Dart becomes key Catboat sponsor

(CNS): The Cayman Catboat Club received a $175,000 from the islands’ biggest developer on Thursday after signing a three year sponsorship agreement with Dart. The money will be put towards the restoration costs of the magnificent Whittaker cat, as well as the club house and will also be used for a series of catboat races and regattas. Jerris Miller, president of the club explained that the Whittaker will be used for educational programmes and outreach, to ensure that catboats and their importance in the history of the Cayman Islands are not forgotten. Miller and VP Capt Kem Jackson received the cheque from Dart at a Business After Hours event at Camana Bay. (Photo Dennie Warren Jr)

As well as working on the restoration of the historic vessel the Club is continuing the renovation of the Catboat Clubhouse which is located next to the Lobster Pot on South Church Street.“The Clubhouse is key to our future,” said Miller. “When fully renovated, the historic building will house a fully functional workshop and museum, allowing us to deepen our outreach efforts and instil a passion for restoring and sailing the small craft in members of the local community.”

The rest of the cash will be spread over three years, with CI$25,000 each year going to fund the races and regattas. The races will take place on Seven Mile Beach and in the North Sound, culminating in the Camana Bay Catboat Cup Series Championship atRoyal Palms on 14 November.

Dart has been a supporter of the Cayman Catboat Club for over a decade, ever since Austin Ebanks one of Dart’s first employees as well as some of the Club’s other members introduced Dart’s CEO Mark VanDevelde to this historic and elegant craft.

“The tremendous effort that the Club’s members put into preserving such an authentic aspect of Cayman’s heritage resonates well with our community and philanthropic goals, and ties back to one of Dart’s core values of industriousness. Dart is very proud to be a long-time supporter of the Cayman Catboat Club.”