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Press Release
Sea Quest Kids Program Is The Big Catch At The Hatteras Blue Marlin Release Tournament
For Immediate Release
June 27, 2005
Contact: Sea Quest Kids: 404-434-0660
Event: 46th Annual Hatteras Blue Marlin Release Tournament.
Place: Hatteras Marlin Club, Cape Hatteras, North Carolina
Contact Person: Steve Gronka, Sea Quest Kids Fearless Leader; E-mail – sgronka@cs.com
Web for Sea Quest Kids: www.advanceaf.org
Dateline June 19-24, 2005: It was the first time in the history of the Hatteras Marlin Club 46th Annual Blue Marlin Release Tournament that all of the registered boats stayed at the dock on Monday, the first day of fishing. While the seas raged offshore, the lack of fishing didn’t dampen spirits as Sea Quest Kids boat building camp would prove to be the big catch of the day! The onshore action was fast and furious!
Five Sea Quest 100 scow-skiffs took shape and were ready to paint in a matter of hours. The twenty five boat builders ranged in age from three year old William McRainey to 15 year old Brooks Keener. It should also be noted that there were parents who came on board to join in the fun with the kids. Sea Quest Kids boat building camp is just too much fun to resist! Instead of catchin’ blue marlin, the big time anglers from the big time boats were catching the big picture of their kids building boats and learning a boat load of practical skills and boating and water safety!
The usual sound of the throaty low growl of the big diesels in the sport fishing boats was replaced by the whirring of cordless drivers and the pounding of four penny nails. As the day wore on, the sun came blazing through. The kids were relentless and pressed on in the searing heat. By the late morning the rap, tap, tap, of hammering nails reached a crescendo sounding like a gattling gun. By early afternoon, the boats were ready for prime paint. Parents were amazed at the focus and concentration of their kids.
By the end of Tuesday, the second day, the kids and participating parents were accomplished boat builders. They had learned the proper way to drive screws, hammer nails, put parts together correctly and in order, and paint. And paint they did! The wildest paint job award went to Team Watermelon Girls, composed of Megan and Sarah Bullock, Katie Rascoe, and Ida Greenlee. After more than 2,800 boats, Sea Quest Kids have never seen the same paint job twice.
Although the kids were chomping at the bit to get their boats in the water, safety education had to come first. Sea Quest Kids is the leading boat building and boating and water safety program for kids worldwide. Excitement was reaching a fevered pitch for the paddling competition later that afternoon and the fishing tournament on Thursday.
At last it was time for the highly anticipated 2nd Annual Hatteras Marlin Club Sea Quest Kids Great Paddle Championship and 1st Annual Hatteras Marlin Club Sea Quest Kids’ Release Fishing Tournament. Back on the scene to help in the chase boats was last year’s reigning paddle champion, Cameron Whitaker. When asked about racing, Cameron humbly stated with the integrity of a true sportsman, “Well I’d like to race, but I want to give someone else a shot at the title.” Jeffery and Wyatt Kennedy, Cape Hatteras original Sea Quest Kids and future Co-Anchorman Broadcasters in Sea Quest Kids upcoming “Boating and Water Safety Video For Kids and Families” were on hand to run chase boats as well.
The Great Paddle Championship was on Wednesday afternoon. The race wasn’t allowed to start until the Blue Marlin Release Tournament Fleet returned from the day’s competition. Everyone wanted to see the Great Paddle Championship!
The crowd of cheering onlookers swelled to more than 300 as the fleet of Sea Quest 100s jockeyed for position on the start line. The five boats were Blood Swet @nd Tears, Watermelon Girls, Intimidator, Thunderbird, and Banana Split. The fans were thrilled by a spectacular race and astonished to see a photo finish tie for first, and a three way tie for second. The race featured more than twenty position changes as teams worked feverishly to keep their bearings. It was a toss up for who would win the race as the teams rounded the turning pin.
Team Banana Split, commanded by power paddler Jessica Bryhn surged to the lead at the start. A number of course corrections by Split allowed Team Intimidator to make up the ground and then trade the lead several times on the way to the finish. Team Intimidator made a huge comeback as they had been blocked from the starting line and were at the back of the pack at the start. With finesse paddling by Conner Hall, Kelsea Hall, Grant Shell, and Brooks Keener Team Intimidator fought their way back for the tie for first.
Thursday marked the day for the first ever Hatteras Marlin Club Sea Quest Kids Release Tournament. It was also quite fitting that such historic and a venerable fishing club would also be the site of a very unusual first in the history of sport fishing. It was the first time ever in the history of sport fishing where anglers came to a tournament and began by building their own boats to fish in the tournament.
The Kids’ Tournament was a fabulous learning experience for all ages! Youngsters learned to rig lines with sinkers and hooks, how to cast using spinning reels and conventional reels, and about different fishing rigs. Kids also learned how to anchor a boat, because the Sea Quest 100s were anchored for the Tournament. Eight year old Hannah Cothren was out on the Sea Quest 100 chase boat named Slow Leak, commanded by original Hatteras Sea Quest Kid, Wyatt Kennedy. Cothren asked Kennedy for some bait and Kennedy went to put some bait on the hook. Cothren said, “Show me, so I can bait my own hook!” That’s the spirit!
The first catch of the day was a crab. It was landed amid many squeals and gleeful exclamations! In all, eight species of fish were caught not including the crabs, which were counted toward points as well. Landed fish were measured for length and girth and released. The channel running by the Hatteras Marlin Club gave up a Red Drum, a couple of flounder, white perch, spot, croaker, pin fish, two skates, an ugly oyster toad, and the ubiquitous crabs.
At the awards banquet the kids were not brushed off to a minor role. Their recognition was comparable to the adult awards. First place in the 2nd Annual Hatteras Marlin Club Sea Quest Kids Great Paddle Championship went to Team Intimidator (Conner and Kelsea Hall, Grant Shell, and Brooks Keener) and Team Banana Split (Jessica Bryhn, Lee Ann Volgolbin, Asa Balance, and Kara Croom); and the three way tie for second went to Team Thunderbird (Bobby McRainey, Daniel McRainey, and William McRainey, Nathan Rascoe, and Lucy Mae Rascoe), Team Blood Swet @nd Tears (Ann Margaret, AB Bullington, Scott Elder, and Ruthie Forrester), and Team Watermelon Girls (Megan Bullock, Sarah Bullock, Hannah Cothren, Katie Rascoe, and Ida Greenhill). The award for wildest paint job went to Team Watermelon Girls. Most Enthusiastic Boat Builder went to Kelsea Hall.
The Hatteras Marlin Club Sea Quest Kids 1st Annual Fishing Tournament awards were the following: Most releases including crabs, Kelsea Hall. Largest Fish, a 37 inch skate, Grant Shell . Most Species, Sarah Bullock who got a Grand Slam for landing, a crab, a Spot, a Pin Fish, and a Red Drum.
Said proud Dad Jim Bullock whose two girls, Megan and Sarah helped to build Watermelon Girls, “My daughters were not interested in the 65 foot Sport Fisherman that we had built and they weren’t interested in the little 24 foot boat that we got for small boat activity. They were afraid of the boats and being on the water. But, when they built their own boat with Sea Quest Kids, that all changed. Now they aren’t afraid of the boats and being on the water! They are asking to go out on the big boats and they want to fish. They have confidence now to do all these things. It’s a wonderful change and makes me really happy! I really have to thank the Sea Quest Kids! You all are really doing a great thing! Thank you very much!”
If it wasn’t for the vision of Commodore Mickey Hayes of the Hatteras Marlin Club and Sharon Kennedy having brought the idea to Homer Styron, the Club Manager, none of these grand times and learning would be taking place during the Hatteras Marlin Club Blue Marlin Release Tournament. Hayes also had the conviction to make Sea Quest Kids a respected, significant, high profile, serious component of the Tournament. Every parent that commented said that there was never any talk of boredom as there was in the past. Hayes had the determination and follow through to make boating related Sea Quest Kids activities significantly big component of the Blue Marlin Release Tournament. Much credit also goes to the parents and grandparents of the kids for recognizing the huge value of Sea Quest Kids activities.
Sea Quest kids at the starting line!
Sea Quest Kids Boat Building Camp turned out five boats at the 46th Annual Hatteras Blue Marlin Release Tournment. The five boats are from left: Blood, Swet, @nd Tears, Watermelon Girls, Intimidator, Thunderbird, and Banana Split. Standing in Intimidator at the bow is Kelsea Hall who won the award for Most Enthusiastic Boat Builder. Intimidator tied with Banana Split for the win!
Press Release
Sea Quest Kids Program Is The Big Catch At The Hatteras Blue Marlin Release Tournament
For Immediate Release
June 27, 2005
Contact: Sea Quest Kids: 404-434-0660
Event: 46th Annual Hatteras Blue Marlin Release Tournament.
Place: Hatteras Marlin Club, Cape Hatteras, North Carolina
Contact Person: Steve Gronka, Sea Quest Kids Fearless Leader; E-mail – sgronka@cs.com
Web for Sea Quest Kids: www.advanceaf.org
Dateline June 19-24, 2005: It was the first time in the history of the Hatteras Marlin Club 46th Annual Blue Marlin Release Tournament that all of the registered boats stayed at the dock on Monday, the first day of fishing. While the seas raged offshore, the lack of fishing didn’t dampen spirits as Sea Quest Kids boat building camp would prove to be the big catch of the day! The onshore action was fast and furious!
Five Sea Quest 100 scow-skiffs took shape and were ready to paint in a matter of hours. The twenty five boat builders ranged in age from three year old William McRainey to 15 year old Brooks Keener. It should also be noted that there were parents who came on board to join in the fun with the kids. Sea Quest Kids boat building camp is just too much fun to resist! Instead of catchin’ blue marlin, the big time anglers from the big time boats were catching the big picture of their kids building boats and learning a boat load of practical skills and boating and water safety!
The usual sound of the throaty low growl of the big diesels in the sport fishing boats was replaced by the whirring of cordless drivers and the pounding of four penny nails. As the day wore on, the sun came blazing through. The kids were relentless and pressed on in the searing heat. By the late morning the rap, tap, tap, of hammering nails reached a crescendo sounding like a gattling gun. By early afternoon, the boats were ready for prime paint. Parents were amazed at the focus and concentration of their kids.
By the end of Tuesday, the second day, the kids and participating parents were accomplished boat builders. They had learned the proper way to drive screws, hammer nails, put parts together correctly and in order, and paint. And paint they did! The wildest paint job award went to Team Watermelon Girls, composed of Megan and Sarah Bullock, Katie Rascoe, and Ida Greenlee. After more than 2,800 boats, Sea Quest Kids have never seen the same paint job twice.
Although the kids were chomping at the bit to get their boats in the water, safety education had to come first. Sea Quest Kids is the leading boat building and boating and water safety program for kids worldwide. Excitement was reaching a fevered pitch for the paddling competition later that afternoon and the fishing tournament on Thursday.
At last it was time for the highly anticipated 2nd Annual Hatteras Marlin Club Sea Quest Kids Great Paddle Championship and 1st Annual Hatteras Marlin Club Sea Quest Kids’ Release Fishing Tournament. Back on the scene to help in the chase boats was last year’s reigning paddle champion, Cameron Whitaker. When asked about racing, Cameron humbly stated with the integrity of a true sportsman, “Well I’d like to race, but I want to give someone else a shot at the title.” Jeffery and Wyatt Kennedy, Cape Hatteras original Sea Quest Kids and future Co-Anchorman Broadcasters in Sea Quest Kids upcoming “Boating and Water Safety Video For Kids and Families” were on hand to run chase boats as well.
The Great Paddle Championship was on Wednesday afternoon. The race wasn’t allowed to start until the Blue Marlin Release Tournament Fleet returned from the day’s competition. Everyone wanted to see the Great Paddle Championship!
The crowd of cheering onlookers swelled to more than 300 as the fleet of Sea Quest 100s jockeyed for position on the start line. The five boats were Blood Swet @nd Tears, Watermelon Girls, Intimidator, Thunderbird, and Banana Split. The fans were thrilled by a spectacular race and astonished to see a photo finish tie for first, and a three way tie for second. The race featured more than twenty position changes as teams worked feverishly to keep their bearings. It was a toss up for who would win the race as the teams rounded the turning pin.
Team Banana Split, commanded by power paddler Jessica Bryhn surged to the lead at the start. A number of course corrections by Split allowed Team Intimidator to make up the ground and then trade the lead several times on the way to the finish. Team Intimidator made a huge comeback as they had been blocked from the starting line and were at the back of the pack at the start. With finesse paddling by Conner Hall, Kelsea Hall, Grant Shell, and Brooks Keener Team Intimidator fought their way back for the tie for first.
Thursday marked the day for the first ever Hatteras Marlin Club Sea Quest Kids Release Tournament. It was also quite fitting that such historic and a venerable fishing club would also be the site of a very unusual first in the history of sport fishing. It was the first time ever in the history of sport fishing where anglers came to a tournament and began by building their own boats to fish in the tournament.
The Kids’ Tournament was a fabulous learning experience for all ages! Youngsters learned to rig lines with sinkers and hooks, how to cast using spinning reels and conventional reels, and about different fishing rigs. Kids also learned how to anchor a boat, because the Sea Quest 100s were anchored for the Tournament. Eight year old Hannah Cothren was out on the Sea Quest 100 chase boat named Slow Leak, commanded by original Hatteras Sea Quest Kid, Wyatt Kennedy. Cothren asked Kennedy for some bait and Kennedy went to put some bait on the hook. Cothren said, “Show me, so I can bait my own hook!” That’s the spirit!
The first catch of the day was a crab. It was landed amid many squeals and gleeful exclamations! In all, eight species of fish were caught not including the crabs, which were counted toward points as well. Landed fish were measured for length and girth and released. The channel running by the Hatteras Marlin Club gave up a Red Drum, a couple of flounder, white perch, spot, croaker, pin fish, two skates, an ugly oyster toad, and the ubiquitous crabs.
At the awards banquet the kids were not brushed off to a minor role. Their recognition was comparable to the adult awards. First place in the 2nd Annual Hatteras Marlin Club Sea Quest Kids Great Paddle Championship went to Team Intimidator (Conner and Kelsea Hall, Grant Shell, and Brooks Keener) and Team Banana Split (Jessica Bryhn, Lee Ann Volgolbin, Asa Balance, and Kara Croom); and the three way tie for second went to Team Thunderbird (Bobby McRainey, Daniel McRainey, and William McRainey, Nathan Rascoe, and Lucy Mae Rascoe), Team Blood Swet @nd Tears (Ann Margaret, AB Bullington, Scott Elder, and Ruthie Forrester), and Team Watermelon Girls (Megan Bullock, Sarah Bullock, Hannah Cothren, Katie Rascoe, and Ida Greenhill). The award for wildest paint job went to Team Watermelon Girls. Most Enthusiastic Boat Builder went to Kelsea Hall.
The Hatteras Marlin Club Sea Quest Kids 1st Annual Fishing Tournament awards were the following: Most releases including crabs, Kelsea Hall. Largest Fish, a 37 inch skate, Grant Shell . Most Species, Sarah Bullock who got a Grand Slam for landing, a crab, a Spot, a Pin Fish, and a Red Drum.
Said proud Dad Jim Bullock whose two girls, Megan and Sarah helped to build Watermelon Girls, “My daughters were not interested in the 65 foot Sport Fisherman that we had built and they weren’t interested in the little 24 foot boat that we got for small boat activity. They were afraid of the boats and being on the water. But, when they built their own boat with Sea Quest Kids, that all changed. Now they aren’t afraid of the boats and being on the water! They are asking to go out on the big boats and they want to fish. They have confidence now to do all these things. It’s a wonderful change and makes me really happy! I really have to thank the Sea Quest Kids! You all are really doing a great thing! Thank you very much!”
If it wasn’t for the vision of Commodore Mickey Hayes of the Hatteras Marlin Club and Sharon Kennedy having brought the idea to Homer Styron, the Club Manager, none of these grand times and learning would be taking place during the Hatteras Marlin Club Blue Marlin Release Tournament. Hayes also had the conviction to make Sea Quest Kids a respected, significant, high profile, serious component of the Tournament. Every parent that commented said that there was never any talk of boredom as there was in the past. Hayes had the determination and follow through to make boating related Sea Quest Kids activities significantly big component of the Blue Marlin Release Tournament. Much credit also goes to the parents and grandparents of the kids for recognizing the huge value of Sea Quest Kids activities.
Sea Quest kids at the starting line!
Sea Quest Kids Boat Building Camp turned out five boats at the 46th Annual Hatteras Blue Marlin Release Tournment. The five boats are from left: Blood, Swet, @nd Tears, Watermelon Girls, Intimidator, Thunderbird, and Banana Split. Standing in Intimidator at the bow is Kelsea Hall who won the award for Most Enthusiastic Boat Builder. Intimidator tied with Banana Split for the win!
Advance America Foundation:
6 South Dillwyn Road
Newark, DE 19711
Phone: 404-434-0660
Web: www.advanceaf.org