Janae Nesbitt is the new commodore of the Bermuda Power Boat Association.

The junior crown counsel ran unopposed for the top post after predecessor Robert Cardwell opted not to seek re-election during the association’s annual general meeting held last month.

Nesbitt is the third woman to hold the position and first since Kim McCallan stepped down in 2018.

She comes from a family with strong ties to the sport as her father and brother, Craig Nesbitt Sr and Jr, have competed for decades, and the 31-year-old mother of one is no stranger to the executive committee after serving as the association’s secretary for the past six years.

Among the objectives Nesbitt hopes to achieve during her tenure is to raise the sport’s profile and bolster the association’s membership at senior and junior levels.

“Basically we are just looking to move the club forward in a new direction and do more things to shine light on what’s really happening, especially because we did have a Bermuda team represent the island in Key West, Florida, in November [Race World Offshore Key West Championship],” she told The Royal Gazette.

“It’s stuff like that and different things we want to highlight that our club is actually doing and involved in.”

Nesbitt also hopes to see former competitors become involved again during her watch.

“We hope to see more people get involved really because there’s a lot of people out there that have raced boats and have been reluctant,” she added. “So we want to attract and welcome them and do more things that people will be interested in doing, we’re always open to new ideas.”

Nesbitt and her fellow executive members have already begun to plan the 2023 season, which they hope to launch in May.

“We are looking at a May start date,” she said. “We had our first committee meeting on Tuesday, where we have confirmed our race schedule which we’re going to submit to government and all the other entities before we announce it.

“Right now we are looking for more ways to build our junior program and get more youth involved.

“We had a senior national championship that we are also looking to introduce so we have some behind-the-scenes stuff in the works that we will release once everything is finalised.”

The association’s executive committee has undergone a complete makeover of late with Tai Bean the new vice commodore, Nesbitt’s father, Craig Sr, rear commodore and Jahlae Raynor the new secretary.

Nesbitt says having her father serve on the committee alongside her is a tremendous asset.

“My dad started racing around 1986 so having him on the committee will be a great asset as he brings at least 35 years of experience into the background of the association,” she added.

“So with us trying to move the club forward, having him on the committee allows us to stay grounded to our roots while moving forwardl.”

The Bermuda Personal Watercraft Association, whose auspices fall under the BPBA’s umbrella, also have a new president as Raynor has replaced predecessor Dakari White.

White resigned from the post before the end of last season. Andre Bailey is the BPWA’s vice-president.