OnBoard Magazine - Issue XII - 2020 Season

A t the age of 13, Nichols was playing football in North Carolina for a team that won a state championship. He noticed he was running and reacting slower with each game, and his concerned parents took him to the local doctor. Nothing was out of the ordinary, so they were advised to visit Duke Medical Center. There, Nichols was diagnosed with muscular dystrophy, which causes progressive weakness and loss of muscle mass. Nichols’ prognosis was uncertain, because research on MD more than 40 years ago was not as advanced as it is now. “I didn’t think I would live to be 25 or 30 and here I am at 61, fishing offshore for billfish,” he says. He has always had a passion for fishing, beginning with freshwater when he owned a Ranger bass boat. As his condition worsened, his arms and shoulders became weaker and he was unable to cast a rod and reel. As the disease progressed, he used cane poles for crappie until he could no longer hold a simple piece of cane in his hands. Nichols sold the Ranger and gave his fishing gear to the children in his local community. A CHANCE MEETING Though Nichols had been affected by a devastating situation, he stayed positive. After I met him at the 2019 Big Rock Blue Marlin Tournament, this personal attribute is clear. His quiet personality and calm presence draws people to him. Throughout his life,he’s been fortunate to meet many people—one of those is Darrell Gwynn. He was a world-champion drag racer until an accident left him paralyzed in 1990. Gwynn has established several charitable organizations to cure paralysis and provide automated wheelchairs to those in need; he’s also the owner of the Darrell Gwynn Ventures drag-racing team. He partners with Hooker reels and Bass Pro Shops to let people with disabilities know how they can still enjoy the outdoors and fishing in particular. Soon after he met Gwynn’s parents, Nichols was invited by Darrell himself to go fishing in Islamorada, using electric reels in a saltwater environment. That led to Nichols chartering a few times in South Florida where he and Gwynn caught sailfish. According to Keith Jones, Nichols’ lifelong friend and caretaker when they travel, “They share a bond that a nondisabled person cannot comprehend. It is a special and very unique friendship.” OVERCOMING OBSTACLES AND LIVING LIFE TO ITS FULLEST FISHING IS NO HANDICAP OCTOBER 2019 50 MARLINMAG.COM Falling behind and approaching the deadline while attending the Miami International Boat Show in 2018, Hall found a 2008 64-footViking.Hewas familiarwith theboat, theownerand the heritage—and he knew this was the one. An offer was presented, and theboatarrivedat theBluewateryard inearlyMarch. THE TRANSFORMATION Hall and his team at Bluewater are no strangers to reconfig- uring boats for people with disabilities. They understand the importance of listening to their customers’ exact needs, rather than telling them what they need for their conditions and access requirements. Not only did the boat require an extensive reconfiguration, the Bluewater team had just three months to complete the task,as thedate for theBigRock loomed. Hall assembled a team led by engineer Brian Motter. The goals weretodeterminethebestwaytogetNicholsonandofftheboat; howtogethim intothesalon;howtoaccessthemasterstateroom andhead;andto installaSeakeeperforaddedstability.Thetrans- formation fromastockVikingto KnotDoneYet wasunderway. What appeared to be the first task—getting Nichols aboard— quickly grew difficult. Almost none of the davit manufacturers wanted the liability involved in lifting a person on board a boat inanautomatedwheelchair. Hall had partnered with Nautical Structures in the past, and the company agreed to provide the davit and assist in any way possible. While most davits are bow-mounted, this one needed to be near the cockpit. So the team designed and ma a massive post and platform, substantially tying th the bridge overhang and cockpit deck. They didn’t because Nichols also wanted to have access to the br were two apparent complications: the hardtop heig to get the wheelchair through the belly band at the bridge. They created access by cutting the belly b while the outer sections attached to the tower legs figured toswivelout,creatingagate. Now one would think that fishing offshore in ro tions would make the belly-band gate rattle, but af with them during the 2019 Big Rock tournament in conditions, I did not hear one squeak or rattle, atte exact tolerances of the design and craftsmanship. component of bridge access was the height of t and allowing the davit to swivel beneath it with an wheelchair. To solve that matter, a harness was crea ing lessthanahalf-inchofclearanceunderthehardt now had his bridge access. A STEP UP Nextonthe listwasaccess fromthecockpittothesalo attempt was an aluminum ramp that mounted to bra the salon door. After fishing the 2018 Big Rock, the ized they needed a better solution. The aluminum not be easily stored because of its metal constructio MAR0919_F-HAN_Fishing isNoHandicap.indd 50 “THEONLYTHINGWECANDO IS PLAYONTHEONESTRINGWEHAVE, ANDTHAT ISOURATTITUDE. I AMCONVINCED THAT LIFE IS 10 PERCENT WHAT HAPPENS TO ME, AND 90 PERCENT HOW I REACT TO IT. AND SO IT IS WITH YOU. WE ARE IN CHARGE OF OUR ATTITUDES.” WHEN CHARLES SWINDOLL PENNED THOSEWORDS IN 1990, HE HAD ALL PEOPLE IN MIND. HOWEVER, THAT QUOTE IS A MISSION STATEMENT FOR PERRY NICHOLS, WHO LIVES LIFE TO THE FULLEST, ACCEPTS HIS CIRCUMSTANCES—AND IF THERE IS A WILL, HE AND HIS FRIENDS WILL MAKE A WAY. REPRINTED WITH PERMISSION FROM OUR PARTNERS AT C T O B E R 2 0 1 9 5 3 M A R L I N M G . C O M small and extremely helpful. While on board Knot Done Yet , I witnessed the most perfect example of brotherly love that I’ve ever seen. Jones does not leave Nichols’ side while on the boat and provides for his every need. Make no mistake, while he is fishing, Nichols is no different than any other angler, 100 per- cent focused on watching the water and the baits. As he says, “Don’t talk to me while we’re fishing.” Not that he won’t speak, it’s just an example of that laser focus. In addition to Jones, Nichols’ mate and captain couldn’t be a better match for the Knot Done Yet . Capt. Mark Rogers is expe- rienced, with an excellent reputation for putting anglers on the fish as well as patience, maintenance and going above and beyond to do whatever needs to be done to ensure a great day on the water. Mike Adkins is a tenured mate with the same atti- tude and personality as Rogers. His attention to detail regarding baits, tackle maintenance and anything Nichols might need for fishing is second to none. If you happen to be fishing a tournament and see Knot Done Yet on the docks, I would strongly encourage you to stop by and talk with Perry Nichols or any of his friends. You will walk away a better person. ABOUT THE AUTHOR Capt. Tom Southward has been fishing the offshore waters of North Carolin and Virginia since 1984 a has been a contributing writer for Marlin since 2016. He resides with his family in Richmond, Virginia. Simultaneously, other preparations and considerations had to be addressed with the various tournament committees. Most rules did not allow any type of electric reel for angling, only for teasers and dredges. The Big Rock Blue Marlin Tournament, Hatteras Marlin Club and the Virginia Beach Billfish Tournament boards all amended their rules to allow electric reels in 2018. This action welcomed people with disabilities, letting them fish billfish tournaments while also showing the tournaments’ support for the disabled. When many of these rules were established originally, rules committees believed that an electric reel was an advantage. They now understand that an electric reel, especially for some- one with a disability, can be a huge disadvantage. The rod stays in the rod holder nomatter where the fishmoves. Inmany cases, because no one else can touch the reel, the angler might or might not be able to adjust the drag throughout the battle. For 2019, the Pirates Cove Billfish Tournament amended its rules to authorize the use of electric reels for angling. These decisions will hopefully spur other tournament committees to MAR0919_F-HAN_Fishing is No Handicap.indd 53 8/14/19 3:40 PM MARLIN MAGAZINE STORY BY CAPT. TOM SOUTHWARD O C T O B E R 2 0 1 9 5 3 M A R L I N M A G . C O M any tournament within the United States and beyond. NO “I” IN TEAM Fortunately, I was able to spend some time with the members of the Knot Done Yet team and fish with them during the 2019 Big Rock tournament. “You will never hear the word ‘I’ come out of Perry Nichols’ mouth,” Jones says. “He has been blessed in his life and has been blessed with an amazing group of friends—not crew—but true friends that travel and fish with him.” Everyone on the team is on the same page, doing everything they can to make memories with Nichols. Those who tournament fish understand that although there are many boats and even more people, the community is quite small and extremely helpful. While on board Knot Done Yet , I witnessed the most perfect example of brotherly love that I’ve ever seen. Jones does not leave Nichols’ side while on the boat and provides for his every need. Make no mistake, while he is fishing, Nichols is no different than any other angler, 100 per- cent focused on watching the water and the baits. As he says, “Don’t talk to me while we’re fishing.” Not that he won’t speak, it’s just an example of that laser focus. In addition to Jones, Nichols’ mate and captain couldn’t be a better match for the Knot Done Yet . Capt. Mark Rogers is expe- rienced, with an excellent reputation for putting anglers on the fish as well as patience, maintenance and going above and beyond to do whatever needs to be done to ensure a great day on the water. Mike Adkins is a tenured mate with the same atti- tude and personality as Rogers. His at ention o d tail regarding baits, tackle maintenance and anything Nichols might need for fishing is second to none. If you happen to be fishing a tournament and s e Kn t Done Yet on the docks, I would strongly encourage you to stop by and talk with Perry Nichols or any of his friends. You will walk away a better person. ABOUT THE AUTHOR Capt. Tom Southward has been fishing the offsh re waters of North Carolina and Virginia since 1984 and has been a contributing writer for Marlin since 2016. He resides with his family in Richmond, Virginia. usly, other preparations and considerations had to d with the various tournament committees. Most t allow any type of electric reel for angling, only for dredges. ock Blue Marlin Tournament, Hatteras Marlin Club ginia Beach Billfish Tournament boards all amended o allow electric reels in 2018. This action welcomed disabilities, letting them fish billfish tournaments howing the tournaments’ support for the disabled. ny of these rules were established originally, rules believed that an electric reel was an advantage. nderstand that an electric reel, especially for some- isability, can be a huge disadvantage. The rod stays older nomatter where the fishmoves. Inmany cases, one else can touch the reel, the angler might or might to adjust the drag throughout the battle. , the Pirates Cove Billfish Tournament amended its thorize the use of electric reels for angling. These ill hopefully spur other tournament committees to is No Handicap.indd 53 8/14/19 3:40 PM PHOTOS BY TOM SPENCER, FISH HUNT PHOTO rmit electric reels, allowing anglers with disabilities to fish y tournament within the United States and beyond. O “I” IN TEAM rtunately, I was able to spend some time with the members of e Knot Done Yet tea and fish with them during the 2019 Big ck tournament. “You will never hear the word ‘I’ come out of Perry Nichols’ outh,” Jones says. “He as been blessed in his life and has en blessed with an amazing group of friends—not crew—but ue friends that travel and fish with him.” Everyone on the am is on he same page, doi g everything they can to make emories with Nichols. Those who tournament fish understand that although there e many boats and even m e people, the community is quite all and extremely helpful. While on board Knot Done Yet , I tnessed the most perfect example of brotherly love that I’ve er seen. Jones does not leave Nichols’ side while on the boat d provides for his every need. Make no mistake, while he is hing, Nichols is no different than any other angler, 100 per- nt focused on watch ng the water and the baits. As he says, on’t talk to me while we’re fishing.” Not that he won’t speak, s just an example of that laser focus. In addition to Jones, Nichols’ mate and captain couldn’t be a tter match for the Knot Done Yet . Capt. Mark Rogers is expe- nced, with an excellent reputation for putting anglers on e fish as well as patience, maintenance and going above and yond to do whatever needs to be done to ensure a great day the water. Mike Adkins is a tenured mate with the same atti- de and personality as Rogers. His attention to detail regardi g its, tackle maintenance and anything Nichols might need for hing is second to none. If you happen to be fishing a tournament and see Knot Done t on the docks, I would strongly encourage you to stop by and lk with Perry Nichols or any of his friends. You will walk away etter person. OUT THE AUTHOR 18 BLUEWATER