The smallest ever Manx team has made the longest trip in the history of the NatWest Island Games to the British overseas territory of Bermuda in the North Atlantic Ocean.
Situated roughly 1,100 miles north-east of Miami, Florida, Bermuda is not located within the tropics as many believe, but humidity is extremely high at this time of the year with temperatures rarely dropping below 55F or exceeding 90F.
The nearest landmass is Cape Hatteras, North Carolina, about 640 miles west-northwest.
The Archipelago consists of 138 islands and the capital town is Hamilton (population 1,500). The total population of Bermuda is more than 66,000 in an area of just over 20 square miles.
Because of the sheer logistics and expense of travelling across the Atlantic to the venue, most of the islands competing in the 15th bi-ennial Games are taking considerably smaller teams than usual.
Normally, an Isle of Man team consisting of up to 200 competitors, officials and media representatives travel on chartered direct flights or, as in the 2011 event to the Isle of Wight, via two sea crossings and a long coach drive between Liverpool and Portsmouth.
This time, approximately 85 competitors have travelled over to Bermuda, together with officials and a number of spectators.
The first of the main teams, cycling and swimming, left Ronaldsway late Monday afternoon on the first leg of their 3,500-mile journey to Bermuda via London Gatwick. They were followed 24 hours later by the girl gymnasts and most of the athletes. Yesterday, another batch containing badminton players and triathletes set off, while today (Thursday) the final groups of athletes and male gymnasts head west.
Others, include the lady golfers and some of the triathletes, have travelled independently via New York.
The opening ceremony takes place at Bermuda’s national sports centre in Hamilton on Saturday evening.
The first main event of the six-day Games will be the triathlon on Sunday morning when the Isle of Man will be represented by Kristian Cowin, Andrew Isaac, Juan Kinley, Andy Nash, Roger Raatgever, Paul Swindale, Gill Crennell and Joanne Hawkins.
The athletics teams is: Charlotte Bawden, Andrea De Bruin, Rachel Franklin, Gail Griffiths, Hannah Howard, Bethan Pilley, Hannah Riley, Rebecca Wallace, Alan Corlett, Ryan Fairclough, Ed Gumbley, Jack Lemaire, Ollie Lockley, Kevin Loundes, Anand Patel, Joseph Reid.
Anand Patel, who is contesting the long jump, is also a member of the men’s gymnastics team alongside Tony Duchars, Brandon Garrett, Nicholas Harvey, Harshul Measuria and Mukunda Measuria.
The girls’ gymnastics squad is: Nicole Burns, Emily Dale-Beeton, Aoife Donnelly, Tara Donnelly,
Grace Harrison and Rebecca Johnson.
Badminton’s line-up is: Laura Beggs, Cristen Callow, Kayleigh Callow, Kim Clague, Jessica Li,
Cameron Avery, Neil Harding, Kevin Harding, Ben Li and Baillie Watterson.
For the first time, the Isle of Man will be represented in the beach volleyball competition by Daniel Smith and Michael Travers.
Cycling is traditionally one of the island’s strongest disciplines and this year’s squad is led by Andrew Roche, the most decorated Manx competitor in the 28-year history of the Island Games.
He is joined by prolific mountain biker Elliot Baxter, Darren Bell, Tom Black, Robin Garry, Paul Kneen, Josh Knights, Leon Mazzone, Chris Nicholson, Rob Sorby, Natalie Arrowsmith and first-timer Sophie Black.
The four golfers are Anne Gundry, Sue Kinrade, Heather McKenna and Catherine ‘Caps’ Preston. Sadly, there will be no male representatives from golf in Bermuda.
The lone sailor is Hannah Howitt and pistol shooter Roger Winskill.
The swimming team is: Charlotte Atkinson, Stephanie Brew, Ciara Cassidy, Allana Kelly, Laura Kinley, Tom Bielich, Mark Copparelli, Guy Davies, Luke Guthrie and Grant Halsall, who is travelling direct to Bermuda from university in Chigago. The tennis squad is: Karen Faragher, Laura Feely, Elena Snidal, Katie Tinkler, Oliver Broadhead, Marc Chinn, Ryan Chinn and Billy Harris who gained a wildcard entry into the Junior Wimbledon competition last week.