Robert Symonette
Encyclopedia
Robert "Bobby" Hallam Symonette (1924 – 1 March 1998) was a Bahamian
yachtsman, businessman and politician.
Bobby Symonette was an accomplished international yachtsman. He represented the Bahamas at five Olympic Games
, at Melbourne
in 1956, Rome
in 1960, Tokyo
in 1964, Mexico
in 1968 and Munich
in 1972. Symonette twice won gold in the 5.5 metre keelboat event at the Sailing World Championships, in Sydney
in 1980 and 1986. He also won silver at three World Championships in 1962 in Poole, Dorset, England, in 1973 in Lysekil
, Sweden
and in 1977 at Bénodet
, France
.
Symonette was a founding member of the Nassau Yacht Club and an International Yacht Racing Union judge. Symonette served as President of the Bahamas Olympic Association from 1957 to 1972.
Symonette was also a member of a prominent Bahamian political family. Bobby Symonette was the son of Sir Roland Symonette
, the first Premier
of the Bahama Islands and his second wife, the former Thelma Bell Clepper of Andalusia, Alabama
. Symonette was also the half-brother of Brent Symonette
, the current Deputy Prime Minister of the Bahamas and Deputy Leader Free National Movement
(FNM).
Bobby Symonette served formerly as Speaker of the Bahamas' House of the Assembly
.
The Bahamas
The Bahamas , officially the Commonwealth of the Bahamas, is a nation consisting of 29 islands, 661 cays, and 2,387 islets . It is located in the Atlantic Ocean north of Cuba and Hispaniola , northwest of the Turks and Caicos Islands, and southeast of the United States...
yachtsman, businessman and politician.
Bobby Symonette was an accomplished international yachtsman. He represented the Bahamas at five Olympic Games
Olympic Games
The Olympic Games is a major international event featuring summer and winter sports, in which thousands of athletes participate in a variety of competitions. The Olympic Games have come to be regarded as the world’s foremost sports competition where more than 200 nations participate...
, at Melbourne
Melbourne
Melbourne is the capital and most populous city in the state of Victoria, and the second most populous city in Australia. The Melbourne City Centre is the hub of the greater metropolitan area and the Census statistical division—of which "Melbourne" is the common name. As of June 2009, the greater...
in 1956, Rome
Rome
Rome is the capital of Italy and the country's largest and most populated city and comune, with over 2.7 million residents in . The city is located in the central-western portion of the Italian Peninsula, on the Tiber River within the Lazio region of Italy.Rome's history spans two and a half...
in 1960, Tokyo
Tokyo
, ; officially , is one of the 47 prefectures of Japan. Tokyo is the capital of Japan, the center of the Greater Tokyo Area, and the largest metropolitan area of Japan. It is the seat of the Japanese government and the Imperial Palace, and the home of the Japanese Imperial Family...
in 1964, Mexico
Mexico
The United Mexican States , commonly known as Mexico , is a federal constitutional republic in North America. It is bordered on the north by the United States; on the south and west by the Pacific Ocean; on the southeast by Guatemala, Belize, and the Caribbean Sea; and on the east by the Gulf of...
in 1968 and Munich
Munich
Munich The city's motto is "" . Before 2006, it was "Weltstadt mit Herz" . Its native name, , is derived from the Old High German Munichen, meaning "by the monks' place". The city's name derives from the monks of the Benedictine order who founded the city; hence the monk depicted on the city's coat...
in 1972. Symonette twice won gold in the 5.5 metre keelboat event at the Sailing World Championships, in Sydney
Sydney
Sydney is the most populous city in Australia and the state capital of New South Wales. Sydney is located on Australia's south-east coast of the Tasman Sea. As of June 2010, the greater metropolitan area had an approximate population of 4.6 million people...
in 1980 and 1986. He also won silver at three World Championships in 1962 in Poole, Dorset, England, in 1973 in Lysekil
Lysekil
Lysekil is a locality and the seat of Lysekil Municipality in Västra Götaland County, Sweden. It had 7,568 inhabitants in 2005.The picturesque coastal town of Lysekil is a major tourist destination during the Swedish summer period from June to the end of August.Lysekil is known as originator of the...
, Sweden
Sweden
Sweden , officially the Kingdom of Sweden , is a Nordic country on the Scandinavian Peninsula in Northern Europe. Sweden borders with Norway and Finland and is connected to Denmark by a bridge-tunnel across the Öresund....
and in 1977 at Bénodet
Bénodet
Bénodet is a commune in the Finistère département in Brittany in northwestern France.The name Benoded means in Breton, "mouth of the Odet". It is about 16 kilometres south of Quimper....
, France
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
.
Symonette was a founding member of the Nassau Yacht Club and an International Yacht Racing Union judge. Symonette served as President of the Bahamas Olympic Association from 1957 to 1972.
Symonette was also a member of a prominent Bahamian political family. Bobby Symonette was the son of Sir Roland Symonette
Roland Theodore Symonette
Sir Roland Theodore Symonette achieved high office as a Bahamian political figure.Roland "Pop" Symonette was born on the small island settlement of Current, Eleuthera...
, the first Premier
Premier
Premier is a title for the head of government in some countries and states.-Examples by country:In many nations, "premier" is used interchangeably with "prime minister"...
of the Bahama Islands and his second wife, the former Thelma Bell Clepper of Andalusia, Alabama
Andalusia, Alabama
Andalusia is a city in and the county seat of Covington County, Alabama, United States. At the 2000 census the population was 8,794.According to the 2007 U.S. Census estimates, the city had a population of 8,705...
. Symonette was also the half-brother of Brent Symonette
Brent Symonette
Brent Symonette is a prominent Bahamian businessman, a Member of Parliament for the St. Annes constituency, and the current Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister of the Bahamas. He is a member of the Free National Movement ....
, the current Deputy Prime Minister of the Bahamas and Deputy Leader Free National Movement
Free National Movement
The Free National Movement is a socially liberal and economically conservative political party in The Bahamas. It is currently the ruling party, winning 23 of the 41 seats in the Bahamas House of Assembly on May 2, 2007; two of these seats are currently being contested in Electorial Court by the...
(FNM).
Bobby Symonette served formerly as Speaker of the Bahamas' House of the Assembly
Parliament of the Bahamas
The Parliament of The Bahamas is the bicameral national parliament of Commonwealth of The Bahamas. The parliament is formally made up by the Queen , an appointed Senate, and an elected House of Assembly...
.
See also
- A Crew and Its Skipper, Time Magazine, 4 July 1960
- Consultant's Paradise Lost, Time Magazine, 8 Sept 1967