"Who Dat" ready to race.

By DAHALIA SMITH, NG Sports Reporter, dahalia@nasguard.com


"Who dat say who dat when I say who dat?"

This is the question that Cat Islanders will be asking when their A-class sloop 'Who Dat' represents them at the 52nd Cat Island Regatta set to be held August 1-4 in honor of Wilberforce Seymour.

Seymour is a past president of the Cat Island Regatta Committee. According to the current President Maxwell Burrows, he expects this year's major regatta to be the best ever. The A, B and C-class sailors will be handsomely rewarded as fashion tycoon and former Olympian Peter Nygard pledged $15,000 toward the cash prizes. In addition, the cash pot increased an extra $3,000, as Joseph Dogeandanovich donated this amount toward the first A-class cup race at a press conference held at Sailor's Choice Millennium Countdown.

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Sammy T's throwing a Cat Island bash

By Chakara Bennett, Guardian Summer Intern


The Cat Island Regatta, and Sammy T's Beach Resort's 5th Anniversary bash, coupled with the summer heat will make Cat Island one of the hottest places to be when August rolls around.

And heating up the anniversary celebrations will be world renowned jazz musician and singer, Cynthia Strachan-Saunders, who will be performing a live concert at the resort.

"This should be very exciting and different for our guests and locals who may come," said Angela Brown, the resort's day cook. "Cynthia is amazing and her voice is incredible. I would compare her range and quality to Celine Dion's maybe — but she sings jazz songs though. She always blows me away.

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Time to head back to the islands

By KARAN MINNIS
Guardian Lifestyles Reporter
karan@nasguard.com


Baha Men said it best when they sang "Going Back to the Island," and Bahamians and foreigners alike will do just that as they travel from near and far to party at the 52nd Annual Cat Island Regatta, Friday, Aug. 1 - Monday, August 4, in New Bight, Cat Island.

Each night from Friday to Sunday there will be a concert featuring a variety of Bahamian stars, with Elon Moxey performing on Friday, Ancient Man firing up the crowd on Saturday night, and K.B and Terez Hepburn heating things up on Sunday night. The Police Pop Band will also electrify the crowd, with the Police Marching Band's precision drills performed to the delight of the public. Local Cat Islanders will also perform a quadrille dance.

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Location of the Month

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Lasido Boys to defend Rake 'n' Scrape title

By STAFF WRITER, Nassau Guardian


The Lasido Boys will take a break from their usual gig at Dis We Place this weekend to defend their "King of Rake 'n Scrape" title at the Cat Island Rake 'n Scrape Festival in Arthur's Town, Friday, June 6 to Sunday, June 8.

Commissioner Charles King says Arthur's Town has been buzzing with final preparations for the festival for weeks in preparation for the upcoming event now one of the foremost cultural events in the country.

While the competition is open only to bands from Cat Island, there will be plenty of other entertainers on hand, including The Bahamas' favorite troubadour, Ronnie Butler.

Other bands performing include Andrew Jones & The Spirit House Band, The Down Home Dancers,The Falcons, RV, Terez, KB and Ancient Man.

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Cat Island: 2007 Miss Bold and Beautiful Pageant

Sunday, 7 October 2007
Venue TBD, Cat Island

The pageant will take place on Cat Island on October 7, 2007 with a venue to be determined.

Mount Alvernia - Cat Island

Said to be named after the pirate Arthur Catt, who used to make frequent stops here, Cat Island is located near the Tropic of Cancer, between Eleuthera and Long Island. It has one of the best climates in The Bahamas, with temperatures in the high 60's during the short winters, rising to the mid-80's in summer, with trade winds making the place even more comfortable.

The highest point in The Islands Of The Bahamas can be found on Cat Island. Up some 206 feet (63 meters) in the air, Mt. Alvernia stands tall through a thick forest. At the summit of this mountain lies the Hermitage, a small monastery built by Father Jerome, who was known for building cathedrals and convents throughout The Islands Of The Bahamas.

The Hermitage is a bit of an historical oddity, fascinating and strange. The hike up to see this religious site will take visitors through small villages along beautiful trails, full of island flora and fauna. The Hermitage itself is made from the limestone of the cliffs, with each piece painstakingly extracted, shaped and set by hand by the Canadian mule-skinner turned Anglican turned Roman Catholic priest, Father Jerome. The Father built the structure to scale, designed it to fit his rather diminutive form. Beloved by the island people, the priest passed away in 1956 after reaching the ripe age of 80.

Other historical sites on Cat Island include an Arawak cave, found at Columbus point, and plantation ruins, left over from the islands efforts at joining the worlds cotton growers.

The Deveaux plantation in Port Howe was built and owned by Andrew Deveaux Sr., a plantation owner from South Carolina. Andrew Deveaux Jr. of the US Navy, participated in the 1873 battles to get Nassau back from Spain. The Ambrister plantation ruins are in New Bight, adjacent to the trail leading to the Hermitage.

Another well known ruins is the remains of the Ambrister plantation, near Port Howe.

Related Links
Cat Island Photos
Bahamas.Com
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Photo by Brand Adventures