H.E. Dr. Michael P. Pateman is an archaeologist, cultural historian, and Ambassador-at-Large for History, Culture, and Museology for The Bahamas. His work focuses on documenting and interpreting Bahamian heritage through community engagement, filmmaking, and storytelling. He is the author of the new children’s book Mikey and the Big Regatta. He is currently editing Unmasking Junkanoo, a documentary and companion book that highlights the personal stories and lived experiences of Junkanoo practitioners in Grand Bahama. Dr. Pateman’s broader portfolio spans maritime heritage, the Lucayans, the Transatlantic Slave Trade, and contemporary cultural traditions, with a commitment to preserving and elevating Bahamian identity for local and global audiences. He is currently seeking funding support for his forthcoming Regatta 2026 book, which will celebrate and document the legacy of sloop sailing across the islands.

This project will produce a richly illustrated book and a series of videos that go beyond documenting the 2026 regatta season to tell the deeper story of sloop sailing and boat building as one of The Bahamas’ most enduring cultural traditions. Centered on the major regattas such as the National Family Island Regatta, the Long Island Regatta, the Best of the Best, and others, the book will weave together history, craftsmanship, and community through the lives of master sailors and builders like Leslie “Buzzy” Rolle, Stefan Knowles, and the generations of legends who shaped the sport. By pairing on-the-ground reporting from the 2026 season with archival research, oral histories, and dynamic photography, the project will illuminate how rivalry, skill, and heritage intersect on the water, offering a compelling narrative of a tradition that continues to define Bahamian identity.