InTheBite

“Gypsea” Takes 2019 Viking Key West Challenge Crown

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Fishing, Fun and Family in the Florida Keys

Capt. Ben Sharpe and Gypsea capture the 6th Annual Viking Key West Challenge.

Top Boat – Gypsea

(Key West, Florida, February 13, 2019)—Forty Vikings from 42 to 82 feet and a record 475 participants descended upon the southernmost city in the United States last week for the 6th Annual Viking Key West Challenge. Ben Sharpe was the winning captain for the fourth time, leading the Viking 56 Gypsea to victory in a closely contested – but fun-focused – competition.

“The Key West Challenge has been a success every year, but this time around the energy level, excitement and fishing was at an all-time high,” said Viking President and CEO Pat Healey. “This is an event exclusively for Viking owners, family and friends. It gives us the opportunity to thank them for being part of the Viking family.”

After a captain’s meeting at Dante’s Tiki Bar that featured delicious food, fun prizes and lots of camaraderie, the teams headed off the following morning for a glorious day on the water. A total of 45 sailfish were released and one swordfish was caught on day one. Gypsea topped the Day One leaderboard with five sails released (500 points), followed by the Viking 80 Mr. Grinch with four sails (400 points). The Viking 62 Tami Ann also released four sails and took third on time. The teams steamed back to the scales at Conch Harbor Marina to weigh their catches and pose for pictures. The Viking 44 Miss Peggy Sue II and captain/owner David Heeter stole the show with a 108-pound swordfish, which was donated for lunch the next day!

More Than Just Fishing

A pool party and lunch, a kids dock tournament and a poker run (i.e. bar crawl) highlighted a relaxed but festive lay day. In the kids tournament, which was sponsored by The Billfish Foundation, Colin Dicembrino took first place, with sisters Ella and Mia Wilson placing second and third, respectively. “This is what it’s all about – passing on the passion for fishing to the next generation,” TBF President Ellen Peel said. “Great job kids!”

The fishing turned white hot on the final day, with 87 sails released. The Viking 48 Fish Wish released eight sails and caught an 8.3-pound dolphin for 808.3 points. Last year’s champ, the Viking 55 Ragin Cajun, was right on their heels with seven sails and a 21.4-pound tuna (721.4 points).

Gypsea had a solid day two as well, with five sails. But it was their dolphin that turned out to be the difference-maker. With an overall point total of 1,004.6, Gypsea edged second-place finisher Mr. Grinch (1,000 overall points) to take the 2019 Viking Key West Challenge crown. Ragin Cajun landed third place overall with 933.8 points. Natalie Rarick on the Viking 82 Bandit took both Top Angler and Top Female Angler awards with eight sailfish and a total of 892.2 points. All results are listed below.

Top Sailfish Boat – Mr. Grinch

The four-day event wrapped up with an outdoor evening dinner and awards ceremony at the Margaritaville Resort that began with a beautiful Key West sunset. “You can’t beat this,” said Pat. “We truly do appreciate your participation in making this a very special Viking event.”

Top Angler – Natalie Rarick, Bandit

Next year, the 7th Annual Key West Challenge will be held April 15-18, 2020. Book your slip today!

Bayliss Gameboat 62′ – “Gypsea” In Development

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Bayliss Boatworks is building another 62’ GameBoat, Gypsea. Begun in October of 2018, this project is scheduled to be completed in the spring of 2020. She is designed for extended travel and exploration of remote billfish hotspots.

Gypsea is constructed with a custom layout consisting of three staterooms, two heads and a tackle room. The salon level will feature two sofas with easily accessible storage underneath, while the forward galley holds opposing bar tops located aft of the forward galley. Three Sub Zero drawer refrigerators, a four-burner Wolf induction cooktop with down-draft, and a Viking microwave round out the galley appliances.

The lower accommodations are drawn to include a day head and shower located at the base of the companionway steps. A full tackle room with a heavy-duty freezer, rod storage and a stacked washer/dryer will sit across from the day head. Gypsea features a forward master stateroom, with two extra-large bunks on each side, an en-suite head, and storage lockers. Two additional staterooms with upper/lower bunks will be located just aft of the master.

The cockpit is built to be clean and efficient, crafted around Benjamin Franklin’s quote, “a place for everything and everything in its place.” Custom Bayliss Boatworks stainless steel refrigerator boxes will be an integral part of the mezzanine layout. Gaff storage will be hidden, yet easily accessed. All of the essentials will be housed in the custom tackle lockers, located at port and starboard. Grain and color matched teak planking, as well as teak coverboards and coaming, will detail the fishing workspace.

Gypsea will be delivered with a Palm Beach Towers hardtop, extra-large center console on the bridge, white forward cabin windshield and faux teak accents.

Since all Bayliss builds are designed to travel, Gypsea’s mechanical and electrical systems are engineered to be bulletproof and faultless. The engine room and all machinery locations are incredibly accessible and designed for easy maintenance. Each vessel’s air conditioning is provided by a Dometic chilled water A/C system to reduce maintenance intervals and efficiently deliver cool air.

Specifications

Length: 62’9”

Beam: 18’2”

Draft: 5’3”

Fuel: 1,850 gallons

Water: 250 gallons

Power: (2) MAN 12V’s @ 1550 hp each

Genset: (2) Northern Lights 25kw

Stabilization: Seakeeper 9

Bayliss Boatworks has been building custom sportfishing yachts in Wanchese since 2002. Four builds are in progress at the company’s facility in Wanchese, including a Bayliss 75’, a 78-footer named Blue View, and two 62’ GameBoats – Gypsea and Tarheel.

For more information on Gypsea and all other builds, past and present, visit our website.
www.baylissboatworks.com