While built in New Jersey, the Viking sportfishing yachts are known the world over as top of the class. And from April 9-13, the first-class Viking Key West Challenge (VKWC) featured 50 boats and over 500 guests aboard those Jersey-built Vikings. Anglers released 168 sailfish over the two days of fishing with the weigh station thumping with tuna, cobia, dolphin, kingfish and the tournament’s first-ever pompano brought to the scales.
“We want to thank all of you for being here – it was another unbelievable four days,” Viking President and CEO Pat Healey said at the Awards Dinner at the Opal Key Sunset Pier. “The fishing was good, the parties were even better and the friendship, camaraderie and fellowship were over the top. That’s what it’s all about – coming together and having a good time and doing what we love.”
Presented by Christi Insurance Group and Travelers Insurance, this year’s Viking Key West Challenge saw the Viking 61 Right Choice repeat as the Grand Champion and Top Boat in the Sailfish category, releasing 12 sails and boating a cobia. Right on their heels in Second Place was the Valhalla 55 Wingman II with 10 sailfish releases, followed in Third Place by Pipe Dreamer, a Viking 70, with eight.
Right Choice angler Lucie Kapusta won Top Angler with eight releases, as well as Top Female Angler. Second went to Brad VandenBerg on Wingman II with a half dozen sailfish releases and a kingfish. Christina Henry on the Valhalla 37 Rehab took Third Place Angler with five releases.
In the tuna category, Guy Lanciano aboard the 58 On A Roll took first place. Jessika Gonzalez on the 90 Zatara won First Place for dolphin, while Richard Battaglia on The Interview, a 68, and Al West Jr. on the 72 Tami Ann captured First for kingfish and Cobia, respectively. Rob Lopez on The Provider, an 80, took First for bottomfish.
The youngsters are always the stars of the show. This year it was 11-year-old Hayden Rickman – never without his cowboy hat – who won the Top Junior Angler award with four sailfish releases aboard the family’s Viking 48 Dear Rodeo. This was the first time the Rickman family had participated in the Challenge. “We’ve just had a tremendous time,” said a proud Joby Rickman after his son received his award, with his brother Kamden by his side for a photograph with Pat Healey. “Everyone has been so nice and has made us feel so welcome.” “I can’t say enough about this event,” added mom, Leslie Rickman. “We love being part of the Viking family and we aren’t going anywhere. We are already talking about moving up to a bigger Viking.”
The fleet featured New Jersey built Vikings ranging from 46 to 90 feet and Valhallas from 37 to 55 feet. The industry-leading boats took over the waterfront for the week in the Conch Republic. What a sight it was as the fleet returned from fishing each day to the weigh station, with members from the Viking team, dealers and sponsoring partners greeting them with thumbs-ups, high fives and hugs.
Another newcomer to the event was the Viking 58 FFMD (Fishing For Muscular Dystrophy). Captain Paul Robertson founded the non-profit FFMD, which shares the joy of fishing to raise awareness and funds for the Muscular Dystrophy Association. “We’re very glad to be here,” said Paul. “I’ve met Pat a few times at the boat shows and always had my eye on a Viking and last year the time was right and we pulled the trigger. We’ve had center consoles, so this is a whole different animal; we’re very happy with the boat and the event has been great.”
More than 75 of Viking’s business partners sponsored the VKWC, supporting event functions, such as the Captains’ Meeting (Foley Cat), Thursday Dinner (MAN Engines) and Awards Dinner (Christi Insurance Group and Travelers Insurance). Johnson & Towers/MTU sponsored the Pool Party, while the Kids Dock Tournament was supported by The Billfish Foundation.
