Team Galati takes First Place in the Second Leg of the 2014 Los Sueños Signature Triple Crown where 1060 Billfish were released by 39 Teams
Los Sueños Resort and Marina, located on Costa Rica’s Central Pacific Coast, was once again home base for one of the world’s foremost billfishing tournaments, the first annual Los Sueños Signature Triple Crown, presented by Poms & Associates. The first leg of this three-leg tournament series, held in January, went into the history books of billfishing when over a period of three days 42 teams released a staggering 2,170 billfish. Going into the second leg of the tournament it was clear that the bite was still hot, although everyone knew that to expect a repeat of the first leg would be unimaginable. The question on everybody’s mind…just how good would fishing be?
DAY 1
Going into the first day of fishing, it was very apparent that the tournament radio would heat up once more. By only 10:00 am 72 sailfish had been released. Uno Mas caught the first marlin of the tournament soon after lines in. By midday High Hook had worked its place into first position with 12 sailfish releases. At that point Uno Mas only had 1 sail and the 1 marlin they had released earlier in the day. What a comeback they made by 2:00 pm! Catching 11 more sails in a 2-hour period, putting them in the lead. By lines out at 4:00 pm Uno Mas furthered their lead, winning the day with 2500 points after releasing 20 sailfish and 1 marlin. High Hook and Reel Screamer came in second and third respectively for the day. The team on Uno Mas had an incredible day of fishing and would have taken home the lead with or without the marlin release! The day ended with a total of 446 sailfish and 2 marlin releases.
DAY 2
Day 2 started where Day 1 left off and although it looked calm from ashore conditions at sea were a little bit more challenging stronger winds than usual. Nevertheless, by 10:00 am 67 sails and 1 marlin had been reported to tournament control. Pescadora was in first place for the moment having released what turned out to be the only marlin for the day. HT Hook, Eternal Summer and Team Galati kept the pace going throughout the day in a neck to neck race. At the end of day HT Hook took the daily with 1500 points, ahead of Eternal Summer and Pescadora on time. Team Galati, after a successful first day and a great performance on the second day, secured first position in the overall tournament standings for Leg II going into the final day, followed by Enjoy and HT Hook.
DAY 3
The morning started off strong on Day 3 with 79 sailfish released by 10:00 am and After You in first place for the day. The bite slowed down ever so slightly over the course of the day. With time running out the race to the top heated up. The lead went back and forth several times between Team Galati, Enjoy, HT Hook and High Hook (who ended the second day in sixth place). Two more marlin were released, one by Nemesis and the other by Pescadora, without affecting the leaderboard. By lines out at 4:00 pm Team Galati showed that perseverance pays off, and took home the win for the day and the title of champion for the second leg of the 2014 Los Sueños Signature Triple Crown tournament series with 4500 points, followed by Enjoy with 4300 points and High Hook in third with 4100 points.
CASH PRIZES & AWARDS
The awards ceremony was held under the stars on the white sand in front of the Los Sueños Beach Club. The weather was perfect, and about 500 anglers, captains, observers and sponsors were treated to a delicious buffet dinner, a performance by the rock band, Mustang 65, a fantastic dock show filmed and edited by Fischer Productions, and an incredible fireworks display by Faisa. Tournament winners took to the stage to receive a total of $124,000 in cash, as well as other prizes provided by tournament sponsors.
1st $62,000 TEAM GALATI, 4500 POINTS, 45 SAILS
2nd $37,000 ENJOY, 4300 POINTS, 43 SAILS
3rd $25,000 HIGH HOOK, 4100 POINTS, 31 SAILS
Trophies by Gray Taxidermy
Other prizes and awards by: Costa Rica Dreams- a fishing trip with accommodations in a Del Mar condominium; Tunaskin- apparel; Rick Bogert- framed prints of the 1st annual Triple Crown tournament art; Vanmark, Inc.- gold pendants; and Flor de Caña- aged rum for winning teams and top angler.
TOP ANGLER
Top Angler honors went to Robert Heihenberger of Pescadora with a total of 2000 points. He released 10 sailfish and, of the 5 marlin released during the tournament he released 2 himself. The overall top angler for the 2014 Los Sueños Signature Triple Crown will be presented with a beautiful Signature Champion ring, designed by Vanmark Jewelers, at the conclusion of the third and final leg on Saturday, March 15th.
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
The entire tournament organizing committee would like to take this opportunity to thank all those who came together to support this event. Our gratitude goes out to all the anglers, captains, mates, observers, technical advisors, cameramen and videographers, Los Sueños staff and of course, our sponsors (in alphabetical order): BLP Abogados, Bristol Marine Supply, Caterpillar/Gregory Poole, Costa Sunglasses, Costa Rica Dreams Sport Fishing, Costa Rica Luxury Rentals & Tours, Durman, Flor de Caña, Fortis Accounting Services, Galati International Yacht Sales, Gray Taxidermy, Los Sueños Resort and Marina, Lucantha, Marriott, MTU/Tractomotriz, Rick Bogert, Scotiabank, SeaDream, Sevenstar Yacht Transports, Smith-Merritt Insurance, STCR – Fidelity, Travelers Insurance, Tunaskin Aquatic Apparel, Vanmark Inc., Viking Yachts, Weather Routing Inc. For more about our sponsors, please visit www.LStournaments.com and click on Links.
WBS QUALIFYING EVENT
The Los Sueños Signature Triple Crown is sanctioned by the World Billfish Series (WBS). Anglers competing in the Los Sueños tournaments who wish to earn points for the WBS World Tour and compete for points in the Pacific Rim Division need to become a WBS Member. For further information, please visit www.wbs.com.
OWC QUALIFYING EVENT
The top team from each leg of the Los Sueños Signature Triple Crown will be eligible to compete in the 2014 Offshore World Championship. For further information, please visit www.offshorechampionship.com.
ABOUT THE LOS SUENOS SIGNATURE TRIPLE CROWN
2014 marks the first annual Los Sueños Signature Triple Crown billfish tournament series. The Triple Crown consists of three annual tournaments, in January, February and March each year, and is fished out of the world class Los Sueños Resort and Marina in Costa Rica. The dates for the third and final event of the 2014 Triple Crown tournaments are March 12-15, 2014. Visit www.LStournaments.com for more information.
ABOUT LOS SUEÑOS RESORT AND MARINA
Los Sueños Resort and Marina is the premier luxury real estate resort in Costa Rica. Nestled on the Central Pacific Coast, Los Sueños is an 1,100-acre oasis offering incredible ocean, rainforest and golf course view properties; a gorgeous waterfront Marina Village commercial area with restaurants, shops and lively entertainment; a large private beach club for residents; an 18-hole championship golf course; a superb 201-room Marriott Hotel; and much more – all within close proximity to what is the world’s best sport fishing waters. Information on Los Sueños Resort and Marina is available online at www.lsrm.com.
For further information, please contact Ashley Bretecher, Executive Director of Marketing and Communications, Los Sueños Resort and Marina, Toll-free: 1-866-865-9759, Direct Tel: 011-506-2630-4005, Fax: 011-506-2630-4010, or e-mail: a.bretecher@lsrm.com.
