Five young Bahamian sailors will represent their country at the ISCA World Championships in St Croix from November 4 to 14, with support from the Friends of Exuma organisation helping make their international appearance possible.
The team comprises Joss Knowles, Tanaj Manos, Emit Knowles, Kahden Knowles and Abel Ponnore, aged between 14 and 19. They will compete under the guidance of coaches Dallas and Tamara Knowles, with three of the five sailors representing the Exuma Sailing Club.
Friends of Exuma has stepped in as the team’s official sponsor, providing financial support for the young athletes to compete against international sailors in the Sunfish class. The championships also serve as a qualifying event for the Pan American Games.
The team will follow in the footsteps of celebrated Bahamian sailors, including Olympic gold medallist Sir Durward Knowles, whose achievements remain an inspiration for the next generation.
Joss Knowles said the competition offered an opportunity to represent The Bahamas internationally and revive the country’s proud sailing tradition. Fellow sailor Tanaj Manos highlighted the mental preparation required to compete against a larger international fleet, while Emit Knowles described representing his country as a major privilege.
Kahden Knowles, who comes from a family with a long sailing tradition, said the team was travelling to compete seriously and make its country proud. The youngest member, Abel Ponnore, also expressed his honour at representing The Bahamas, saying he hoped to achieve a strong result.
Bahamas Sailing Association president Lori Lowe, who will accompany the team and serve as a judge at the championships, praised Friends of Exuma for its financial contribution, describing it as a generous gift that made the participation of the junior sailors possible.
Friends of Exuma director and treasurer Katherine Clark said the organisation wanted the sailors to know they had the support of their community and the entire country.
The organisation also highlighted the wider benefits of youth sailing, including confidence, discipline, resilience and respect for the sea.
For the five young competitors, the championships represent an opportunity to showcase Bahamian talent on an international stage and continue the country’s strong connection with sailing.