OnBoard Magazine - Summer 2014

The success of this event was immediately obvious to all in attendance, with constant praises from owners, captains and dealers prompting Viking to quickly confirm the next Key West Challenge for the second week of April in 2015, and they’re already accepting and receiving reservations. BLUEWATER CREWS Several Bluewater Yacht Sales customers and staff were in attendance throughout the weekend, including Bluewater principles, the Hall and Black families who enjoyed fishing aboard Charles Barker’s Alexis , the impressively massive Viking 82C. Alexis and her crew were recognized in several categories of the tournament, including first place honors in the tuna and kingfish divisions. In total during the one day tournament, the fleet released 103 sailfish and weighed in over 50 fish. Additional Bluewater customers attending the event included Foolish Pleasure and Odin , of which angler Nancy Bryant Taylor was awarded second place in the Top Female Angler category of the tournament. Interestingly, the Taylors aboard their 61’ enclosed bridge Odin , were awaiting the delivery of their new 62’ enclosed bridged while the Key West Challenge happened to serve as the debut of the Turner family’s brand new 62 enclosed bridge, Foolish Pleasure . This coincidence allowed the two crews to discuss Viking’s new 62EB model at length, at a time when the Taylors were working through some of the finer points of their build decisions and options. All three crews that were involved truly enjoyed their time in Key West, and were equally pleased to be there to help celebrate such an important milestone as Viking’s 50th anniversary. “The Bluewater family is very proud to have been such a large part of Viking Yachts’ success for much of their first 50 years, and we were honored to be there,“ added Bluewater partner Earle Hall. In fact, the Foolish Pleasure team has already booked their slip and registered their boat for the 2015 version of the event, looking forward to the tournament and activities as well as returning to that one-of-a-kind Key West atmosphere. KEY WEST CHALLENGE The core of Bluewater’s Virginia management team, the Black and Hall families, enjoyed a sun-drenched day fishing aboard Bluewater customer Charles Barker’s 82’ Viking, Alexis Alexis Captain Andy Morris and Mate Matt “LCB” Serafin accept Top Tuna award from Viking’s Pat Healey Long time Viking and Bluewater partner Eric McDowell of Christi Insurance was an event sponsor photo: JDeCastro / Against The Wind Images / Viking Yachts 7 SUMMER 2014