Liquidated: 2024 Champions of the Quest for the Crest Sailfish Series Presented By Raymarine
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
April 2024
Underdog Team Liquidated Defies Odds to Compete and Triumph in Prestigious Quest for the Crest Sailfish Series
Lighthouse Point, FL — In the annals of achievement, stories abound of overcoming obstacles to achieve greatness. From humble beginnings to monumental victories, these narratives inspire us all. But what if a rookie team from Lighthouse Point, FL, rewrote this narrative entirely? Unbelievable, right?
Enter the journey of Liquidated, a crew of fishermen who defied expectations to conquer the pinnacle of competitive sailfishing. This is where legends are made.
Part One: Operation Sailfish
Each year, elite sailfishing teams from across the country gather to compete against the best of the best on the world stage – the Quest for the Crest Sailfish Series Presented By Raymarine. This year was no different. Ahead of the 12th Annual Operation Sailfish, the inaugural leg of the series, Patrick Wieland, the owner behind Liquidated, came to us with a singular mission: to compete against the best and win it all.
With their 36’ center console freshly outfitted and a crew of skilled anglers assembled to include Mark Motta, Shawn Weech, Travis Claire, Eric Harvey, Trey Wheeler, and Kenny Rasberry, they were dead set on proving that what it takes to compete in their debut at Operation Sailfish. Despite a slow start on Day One, Liquidated roared back on Day Two, as Capt. Danny Clinton positioned them in the bite on Saturday morning, hammering down seven releases and propelling them into first place to secure the win and 31 points in the Quest series standings.
Quest Series Standings Through Leg One:
1st – Liquidated – 31 Points
2nd – Fish On – 29 Points
3rd – Trophy Wife – 28 Points
4th – Odyssey – 27 Points
5th – Skipjac – 26 Points
6th – Off Course – 25 Points
7th – REMIX – 24 Points
Part Two: Sailfish Challenge
Next up was the 21st Annual Sailfish Challenge, renowned as a South Florida Slugfest, which produced a record-breaking bite for the tournament where 587 Atlantic Sailfish grappled with 60 top-tier sailfishing teams. The tournament stretched across a vast expanse, from Government Cut in Miami to Hillsboro Inlet in Pompano Beach and Lake Worth Inlet in West Palm.
In this arena, Liquidated operated like silent assassins. They racked up an impressive eleven points on the first day and added seven more on the second. While these scores didn’t secure them a top spot on the daily leaderboards, they held steady in the top five overall, tallying 18 releases in total, earning Liquidated a respectable 5th place finish and 26 points in the Quest series standings.
Quest Series Standings Through Leg Two:
1st – Fish On – 58 Points
2nd – Liquidated – 57 Points
3rd – Odyssey – 50 Points
4th – Trophy Wife – 50 Points
5th – Off Course – 42 Points
6th – Native Son – 42 Points
7th – FFMD – 35 Points
Part Three: Final Sail
Arriving at the thrilling climax of the series, the 11th Annual Final Sail marked the last leg of the journey for the competitors. Holding a commendable 57 series points, Liquidated found themselves locked in a gripping showdown with Fish On. The Fish On crew, led by Captain Andrew Dotterweich, had amassed 58 points after securing second place in both Leg One and Leg Two, setting the stage for an intense battle. The coveted PELAGIC Gear Burgundy Jackets stood within arms reach for both teams.
With the pressure on, Liquidated seized every opportunity to maintain their edge. Releasing eight sails on Day One and four on Day Two, they surged ahead of Fish On by two fish, securing a respectable 5th place finish in Final Sail for 26 series points. This accomplishment clinched the series championship and earned them the prestigious title of Quest for the Crest World Sailfishing Champions. Remarkably, this victory marks the first time a rookie team has claimed the series title, as well as the inaugural win for a team navigating a small boat 37’ and under.
Quest Series Standings Through Leg Three:
1st – Liquidated – 83 Points
2nd – Fish On – 77 Points
3rd – Trophy Wife – 70 Points
4th – Gale Force/Invincible – 62 Points
5th – Sandman – 62 Points
6th – Native Son – 58 Points
7th – Bad Boyz– 57 Points
Congratulations, Liquidated, the title of Quest for the Crest Champions is now yours to hold forever.
About the quest for the crest
This iconic series hosts some of the top billfishing teams in the sport. Teams in this 3-leg series are expected to compete for an estimated purse of over $1.8 million. However, the most coveted award – The Crest – doesn’t come in the form of a cash prize. The Crest represents the pinnacle of tournament sailfishing. It is viewed as the highest accolade bestowed upon a team. Presented in jacket form, competitors must emerge as the most dominant among an elite field in order to don the burgundy jacket. Privilege is earned, not given, on this quest to crown a world champion.
About bluewater movements
Bluewater Movements, Inc., is a sports marketing company based in South Florida, the sport fishing capital of the world. Throughout the past 30 years, our team has developed some of the most successful competitive fishing events in the industry. Our background in tournament fishing, coupled with our expertise in event marketing, has enabled a premium experience for tournament anglers and sponsors. Within our portfolio, there are seven wildly popular fishing tournaments, all hosted at various venues across South Florida.
For media inquiries, images, and additional information, please contact:
Phone: 954-725-4010
Email: Chris@bluewatermovements.com