamas rum punch, during a reception hosted by Mr. Neville Lee, proprietor of the Peace and Plenty Hotel. During the reception, native Exumian, Kenneth Nixon, shared some history of Exuma with the group, featuring colorful information on the Pirate Captain William Kidd, who is reputed to have frequented The Bahamas and Elizabeth Harbor in the Exumas in particular.

On Sunday, members of the group attended worship services at a local church, before being transported to Lee Stocking Island’s “Chat n Chill ” an Island hideaway that boast miles of beautiful sand beaches for water sports and games. Highlights of Sunday afternoon included the meal of local Island pork roasted on the spot, and the entrance of two amphibian planes that landed on the water and taxied to the Island for the local pilots to join in the fun with their International guests.

Members of the group were anxious to share about the first portion of the trip, emphasizing mostly the warmth of the Bahamian people and “the unique and breathtaking color of the Bahamian waters.”

The group after travelling to the Dominican Republic, Puerto Rico, Turks and Caicos Islands, will return to The Islands of The Bahamas with a short stop in Eleuthera and then the final reception in Abaco, Bahamas.

Life in the 700 Islands Of The Bahamas just keeps getting better. And it’s easy to see why. With world-class diving and fishing, miles of picture perfect beaches, and gorgeous turquoise water, visitors have the opportunity to do everything or nothing at all. From Exuma, Eleuthera and Abaco to exciting Nassau/Paradise Island and Grand Bahama Island, this tropical paradise is as culturally diverse as it is vibrantly beautiful.

copied from: Native Stew

Such is the desperate status of the lionfish wars, an invasion of this predatory fish from the Pacific Ocean into the Bahamas and Caribbean region that threatens everything from coral reef ecosystems to the local economies, which are based on fishing and tourism.
With a new three year, $700,000 grant from the National Science Foundation – under the American Recovery and Investment Act – scientists from Oregon State University are urgently trying to address a looming crisis…

“We are pleased to continue our support of this Bahamian cultural tradition and again pledge our commitment to this significant historical and sporting event which supports the Exuma community that we serve,” said Leah R. Davis, Scotiabank Marketing & PR Manager. Earmarking its sponsorship toward the Youth Sailing Program, the Bank will sponsor the ‘The Scotiabank Cup Race” one of the Junior National Championship races on Saturday, April 24.

Scotiabank was the first commercial bank to offer its services in Exuma and has been serving the Exuma community for the past 43 years. Scotiabank is committed to supporting the communities in which we live and work. Recognized as a leader for its charitable donations and philanthropic activities, the Bank provides sponsorships and donations to a variety of projects and initiatives, primarily in the areas of healthcare, education, social services and arts and culture. Pictured left to right, Leah Davis, Scotiabank Marketing & PR Manager and Danny Strachan, Chairman, National Family Island Regatta. (Photo by Jermaine Adderley)

ORLANDO, Fla. —

Big Break Sandals Resorts, scheduled to premiere June 21, will feature 11 women competing against each other in an attempt to make their lifelong dream of playing alongside the world’s top golfers a reality.  In addition to other prizes, the winning contestant will earn a sponsor’s exemption to a 2010 LPGA Tour event and a Ladies European Tour event.

The Big Break show concept pits highly skilled golfers against each other in a variety of challenges that test their physical skills and mental toughness.  During Big Break Sandals Resorts, one contestant will be eliminated each week, with the last player standing awarded her Big Break, a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to compete in select professional tour events with some of the best players in the world.

“Big Break is a tremendously popular and successful franchise for the Golf Channel, and we couldn’t be more excited about our partnership with Sandals Resort for the series’ 13th season,” said Tom Stathakes, Golf Channel senior vice president of programming, production and operations.

The 10-episode series will unfold on one of the most picturesque golf courses in the world, Sandals Emerald Reef Golf Club at Sandals Emerald Bay.  A Greg Norman design, Sandals Emerald Reef Golf Club is a 7,200 yard, par 72 Oceanside golf course that features six signature holes hugging the perimeter of Emerald Bay’s scenic peninsula overlooking the Caribbean Sea.

“We are thrilled to now included a Greg Norman designed golf course in our Luxury-Included® portfolio and we are priviledged to be working with Mr. Norman to ensure that our guests are absolutely satisfied with the course,” said Mr. Gordon “Butch” Stewart, founder and chairman of Sandals Resorts.  “Hosting the 13th season of Big Break will alllow us to show off the beauty and complexity of the Sandals Emerald Reef Golf Club to one of the most important audiences for this sport.”

Filmed on location in February, Golf Channel cameras rolled not only on the golf course but also from sunrise until well after sunset each evening at the contestants’ Oceanside villa.  The series also will feature new challenges, twists and special surprise guest appearances, including Greg Norman himself.

“These young ladies have incredible talent, and I enjoyed visiting with them during the filming of the series,” said Norman.  “I look forward to watching the series unfold along with everyone else this summer on the Golf Channel.”

Past Big Break champions have won tournament exemptions to compete on some of the world’s top professional circuits, such as the PGA TOUR, Champions Tour, European Tour, LPGA Tour, Nationwide Tour and Canadian Tour.  Several previous female contestants have gone on to compete on the LPGA Tour, including Kristy McPherson, a member of the 2009 U.S. Solheim Cup Team.

Sandals Resorts’ newest gem, Sandals Emerald Bay, officially opened its doors Feb. 4.  The 500-acre luxury resort features 183 beachfront rooms and suites all equipped with professionally trained butlers, five a-la-carte gourmet restaurants, a world-class marina, an exclusive 16,000 square foot Red Lane® Spa, an array of land sports including six illuminated Har-tru tennis courts and a host of watersports including scuba diving for certified divers.

Each year, for four days only, the best sailors from every major island in the Bahamas converge at Elizabeth Harbour on Exuma Island for the National Family Island Regatta. During these four days, Bahamian sailors arrive prepared to sail their locally-built sloops for the much coveted “Best in the Bahamas” title. The competition is fierce and the atmosphere is alive with excitement as boating enthusiasts the world over descend on this picturesque island in the sun. Since the first race held in April 1954, the National Family Island Regatta has grown in size and popularity. Today, although the race remains the main attraction, visitors are invited to participate in countless onshore activities including fashion shows, beauty pageants, weightlifting competitions, volleyball tournaments, and endless parties. This festival certainly differs from its early days when the boats were smaller and the participants fewer.
It was in April 1954, when about 70 Bahamian schooners, dinghies and sloops assembled in Elizabeth Harbour for a three-day racing event. The first participants in the event were excited to compete and certainly enticed by the reward offered for winning the competition. Unlike the boats you see today competing in the event, the first sailors in 1954 raced in the same boats they used to earn their livelihood. These working vessels were fast, but sailors realized they would stand a better chance of winning the prize money if they had even faster boats. This competitive spirit led many sailors to enter the race with boats crafted for speed in the second year of competition. One of the early aims of the regatta was to help preserve the boat-building skills of the Bahamians, and with the prize money as an allure, Bahamian sailors were motivated to keep up this tradition. Today, the regatta draws top-notch racing boats from virtually every island in the Bahamas, all of which are categorized under one of five classes, A through E. Although the race has changed, the goal remains the same: prove yourself to be the best sailor in the Bahamas.

text copied from www.exumabahamas.org                                    picture from Alan Philips “Unabated”

At the time the Brewery chose not to defend the lighthouse logo and instead change it, to avoid any problems in the community that they had chosen to work in.  “There are different elements in the community and we really do not wish to cause offense,” said Sands.

In keeping with their commitment the Brewery has now introduced a new label and package on its High Rock beer, and bottled the first batch of newly labeled beer this week.  The new packaged products will hit the market in April, once the existing stock is depleted. “High Rock has surpassed our expectations,” said Mr. Lynden Johnson, Bahamian Brewery and Beverage Company Sales and Marketing Manager.  “It has been received very positively by the Bahamian people who can’t seem to get enough!”

High Rock New Cases come off the line!

High Rock beer was launched as the company’s fourth beer product in November 2009.   The newest addition was touted as a higher end lager, delivering a crisp and refreshing taste with a bolder constitution.  “Lager beer is the most common beer made in the world.” said Johnson. “Using the method of slow acting yeast to ferment during storage gives High Rock its unique richer taste.”

The new High Rock label colours have remained the same but the lighthouse feature has now been replaced by a sea buoy, a mariner’s navigational beacon used by boaters, ships, etc.  In keeping with the nautical theme, Sands has managed to highlight his families’ love of the sea and their passion for island life.

Since opening in late 2007, the Bahamian Brewery and Beverage has had continued success with all its products: Sands, Sands Light, Strong Back and their malt-beverage, Triple B. “We finished bottling the newly labeled High Rock a few days ago,” said Johnson, “and we expect the old labels may become a bit of a collectors item for our loyal customers.”

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Brewery INFO:

Grand Bahama’s “Truly Bahamian” brewery opened in 2007 with the launch of its first beer SANDS.  The 20-acre brewery is located at the intersection of Queen’s Highway and Grand Bahama Way and is a 100% Bahamian owned business. The brewery also produces Triple B, a natural malt drink, sold via Asa H Pritchard Distributors, as well as STRONG BACK, SANDS LIGHT and HIGH ROCK. Bahamian Brewery and Beverage team currently employs just over 60 staff and expanded its operation into Nassau in 2008, opening a capital-based distribution centre at Kelly’s Liquor Store on Wulff Road. All Bahamian Brewery & Beverage products are also available at Bristol Wines & Spirits locations, Simms Brothers, Jimmy’s Liquor Store and truly Bahamian restaurants and bar locations.

In addition to existing daily flights on American Airlines, Continental Airlines and Bahamas Air, new flights to Great Exuma include:

Air Canada: Launched March 7, 2010 with weekly non-stop service from Toronto Pearson International Airport (YYZ)
AC 1764; YYZ to GGT, Sundays 7:20am – 10:45am
AC 1765; GGT to YYZ, Sundays, 11:45am – 3:15pm

American Airlines: Starting June 11, 2010 with one additional flight, twice a week from Miami International Airport (MIA)
AA 4901; MIA to GGT, Fridays & Saturdays, 7:00pm – 8:29pm
AA 4902; GGT to MIA, Saturdays & Sundays, 7:30am – 8:58am

Delta Airlines: Beginning June 13, 2010 with flights twice a week from Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport (ATL)
DL 5607; ATL to GGT, Wednesdays & Sundays, 10:55am – 1:17pm
DL 5606; GGT to ATL, Wednesdays & Sundays, 2:00pm – 4:34pm

Sandals Emerald Bay, a 500-acre beachfront resort set on Great Exuma, one of the Bahamas’ most beautiful Out Islands, is the fourteenth Sandals Resort and, expanding on the company’s Luxury Included concept, the first to offer a championship, Greg Norman-designed golf course, world-class marina and professionally-trained butlers in all 183 plush rooms and suites. The new Sandals Emerald Bay also features gourmet dining in a choice of five à la carte restaurants, premium brand wine and spirits, land and watersports, including scuba diving for certified divers, gratuities and airport transfers. Additionally, the resort boasts an exclusive Red Lane Spa, featuring 17 treatment rooms, offering premier services that embrace the best of the Caribbean region.

Copied from Gemini Travels

This resort is ideal for those couples planning a destination wedding, a honeymoon or simply a romantic getaway.

Article copied from Del Sol travel blog.  Photos by Linda @ Totem Travel