Boats

Stunning Boats of the South Carolina Governor’s Cup Series

A photo gallery dedicated to the amazing vessels from this year's series

By Devin Golden

Updated: August 10, 2017

Each year, South Carolina welcomes some of the most beautiful sport-fishing boats in the world for the annual Governor’s Cup Billfishing Series. Below is a gallery of photos showcasing 29 boats in this year’s fleet. Gryphon was the winning boat for this year’s series, but each owner can be proud of their vessels when they roll into any marina in the world.

Since Gryphon won this year’s Governor’s Cup, it is listed first; the others are listed alphabetically by name.

Gryphon sport-fishing boat South Carolina

Gryphon, a 60-foot Hatteras, blasts through the water. The team released 13 sailfish and eight blue marlin during the 2017 South Carolina Governor’s Cup. Cameron Rhodes / South Carolina Governor’s Cup

Fleet Statistics

• Spencer Yachts had the most boats, with seven. Ricky Scarborough was second with four, while Garlington and Hatteras each had three. • Of the 29 boats, 12 were at least 60 feet. • The smallest boat in the fleet was 33 feet long. • Voodoo Child was the fleet’s largest boat, at 72 feet.

Anticipation, a 61-foot Spencer, shows her Carolina lines. Cameron Rhodes / South Carolina Governor’s Cup

Artemis, a 50-foot Sea Island, idles in. Cameron Rhodes / South Carolina Governor’s Cup

bad becky sc governors cup sport fishing

Bad Becky, a 54 Garlington owned by Claude Burns and captained by Chase Merriman, heads in after a day offshore. Cameron Rhodes / South Carolina Governor’s Cup

Blue Sky is a 60-foot Spencer. Cameron Rhodes / South Carolina Governor’s Cup

Big Sky is a 59-foot Spencer with owner/operator Jim Johnston at the helm. Cameron Rhodes / South Carolina Governor’s Cup

Chasin, the second 60-foot Spencer of the fleet. Cameron Rhodes / South Carolina Governor’s Cup

A shot of Chasin from astern as she idles through the South Carolina waters. Cameron Rhodes / South Carolina Governor’s Cup

Dem Boys is a new 62-foot Ricky Scarborough. Cameron Rhodes / South Carolina Governor’s Cup

El Tejano, a 66-foot Spencer, is one of the largest Spencer boats in the fleet. Cameron Rhodes / South Carolina Governor’s Cup

Electric Bill, a 53-foot Jarrett Bay, coming at you. Cameron Rhodes / South Carolina Governor’s Cup

high maintenance sc governors cup sport fishing

Jeff Kubu’s High Maintenance, a 47-foot Post, landed the largest tuna of the 2017 Governor’s Cup series. Cameron Rhodes / South Carolina Governor’s Cup

Flyboy IV is a 55-foot Hatteras. Cameron Rhodes / South Carolina Governor’s Cup

Another shot of Flyboy IV at the docks. Cameron Rhodes / South Carolina Governor’s Cup

Frayed Knot, a 59-foot Chadwick, sports a beautiful green bottom paint. Cameron Rhodes / South Carolina Governor’s Cup

Game On, a 66-foot Spencer. Her owners landed the largest blue marlin in the 2017 Governor’s Cup. Cameron Rhodes / South Carolina Governor’s Cup

Home Run, a 61-foot Spencer, flies past the camera. Cameron Rhodes / South Carolina Governor’s Cup

Another shot of Home Run. Cameron Rhodes / South Carolina Governor’s Cup

Jackpot, a 63-foot Ricky Scarborough. Cameron Rhodes / South Carolina Governor’s Cup

Legal Holiday is a 48-foot Ocean Yachts. Cameron Rhodes / South Carolina Governor’s Cup

A 51-foot Monterey, Major Motion has one of the more unique hull colors in the fleet. Cameron Rhodes / South Carolina Governor’s Cup

Micabe is a beautiful 55-footer from Jarrett Bay Boatworks in North Carolina. Cameron Rhodes / South Carolina Governor’s Cup

Miss Wy, a 53-foot Ricky Scarborough, qualified for the 2017 Marlin Madness fan-voting tournament. Cameron Rhodes / South Carolina Governor’s Cup

Miss Wy makes her way to the fishing grounds. Cameron Rhodes / South Carolina Governor’s Cup

Mister Pete, a 58-foot C&L, finished in second place in this year’s Governor’s Cup series. Cameron Rhodes / South Carolina Governor’s Cup

My Three Sons, a 63-foot Garlington, cranking out the horsepower. Cameron Rhodes / South Carolina Governor’s Cup

A close-up shot of My Three Sons. Cameron Rhodes / South Carolina Governor’s Cup

Petrel is a 53-foot Sportsman. Cameron Rhodes / South Carolina Governor’s Cup

Pisces IV, a 58-foot Buddy Davis owned and captained by Rich LaVecchia, leads the way. Cameron Rhodes / South Carolina Governor’s Cup

A look at Rascal, a 50-foot Hatteras and Marlin Madness fan-voting tournament qualifier. Cameron Rhodes / South Carolina Governor’s Cup

Salty Maintenance, a 33-foot Hydra-Sports, was the smallest boat in this year’s fleet. Cameron Rhodes / South Carolina Governor’s Cup

Another look at Salty Maintenance. Cameron Rhodes / South Carolina Governor’s Cup

sportin life graham eubank sport fishing

Bobby Garmany captains Sportin’ Life, which is owned by Graham Eubank. Cameron Rhodes / South Carolina Governor’s Cup

Summer Girl is a 57-foot Sea Island. Cameron Rhodes / South Carolina Governor’s Cup

Syked Out, a 56-footer from Viking Yachts, was another Marlin Madness qualifier. Cameron Rhodes / South Carolina Governor’s Cup

Toast, a 57-foot Dean Johnson, finished in third place overall in the Governor’s Cup series. Cameron Rhodes / South Carolina Governor’s Cup

Voodoo Child, a 72-foot Ricky Scarborough, was the fleet’s largest sport-fisher. Cameron Rhodes / South Carolina Governor’s Cup

Wildlife is a 60-foot Paul Mann. Cameron Rhodes / South Carolina Governor’s Cup

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