Viking Yacht Co. announced the results of its eighth annual Viking Key West Challenge tournament, which drew 48 boats and more than 500 people.
“The Viking Key West Challenge is an amazing event that just keeps getting bigger and better, with more boats and more people participating every year,” Viking president and CEO Pat Healey said in a statement. “It’s now the largest tournament on the island.”
Women took several trophies at the tournament, including Rosalie “Roe” Apostoleres, who fished her Viking 50 Roenick. She earned Top Angler and Top Lady Angler (with 14 sailfish) and Top Boat (18 sails total) for the second consecutive year. Capt. Casey Hunt helmed the boat.
Capt. Scott Walker put Terri Groth on 10 sailfish, which was good for Second Place Sailfish, Second Place Angler and Second Place Lady. Groth, fishing from her Valhalla 41 Papa’s Pilar, also landed Second Place Kingfish, which weighed in at 22.4 pounds.
Five pink flags flew for Lindsey Way aboard the Viking 56 Smoke Show. With Capt. David Ide at the helm, Way also weighed in two kingfish, pushing her to Third Place Angler and Third Place Lady Angler.
Top Junior Angler went to Logan Young. The Blue Eyes angler released three sailfish and took a 15.6-pound tuna to the scales. Teammate Matt Vatland caught a pair of kingfish, earning the boat Second Place Kingfish while he took Third Place Kingfish Angler.
The Tuna Division was highly contested, with 53 fish brought to the scales. Baller, a Valhalla 41, took First Place Tuna in the team division, and Code Blue’s Roy Dupuis weighed a 31.6-pound fish for First Place Tuna Angler.
Next year’s Key West Challenge is scheduled for April 12-16. The tournament is open exclusively to Viking and Valhalla owners.
