September 29, 2026
Welcome On Board Shona, Ashley and Craig!
Friends of Exuma is glad to welcome three new directors to it’s board: Shona Perry, Ashley Stipes and Craig Stipes.
Our Partner
Exuma Sailing Club
Teaching Exuma’s young people to sail, to compete, and to carry a Bahamian tradition forward.
Who They Are
Founded in 2013 by Dallas and Tamara Knowles, the Exuma Sailing Club is the junior sailing program for the young people of Exuma. From a small starting fleet, it has grown into one of the strongest junior sailing programs in The Bahamas.
The work is with young Exumian sailors, training them, coaching them into competitors, and giving them the chance to race locally and beyond. The Club welcomes any young sailor who wants to try the sport of sailing. Sailing is a Bahamian tradition and the Exuma Sailing Club exists to make sure Exuma’s next generation carries it forward.
What Your Support Makes Possible
Sailing is not a cheap sport, and a Family Island club runs on the margins. Boats need repair. Sails need replacement. A national event needs food, judges, and a committee boat. A young sailor bound for a regatta in Nassau needs a plane ticket. Without steady support, the door closes on the child whose family cannot afford it.
Friends of Exuma has been a partner of the Exuma Sailing Club since ___. Your gifts, through the Community Fund, help keep the Club open to any young Exumian who wants to sail, whatever their family can pay, and help it reach further, hosting national events and sending its sailors to compete.
In their Words
"When I sailed in the National Family Island Regatta in 2013 I realized firsthand how special this tradition was and how it was more than just sailing, but also uniquely Bahamian. When I was approached about starting the sailing club for kids, I was 100% onboard because I wanted the kids in Exuma to have the chance to experience it. We didn't want the kids living on the island to be disadvantaged and not have great opportunities in front of them, so we got to work."
Dallas Knowles, Coach and Director, Exuma Sailing Club
June 30, 2026
Donor Spotlight: The Kieley Family
For Minnesota native and Friends of Exuma champion Margaret Kieley, Exuma is more than a favorite destination, it's a place...
Keep Them on the Water
Your gift, made directly to the Exuma Sailing Club through Friends of Exuma, funds the coaching, the boats, the sails, and the season ahead.
