Photo: Chris Jackson/Getty
Kate MiddletonandPrince Williamare sailing to the conclusion of their royal trip to the Caribbean.
On a rainy Friday in the Bahamas, the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge headed to Montagu Beach for one of the country’s first sailing regattas since the start of the pandemic, where the couple cheered on young sailors from the Royal Nassau Sailing Club helming iconic Bahamian sloop boats.
For the outing, Kate stepped out in a crisp white polo shirt with navy blue piping at the lapels and sleeves, which she paired with sporty khaki shorts, a woven brown belt, white sneakers and later a windbreaker. William was also dressed casually in a blue button-down shirt, navy shorts, boating shoes and a baseball cap.
Of course, the royals couldn’t help but get in on the action and indulge their competitive streaks as they took part in a husband-and-wife sail-off on separate sloops.
The race involved six boats, with a presentation on shore after for the top three finishers — including theSusan Chase, William’s boat!
The future king got a pat on the back from his wife when they both returned to the dock absolutely soaked from the rain but looking invigorated.
Sloop sailing became a beloved Bahamian pastime in the 1960s. As its popularity was on the rise, Prince William’s grandfather,Prince Philip, visited the Bahamas in 1959 to watch the King’s Cup Series from the Royal Nassau Sailing Club — the very same spot where William, 39, and Kate, 40, were enjoying one of their last afternoons in the Caribbean. (The Duke of Edinburgh was even named an Honorary Commodore and Honorary Life Member of the Club during his trip more than 60 years ago.)
Karwai Tang/WireImage
Before the race, the couple checked out a mouthwatering display of freshly caught fish on the shore, with Kate picking up a “wonderful” hog snapper.
Fisherman Gregory John Brown showed off his recent catch including a spinet lobster, yellow fin tuna and Nassau grouper. “I held up this Nassau grouper for them and said I’d caught it in 80'- deep water near the Berry Islands,” he told PEOPLE. “They said, ‘Wow!'”
Chris Jackson/Getty
The couple browsed the stalls where Brown noted, “The prince seems really down to earth. They’re good people. He may lead a different way of life, but he seemed like a whilst Bahamian person — like a real Bahamian. I want them to have a great time here.”
Fellow fisherman Gerald Davis was cleaning the catch of red snapper and trigger fish on a table as the couple passed. He told PEOPLE the royals “are awesome and very friendly.”
Friday marked William and Kate’s first full day in the Bahamas after they spent time in bothBelizeandJamaica.
Upon their arrival for the final leg of theirweek-long Caribbean tour, they received a ceremonial welcome and were then whisked away for a meeting with Bahamas’ Prime Minister Philip Davis.
Kate Middleton and Prince William.Samir Hussein/WireImage
During their visit, the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge will meet with one of William’sEarthshot Prize winners, Coral Vita, on Grand Bahama Island and see theirground-breaking ideas for restoring and preserving reefsand see firsthand how people in Abaco coped in the aftermath of Hurricane Dorian in 2019.
Can’t get enough ofPEOPLE’s Royals coverage?Sign up for our free Royals newsletterto get the latest updates onKate Middleton,Meghan Markleand more!
Norah Blake, the co-organizer ofa protest in Jamaica, explained the motivation for both demands toThe Independent: “Today we are setting the conversation of our future generations, for them to have something to build a brighter future.”
source: people.com
