Sir durward knowles biography images

  • Sir Durward Knowles-husband, father, mentor, legend, Gold Medal human.
  • Knowles was the oldest competitor at the Games, carried the Bahamian flag in the Opening Ceremony, and finished 19th with a partner who had not even been born.
  • Sir Durward Randolph Knowles is an Olympic gold medalist and a Bahamian sailing legend.

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    By RICARDO WELLS

    Tribune Staff Reporter

    rwells@tribunemedia.net

    FROM the beginning to the end of his life, Sir Durward Randolph Knowles lived his philosophy, “fish or cut bait – either you will choose to be a part or be one way or another, whichever one it is, a decision has to be made.”

    Sir Durward was raised along with eight siblings by his father, Captain Harry Knowles and his stepmother Erma Pinder, for whom he held great affection.

    According to those that knew him best, he was born with the sea in his veins and lived to emulate his father. In fact, it was that connection to his father that pushed him to the sea.

    “Papa” as Sir Durward and his siblings called him, was everything Sir Durward wanted to be - a pilot, sea captain, yachtsman and fisherman - and over the succeeding years, his dreams all came true.

    After graduating from Queen’s College in 1934, Sir Durward apprenticed with his father.

    In 1936, Sir Durward crewed for his father in his first Star Class race and

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    Eight Bells: Sir Durward Knowles

    Sir Durward Knowles

    Bahamian Olympic icon Sir Durward Knowles died on the afternoon of February 24 at Doctors Hospital in Nassau, New Providence. He was 100 years old. Knowles, who had been admitted to hospital earlier in the week, succumbed to kidney failure and other complications. He was surrounded by family and his minister as he passed.

    Nicknamed ‘The Sea Wolf’, Knowles was introduced to the sport of sailing by his father who was himself an ardent sailing enthusiast. His first major international competition was in 1946, when he and crew Robert Levin finished third in the Star World Championships in Havana, Cuba. The following year, they teamed again and won the Star World Championship in Los Angeles, USA.

    The Bahamas had no Olympic Charter of its own in 1948, so to participate in the Olympics that year, Knowles and crew Sloane Farrington traveled to London where they handily won the British elimination series, and qualified to

  • sir durward knowles biography images

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    Bahamian sailing legend and Olympic gold medalist Sir Durward Knowles agreed to let us photograph him for the Bahamian Project following a chance encounter at Antonius Roberts’ Hillside House. On the day of our scheduled photo möte, both Sir Durward and his wife, Lady Holly Knowles, greeted us at the door as if we were long lost relatives.

    Almost instinctively, Sir Durward led us into the room where we’d be working. Walking into Sir Durward’s trophy room was like entering a one-man hall of fame – there were awards everywhere. Three of the fyra walls were lined with plaques and certificates, framed photos and newspaper clippings, medals and awards, a gold key to the port of Nassau. The other vägg was a large window.

    Visually, it was awe-inspiring.

    Photographically, it was a challenge.

    As we toiled over the complexities of perfecting the lighting, Sir Durward kept us entertained, fängslande our small crew with glowing recants of his past glory, detailing