The 2012 Custom Shootout was held May 16-19 out of Abaco Beach Hotel and Boat Harbour Marina, Bahamas. Thirty seven custom built sportfishing yachts entered teams in the 11th annual fund-raising tournament.
There were 99 billfish released (37 blue marlin, 49 white marlin 10 sailfish and 3 spearfish) during the three days of fishing. Wave Paver, a 61′ Garlington, released two blue marlin, four white marlin and a one sailfish (and had a one-day slam for 500 bonus points) to capture the overall title in the 2012 Custom Shootout. The race from the edge had four boats chasing the title this year, but in the end,_ Reel Joy_ edged out the_ Ravaganza,_ the_ Mechanical Man_ and the Chasin to retain the title once again.
Everyone attending the tournament events had a great time. Abaco Beach Hotel and Boat Harbour Marina hosted the kickoff party, the Friday night “Honor the Boat Builder” party and then the awards party Saturday night. Sunset Marina, SatCom Direct, Smith-Merritt Insurance and Florida Detroit Diesel were Platinum Sponsors for the tournament. Other major sponsors present were Travelers, Chantilly Air, MacGregor Yachts, Coral Cadillac, Aqua Lights, ISR, CAT Pantropic, CAT Gregory Poole, CAT Ring Power, Alexseal, Florida Crystals, Pipewelders, Hi Seas Technology, P&R Canvas, Treasure Coast Prop, Livos Technologies, Michigan Wheel Marine, Phasor, Palm Beach Towers and Ocean Club and many others who offered financial support for the tournament. Among the custom builders attending and supporting the tournament were John Whiticar of Whiticar Boats, Michael Rybovich of Rybovich & Sons, Paul Spencer of Spencer Boats, Roy Merritt of Merritt Boats, Dominick LaCombe Jr. of American Custom Yachts, Randy Ramsey with Jarrett Bay, Mary Jordan from Garlington Landeweer, Mark Willis with Willis Marine.
“The fishing was great, the weather was great and the food was great,” said Tina Church, the co-tournament director. “The staff here at Boat Harbour Marina did a great job. Combine that with these custom boat owners and their crews and we had one of the best tournaments in the world this year.”
A stunning awards banquet, with a lot of really outstanding food, was held in the air-conditioned tent at Boat Harbour Marina. The tournament coordinators gave commemorative plaques to each tournament sponsor in recognition for their support of the tournament. The Wave Paver team of JR Davis, Lindsay Davis, Steve Davis and Scott Glasscock accepted the First Place trophy, a beautiful sculpture by Ken Ulberg. Top Captain and Crew on the Wave Paver consisted of Capt. Jason Parker and crew Russell Sinclair and Jerry Owens. The_ Plane Simple_ with owner Jim Jensen, with Capt. Jimmy Werling and anglers Gary Angel, Carl Manchaka, and Matt Esposito placed second as they released four blue marlin and two white marlin. The Bear Trap with Capt. Ed Dwyer with owner John Stout and anglers John Stout Jr., Hayden Dell and Nate Andrews took third place, with one blue marlin, two white marlin and one sailfish released. JR Davis, owner of the Wave Paver, won the “Top Angler” trophy, a Kent Ullberg Marlin sculpture. Susan McCart on the Reel Joy won the Cheryl Roy Memorial trophy, as the “Top Women Angler”. Wave Paver took home the Top Tag & Release award, with seven tagged fish. Spencer Yachts, winner of the 2011 Custom Shootout Trophy, awarded the perpetual “Custom Shootout Trophy”, a beautiful custom Carey Chen glass sculpture, to Custom Builder Peter & Everett Landeweer and Garlington for display in their office for the current year.
—Source: Custom Shootout
