Western Bureau: This year’s participants in the annual cross-the-harbour swim and fishermen’s regatta, set for August 1, can expect big prizes the Hanover Chamber of Commerce has said.

“The overall championship prize has moved from $10,000 to $20,000. Other cash prizes will be awarded in the male, female and veterans categories,” a release from the Chamber said. “(And) the Chamber will inaugurate the Hanover parish championship, a prize that has already attracted significant sponsorship from the private sector.”

Following an eight-year hiatus, the Lucea regatta was revived by the Chamber of Commerce last year to help improve the economic viability of the parish.

“Not much has been happening in Hanover for such a long time and Lucea in particular. We want to get Lucea back into the limelight because all the people who are travelling (now) just pass through the town and go to Negril and Montego Bay,” last year’s Chamber president, Nerris Hawthorne told the Observer then.

Last year’s competition met with success with hordes of people turning out for the event.

It led the organisers to promise a “bigger and better” event this year, which they say they intend to live up to — beginning with the prize offerings.

Fishermen from the Lucea Fishermen’s Co-operative will compete for three prizes including the largest bonito catch, biggest fish and largest multiple catch.

There will also be a boat racing competition, which will incorporate canoe racing, kayaking, bamboo rafting and wheel boat racing.

In addition, para-sailing, a sunset evening cruise and a party fete will be among the day’s attractions.

Meanwhile, the expectation is that the event, which is scheduled for Emancipation Day will attract a large number of patrons since it coincides with the annual homecoming of Hanoverians.

At the same time, promoters of this year’s event believe that with the level of interest in the regatta, other events like the Hanover Breadfruit Festival and the Rusea’s Old Students’ Association Homecoming scheduled for that week, would assume “added significance”.