The Abaco Rage sailed the latest HTSC race in memory of Captain Randy Zimmerman who recently passed away. Captain Randy was looking out for the crew as they raced in almost nonexistent winds in the point to point race around Garden and Sandy Cays off MOW, and fittingly won the Burton Russel Trophy!
For those of you who did not know Captain Randy, he first arrived in Hope Town about 12 years ago and immediately became part of the Abaco Rage team as the unseen but loved crew member for almost every regatta from that point on.
Stafford remembers his first time helping down in Georgetown in 2003. Nomad towed the Rage and usually several chase boats down and back to the regattas for years. Randy was always willing to tow or repair a boat, offer a crew member a bed, or offer his boat if the team needed a place to cook a meal or throw a party.
Randy had a dry sense of humor and a heart of gold, and he loved Regatta Time in Abaco. He had an incredible knowledge of sailing- his past life included being the captain of the tall ship America, in 1996, and he was around a boat somewhere his entire life. Randy’s time in Hope Town with the Abaco Rage was not without drama. Any Rage crew member can tell you about the time they almost burned Nomad to the ground during a BBQ on board, or the many times the team would light fireworks off the roof of the boat. Randy never complained. During a RTIA Nomad was damaged when hit by the Rage during a summer squall. Another time, a huge windstorm caused Nomad to drag anchor up onto the rocks just outside the harbor. Successful Rage fundraisers were held to help defray repair costs. Ask any Rage member- there are plenty of stories. Randy, his boat “Nomad“, and the tender “Watts & Watts” were fixtures in Hope Town, and will be missed.
Footnote: Randy loved racing and the Abaco Rage Sailing Syndicate so much that he has willed the Nomad to the A.R.S.S. so they can continue to have a support vessel! Thank you and RIP Captain Randy.
Filed under: Current Happenings, Race Happenings
