THE COLUMBUS DAY REGATTA AND HOW IT BEGAN
In 1952, a group of
Miamians armed with $19 worth of postage stamps, a bronze statue created by an
Italian Count and a lot of enthusiasm set out to honor Christopher Columbus.
The Italian Consul in
Miami, Dr. J.M. Gaetani, organized the Citizens Committee, Inter American
Observance, to erect a statue honoring Columbus in Miami's Bayfront Park. The
City of Miami contributed the site but no funds, so Dr. Gaetani's committee
began a lively fundraising mail campaign. Postage was much cheaper then -- and
the $19 investment paid off nicely.
Count Vittorio de
Colbertaldo of Rome was commissioned to create the 27 foot bronze of Christopher
Columbus; it was unveiled on October 12, 1952 in Bayfront Park.
The next year the
committee, under the leadership of Timothy J. Sullivan voted to sponsor a
sailing regatta as part of the annual program. Thus the Columbus Day Regatta was
born.
On October
9, 1954, the first Columbus Day Regatta started with 24 boats. In 1978, a record
550 boats competed in what has become one of
Biscayne Bay's
highlight events of the year. In 1992, the Columbus Day Regatta, getting
ready to honor the 500th anniversary of that small boat cruise in 1492, (from
Europe to the New World) was rudely interrupted by the arrival of Hurricane
Andrew. Racing began again in 1993, and is again becoming a popular event.
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