[dropcap]N[/dropcap]early 50 women participated in the Saltwater Sisters Lady Angler’s Tournament to raise money for local breast cancer patients, but the meaning in the numbers is even greater. The tournament, hosted by Stuart Sailfish Club, was held on October 24 -26 and raised more than $40,000, with profits to benefit Friends in Pink, Windsor Community Angels and the Stuart Sailfish Club Scholarship program. Friends in Pink is a nonprofit organization that assists local breast cancer patients who are uninsured or under insured. Windsor Community Angels provides local uninsured women with free mammograms.
Event Chairperson Margaret Dyer couldn’t be more pleased with the final results. “We are thrilled with the turnout for this event and most especially with the money raised,” she said. “We will be able to help people in our community who are dealing with the devastating illness of breast cancer. Because the money will benefit Friends in Pink, we know it will go directly to patient care and treatment.” Friends in Pink will be celebrating their 10 Year Anniversary in 2015 and they have already helped more than 250 local men and women survive breast cancer.
The tournament, which was open to the public, was unique in that there were several fun elements to the event. A pre-party “Tie One On”, took place October 1 at Pirates Cove Resort and Marina. The tournament Captains Party was held on Friday, Oct 24 at the resort and fishing took place on Saturday and Sunday of that same weekend, beginning with a boat parade and water gun fight. Four to six foot seas challenged anglers on Saturday, but Sunday’s anglers saw much calmer conditions. The event culminated with an awards ceremony Sunday evening. The event also included a live auction, silent auction and raffles.
Results of the Tournament are as follows: Top Junior Anglers Sailfish: First Place to Anya Pickard, aboard “Base Camp” and Second Place to Skyler Smith, aboard “Double D”. Top Mother Daughter Team: Kristine Pickard and daughter Anya Pickard, aboard “Base Camp”. Top Dolphin Winners, 1st through 3rd: Tish Gelineau, aboard “Showtime!”, Mitzie Fisher, aboard “Andiamo” and Angie Sherlock, aboard “Angie’s Revenge”. Top Sailfish Winners, 1st through 3rd: Patti Miller, aboard “Floridian”, Cam Welden, aboard “Unicity” and Jodi Fogel, aboard “Challenge”. Top Boat Winner: “Floridian”, owners Rob and Patti Miller, Capt. Glen Cameron. Polly Whippen Award for Top Female Angler: Patti Miller, aboard “Floridian” with two sailfish releases.
Sponsors of the event included Ted Glasrud Associates Inc., Fogel Capital Management Inc., Floridian Charters, American Custom Yachts, Hinckley Yacht Sales, Sailfish Marina of Stuart, Pirate’s Cove Resort & Marina, HMY Yacht Sales, Windsor Imaging Group, Global Neuro & Spine Institute, Scripps/TC Palm, Coast 101.3, J Weiss PR, American Custom Yachts, Bausch American Towers, Geoffrey Smith Galleries, Lewis Marine, Shurhold Industries, TentLogix, Treasure Coast Propeller, Whiticar Boat Works, A&J Boatworks, Ace Marine Diesel, Celedinas Insurance, Charles Schwab, Dorado Marine Electronics, Fish Heads of Stuart, Diamond Fishing Products, Tequesta Insurance Agency and Marine Max. Many local donors graciously contributed auction items that resulted in very successful auctions.
For more information about this year’s event, or to be notified of the 2015 Tournament date, call 772-286-9373 or email sailfish@stuartsailfishclub.com.