Record entries for ‘Portie’ canoe tournament

Di Ole Marina Beach in Portland comes alive for the next five days with the staging of Port Antonio Canoe Tournament, which sails off today at 7 a.m., and the 59th International Marlin Fishing Tournament, which starts tomorrow and ends on Saturday.

A record 53 entries are down to contest today's canoe tournament, while approximately 180 fisherfolk will participate in the five-day event.

Daney-Ann Thomas, president and CEO Portland Chamber of Commerce, organisers of the event, said the two years' absence left a void and participants are eager to get out on the sea and compete again.

"We weren't able to have the competition as we would like during the pandemic, so the fishermen are very excited. Most of them just come every year to meet their friends from other parishes and to have a good time.

"It has not been held since 2020 and they are now really looking forward to that as we look to get back to normal as much as possible, but the fishermen are excited to get back to competition.

"We do not know what to really expect (from the public) but those that come will find it relaxing and will enjoy a fantastic event. I really hope for a fantastic event and a successful day," she said.

Thomas, the first female president of the 50-year-old business group after she was elected president of the chamber in 2012 at 31 years of age, noted that the tournament organisers have pulled out all the stops to ensure they have a safe and entertaining event.

She pointed out that the partnership with new sponsors West Indies Petroleum Limited (WIPL) has assisted them in expanding the event.

"The organisers have really done a fantastic job to ensure that they have put everything in place for the production of the event. I do not expect anything to be done any less than the standard expected, and that is what has driven the organisers to ensure that things are well organised.

"This is the first in a few years we will be able to have it without restrictions. We hope to use the competition to drive the community to become a part of the contest," she reasoned.

Competitors will come from six main parishes, St Thomas, Portland, St Mary, St Ann, St James and Trelawny and she expects the usual suspects to be challenging for the top prizes.

"We have the longest-running canoe competition locally. When the St James tournament is over, from time to time we have fishermen from that parish who enter and we have had a lot of support from St Mary.

"The Oracabessa fishermen always play a strong part in the tournament. They are usually in the top three every year.

"We have strong support for the tournament this year and that type of sponsorship allows you to push the competition a little bit further and make things more competitive," she added.