AH Riise BVI Billfish Tournament 2008

After a relaxing lay day spent cruising neighboring islands, including a true Caribbean lobster bake, the final day’s fishing provided for some tight finishes.  Two days in, four boats were tied for first place.

Nineteen boats from Ecuador, St. Maarten, Puerto Rico, BVI and the US entered this year, but Jay Johnston’s Ay Caramba (out of Dorado, PR) walked away with first place in this second annual event by achieving her total of 2000 points first. Second and third went to Gary Gray Ingram’s Big Oh (Jupiter, FL) and George Lorton’s Therapy (Tampa , FL) respectively.

Spirits were high at the gala awards dinner held on the Almond Walk at Bitter End. Following opening remarks from the Honourable Ralph T. O’Neal, Premier and Tourism Minister of the BVI, the prizes were handed out by Tournament Director Lawrence Wheatley and A.H. Riise Vice-President, Sebastiano Paiewonsky-Cassinelli.

For the victory, Mr. Johnston received a Rolex timepiece, an engraved Waterford crystal bowl, four bottles of Woodford Reserve, four tickets on Seaborne Airlines, a World Billfish Series invitation to the WBS World Championship in Costa Rica, and a free entry into the San Juan International Billfish Tournament, August 11-17 at Club Nautico de San Juan. 

“This was a first class tournament in every way,” said Johnston. “The fishing was fun and Bitter End was the perfect host. It was my first time here, and I will surely return many times.”

Therapy, a 68 foot Hatteras, won the first Bitter End Yacht Club Hatteras-Viking fishoff. For their efforts Therapy received 4 days and three nights for 2, presented by Bitter End General Manager, Mikhail Shamkin.

Several new events were introduced this year to enhance the enjoyment of shoreside guests. Brown-Forman CEO (Chief Entertainment Officer) Tim Laird entertained guests with a combined mixology and cooking class on Sunday and hosted a wine tasting with his Sonoma-Cutrer and 5 Rivers wines.  On Tuesday evening, a cocktail creation cocktail for the crews was held on the dock. The only requirement was that they use Finlandia, Jack Daniels or Southern Comfort or any combination thereof. For their unique creation of Beetlejuice, the crew of Big Oh received a guest room for the night, courtesy of Bitter End.

Following the awards, Mr Paiewonsky-Cassinelli presented a check for $40,000 to Premier Honourable Ralph T. O’Neal, OBE  for BVI charities. This makes almost $100,000 in donations to local charities in the two years the event has been run.

“We are delighted to partner with the government of the BVI to stage this tournament and are pleased that we have been able to make contributions that will improve the lives of the people of the British Virgin Islands,” said Mr. Paiewonsky-Cassinelli. Proceeds from the tournament go to BVI charities through the Community Foundation of the Virgin Islands.

In the photo at left, from the left: Bitter End's General Manager Mikhail Shamkin, Tournament Director and Owner/General Manager of the Anegada Reef Hotel, Mr. Lawrence Wheatley; Premier Honourable Ralph T. O’Neal, OBE  and Owner/Vice-President of AH Riise Stores, Mr. Sebastiano Paiewonsky-Cassinelli.

For more information and video highlights of the tournament, go to bvibillfishtournament.com.

The dates for next year’s AH Riise BVI Billfish Tournament are July 8-11, 2009.