Robert Symonette

Career

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 served as President of the Bahamas Olympic Association from 1957 to 1972. In 1977 hosted the International 5.5 Metre Class World Championship and the Scandinavian Gold Cup in the waters off Key Biscayne, Florida.

Symonette was also the half-brother of Brent Symonette, the former 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.

Achievements

• Bobby Symonette was an accomplished international yachtsman. 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.

Membership

Symonette was a founding member of the Nassau Yacht Club and an International Yacht Racing Union judge. Symonette was also a member of a prominent Bahamian political family.