Non-Mariners’ Race Cancelled This Year

June 11, 2018

Citing “dwindling participation, a change in the economics of the event, and increasing difficulty in finding volunteers to organise and run the affair,” the Sandys Boat Club announced that the Non-Mariners’ Race will not be held this year, but noted this “does not include the raft-up parties that take place.”

A spokesperson said, “The Sandys Boat Club is sorry to announce that the iconic Non-Mariners’ Race will not be held this year. To be clear, this does not include the raft-up parties that take place in Mangrove Bay on the day.

“The Sandys Boat Club is not responsible for these, and it is anticipated that the post-Cup Match festivities will continue as normal. The suspension of the event relates to the “non-race” and other “non-events” traditionally hosted by the Sandys Boat Club.

“Unfortunately, due to dwindling participation, a change in the economics of the event, and increasing difficulty in finding volunteers to organise and run the affair, it has been decided that this year’s event will not be held.

“We thank the Bermuda Tourism Authority for their offer of assistance, and hope that the event may be revived in the future with their assistance and further planning. If you are interested in such an endeavor, please contact the Secretary at sbcsecretary@logic.bm.

Slideshow of the 2016 Non-Mariners Race and raft up.


.

“The event, which was first put on in the early 1960s by amateur sailors, was originally meant to poke fun at organised sailing. Originally, it took place in Hamilton Harbour, but moved around to St George’s and Ferry Reach before settling in Mangrove Bay at Sandys Boat Club in 1972.

“Non-craft were assembled on the beach at Mangrove Bay near the Club, and their – often hilarious – attempts to nurse their creations at least as far as the Non-race course off the Club attracted many spectators. In recent years, what appears to be an ever-growing raft-up covered most of the rest of the Bay.

“In more than 40 years of non-racing, the festivities had grown to include other non-events such as the non-penguin fly-by, the parade of the Non-Calypso Pipe Band and Dancers, and the non-memorial to the mascot. Non-MC Bruce Barritt has been a notable fixture.

“Recent charities to benefit from the event, which has not been of financial benefit to the Club in many years, have been the Sailors’ Home, The Bermuda Sloop Foundation, and the St. John Ambulance.

“We are sure that there will be plenty of people who may still be working on their mariners’ skills over that weekend following Cup Match, and hope they enjoy boating throughout the summer season.

“Please note that the Club will be open to Members and their guests only as normal that weekend, and persons wishing to go out on the water should use the public docks to access Mangrove Bay.”

Read More About

Category: All, Entertainment, News

Comments (52)

Trackback URL | Comments RSS Feed

  1. Onion Puke says:

    Who will Onion Juice blame? OBA?? ‘Certain’ People??? Expats???? // hope he hadn’t already marked his spot!!

    • Onion Juice says:

      No reason to mark a spot for non-mariners, was looking foward to see a 24-12 mockery floatation event.
      Well 25-11.

      • sandgrownan says:

        Apparently, Bitcoins don’t float.

      • wahoo says:

        Maybe your thong is too tight… have fun at de carnaval with other like mindeds. Shake that thang while you can and maybe someone will throw you a Burtcoin.

    • Real talk says:

      The non event made fun of the local politicians so frankly I didn’t care to watch it. Most young people my age only attend to raft up, enjoy beautiful people watching, which also included music, food and de swizzle. Times have changed for the better. BDA ALL De WAy burp burp burp

      • sandgrownan says:

        If anyone needs to be made fun of, it’s local politicians. Bunch of numpties.

  2. upset voter says:

    Opportunity for WestEnd Boat Club which is across the way!

  3. Phishes says:

    The problem is that there is noone taking responsibility for the huge amount of trash thrown overboard during this event. Literally hundreds of bottles sunk on the bottom.

    • CashTrashBash says:

      I have to actually surprisingly disagree with the comments regarding the trash. I personally have gone the Monday afterwards for multiple years, using a Snuba / Lung to dive up the trash and there is far less pollution in Mangrove Bay after completing a 4 hour sweep them there is in other sections of Bermuda’s waters. If we are so concerned about the pollution after large events such as Non-Mariners, then similar to the Christmas Day gathering at Elbow Beach, a clean up the following day should be encouraged and organized.

    • Franklin Jr says:

      Actually, there’s a quiet group that goes out and dives in the few days / week after the event to clean up the bay

      They also do a modest trade in sunglasses

  4. Family Man says:

    Liquor licence restrictions on Members’ Clubs now make this event a non-starter.

  5. Marcy says:

    They could hold it every other year like the Boat Parade. Builds anticipation for it, gives time to gain sponsorship or raise funds and gives volunteers a break.

  6. Warwick West says:

    such a shame. Such an iconic event and so truely “Bermudian” !!

    • One Who Escaped says:

      Yep, but a lot of iconic Bermudian events are disappearing. No one wants to put any effort into anything anymore. Like a post said earlier, young people just want to drink and party. No community effort, just me me me. We have become a selfish, greedy island of people.

  7. Dumb says:

    Non-Mariners raft up is a toilet bowl! Hundreds of people polluting our waters! No way I would swim in that water! And all calling in sick on Monday morning!

    • wahoo says:

      Yup the only good thing about that raft up and all the others is that I know where not go!

  8. puzzled says:

    ANOTHER EVENT left in the wind.

    Oh well.
    24-11.

  9. Um no says:

    Bitcoins don’t float lol

  10. Me says:

    Lot a stuff gonna be cancellled after the Newport Bermuda race ain’t jack going on in BDA after that the OBA planning has ended nothing left but nasty politicians and their fantasy bitcoin to pretend they are smart

    • Lol says:

      Let me get this straight because we dont have the ubp I mean Oba in power and we dont have an elitist sail boat race we are doomed? Lol it was the ppl who voted out the ubp I mean oba. And the oba or whatever they are called are soon to be extinct because the ppl are tired of being LIED to. But you Oba ubp trolls would rather have politicians who lie to you and manipulate data to get what they want. Well the majority of us who have sense and morals and want honest politicians and not a minority government, the first in our history. You can say what you want about the PLP at least they haven’t been proven to be LIARS on so many different occasions like your precious almost defunct oba. The oba have had more controversy in 4 and half years than the PLP had in 14. And the OBA WAS given a fair chance so you are not going to tell that lie. So concentrate on having an opposition to put out in the next general election because by the looks of it there wont be any. 25-11 mate

      • Toodle-oo says:

        That has to be the funniest thing ever posted on the internet

      • SMH says:

        “we dont have an elitist sail boat race we are doomed?”

        pretty much, yes.
        You might want to ask a young person to explain basic economics to you. Clearly, you don’t have the skillset to understand how…anything…works.

  11. Excellent.
    Wise decision!!

    • SMH says:

      It’s a safety issue, since the majority of the population don’t swim

    • Wahoo says:

      Less money for charities makes you happy?

    • Toodle-oo says:

      And exactly what do you mean by this ?

  12. Such a shame ,the ships are in and this would have been an opportunity to provide an event they could enjoy from land or tour vessel.
    Seas the day.
    This might require a clean up crew but well worth it.

  13. Jus' Askin' says:

    I will try to be NICE ;-) ;-)

    Sandy’s Boat Club ONLY wants it’s members and their guests
    Make sure You use the public dock :-D

    • Toodle-oo says:

      And they just figured this out since hosting it since 1972 ? ?
      You weren’t being nice you were being stupid .

      • Jus' Askin' says:

        You do not know the history of Sandy’s Boat Club :-(

        They Do Not Want Certain People in their club ;-) ;-)

        • Toodle-oo says:

          Sounds like you’ve never set foot in the place or know any of the members .
          Keep making your ridiculous , misinformed trollish comments .

          (And your childish smilies still don’t add any legitimacy to you comments)

        • Anbu says:

          Truth. Unless of course u are the bartender

  14. overboardhope says:

    A very wise decision. A serious accident was sure to happen!

  15. PANGAEA says:

    THE NON MARINERS RACE IS A NATIONAL EVENT.

    There is far too much negativity taking place here .

    This is what what happens to so many organisations when team managers drop the baby, rather than pass the ball on to their sucessors..

    The non mariners boats sink because they don’t have a “chief bailer.”

    We almost lost he AGG SHOW ! 360 sank ! Virtually no buss service !

    What is going up in smoke next ?

    We don’t live in a perfect world , however we need to make the best of what we have, as life is a celebration.

    Where is the motivation and enthusiasm ?

    Is this what we get when ” milenials ” sink the ship.

    When are we going to run out of excuses for our failures.

    EVERY BODY LOOSES !

    • NoNopeNaah says:

      National Event? By “National” you mean for one sector of the community right. Let’s not get ahead of ourselves here and use these terms loosely.

      • PANGAEA says:

        My splitting hairs, is actually poetic license.

        I did say we don’t live in a perfect world, however the N.M.R. is actually known all over.

        I guess that we could actually call the event international as people actually participate from all over .

        Do we actually need your authorisation to have a little fun once in a while ?

      • Toodle-oo says:

        ~National Event? By “National” you mean for one sector of the community right. ~

        But it is attended by all sectors. How do we know ?
        Last year fights broke out and people ended up in hospital .

        • Redrose says:

          Fights were all over the place but that’s what happens when you have a bunch of over aged women mixing with young people and trying to play games to cause friction. I work on a boat as a bartender and we had a group of 5 “cougars” getting all hot and heavy over some young boys and they caused a major fight between them and the younger girls!

          It’s a reflection of these recently divorced older women (you know who you are) trying to get their “groove” back. I see it all the time but particularly at non-Mariners every year!

          • Toodle-oo says:

            ~It’s a reflection of these older women (you know who you are) trying to get their “groove” back. I see it all the time but particularly at non-Mariners every year!~

            And you’ll see it in magnitudes of 100 on Monday coming !

    • Anbu says:

      How is this the mellenials fault? That boat club is still being run by the same bunch of drinkers since i was like 3 yrs old. Blame them.

  16. Yes I says:

    Non mariners should’ve been cancelled decades ago. To have a tradition celebrating the mockery of emancipation day has no place in BDA. The raft up will continue and as all things in life shall evolve into whatever it becomes.