MAKING A SPLASH After delivery in the Fall, Fins Up wintered in Wilmington for the first four months, taking some simple shake-down trips around home in the Southport and Cape Fear area. “I’ve been around a lot of new boats and airplanes; there are always bugs to shake out,” Chris says. Given the size and scope of all the systems aboard, getting them all working in harmony is just part of the process. In this span of time he hired a full-time Captain who went to work finishing out the punch-list and gearing up the boat for some serious traveling and adventure. The hiring of Captain Todd Anderson, another long-time Wilmington area resident and former Bluewater team member, was another serendipitous recommendation made by Clark while at the Fort Lauderdale Boat Show. “Our first real trip was to Key West. We had thirteen people, friends and family, at the Viking Key West Challenge,” Chris reports. They fished the tournament but also took their large group of guests on sunset cruises in the evenings. “Eight of us, including Captain and mate, stayed on the boat. “It was amazing, it handles thirteen people like nothing at all,” Chris says approvingly. Regarding the boat’s performance with the top-tier MTU power package, owner and Captain alike are impressed by both its range and speed. Fins Up made the trip from Wilmington to Key West in just two days, thanks to a good weather window and the massive fuel capacity skillfully tucked in among all the other accommodations aboard the 72 Convertible. SOAKING IT IN Next up, the Wordens rendezvoused with Capt. Todd and the boat in Nassau for a cruise through the Exumas island chain in The Bahamas, with their son’s young family joining them aboard. They fished and explored by day while staying out at anchor each night for most of the trip, making good use of that upgraded space in the 72. However, Chris points out they VIKING 72C LOA: 72’ 8” Beam: 20’ 0” Draft: 5’ 9” Fuel Capacity: 2,594 gal. Water Capacity: 372 gal. Gross Weight: 129,696 lbs. Power: Twin MTU V16 M96Ls @ 2,635 hp ea. Genset: Twin Cummins Onan @29kW Stabilization: Seakeeper 26 16 BLUEWATER
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