the racing fervor was not limited to crew, however. passengers on the boats were spectators and volunteers, usually rooting for the boat that they were traveling on. in addition, as most of the able-bodied men were employed as either mariners or cane cutters, the elderly, women and children highly anticipated the return of the schooners. on the event of the top of a mast being spotted, eager loved ones on shore would watch anxiously as two or three ships would fight for first anchorage. in this way, with essentially all anguillians in one way or another involved in the boat race, it would have an indelible mark upon the culture of the island.