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

Eleuthera, Grand Bahama, Abaco and New Providence will be represented at this year's Bahamas Sailing Association (BSA) Sunfish Nationals set for this weekend at Montagu Bay.

Up to 30 sailors are expected to take part in a long-term effort to qualify for the 2009 World Championships. Six races will be sailed in all with four races scheduled for Saturday, beginning at 11:00 a.m., and two races set for Sunday at 10:00 a.m. The sailors will be allowed to discard their worst finish.

Some of the top names in sunfish sailing expected to race include seniors Robert Dunkley, Donnie Martinborough, Grand Bahama's Jim Keigien and the BSA's Youth Director Jimmie Lowe.

Only juniors from New Providence and Eleuthera are expected to sail this weekend. The two juniors representing Eleuthera confirmed to sail this weekend are Ashton Johnson and Patrick Similien.

Lowe, however, is expected to be one of the favorites to win heading into this weekend. He recently won the Snipe Nationals that were held over the weekend. Lowe was the victor over 10 other boats as he totaled 8.25 points. Out of six races, Lowe finished with three wins and three third place finishes.

Placing second was Robert Dunkley who totaled 8.75 points. He had four second place finishes and two seconds. Gavin McKinney rounded off the top three with 15.75 points, Lori Lowe was fourth with 17.75 points and Ferdinand DeCardenas was fifth with 22 points.

According to Lowe, the Snipe Nationals kicked off a year long preparation for one of the most prestigious sailing events set for next year as most sunfish sailors also master the snipe class.

"Next year, we will be having similar events but will use them as qualifiers to go to the Snipe World Championships set for California. They will also be having the Snipe Junior World Championships there around the same time. So in this light, many of the children are practicing to try and qualify. Furthermore, all of the senior sailors who participated in the Snipe Nationals this past weekend will be vying for a spot on that team. Only the top seniors will be allowed to represent The Bahamas in this World Snipe event.

"Next year, the BSA plans to stage one qualifier for the senior championship. The juniors may also try to qualifier in the seniors qualifying race. The BSA will host a junior qualifier. The juniors show much promise as it relates to their preparation for next year as they performed well in the recent senior Snipe Nationals. My crew member Christopher Sands who is a junior assisted well in the victory," explained Lowe.

According to Lowe, Sands sailed in the sixth race alone and ended up third.

In related news, the BSA is expected to send eight junior sailors to represent New Providence at the 1st Youth National Regatta and Festival set for Governor's Harbour, from July 3-6. The event is being organized by the Central Eleuthera District Youth Advisory Council.