There were a lot of firsts this year:  two 1st-timers from RI, Randy and Raymond; an impromptu 1st VIP Mini-Golf Tournament; Ray experienced the ocean for the 1st time; and  a 1st place in the National Tourney awards!

During the whole trip, there was pleasant weather with no rain and mild temps, although  there was a stiff North wind throughout the tournament.

Due to a significant cost increase in chartering the bus (the charter company charges by the mile), the team and their guides  drove from RI early Sunday morning to meet the bus and the CT Team in Clinton,  Connecticut.

Upon the team’s arrival at the Comfort Inn on the Ocean in North Carolina, it was  greeted by Connecticut  Lion transplants, Bob and Dee Christensen, who hosted a Welcome party with Pizza, Beverages and fresh Strawberry Shortcake.  

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Monday was for registration, getting oriented, shopping, and relaxing before the Welcoming Dinner at Manteo Hall. This year’s theme was to Honor our Military and wear something representing the military. The RI participants where given a fishing towel with Camo pattern and the Sight Foundation  Logo and American flag as an accessory.

On Tuesday, the North Carolina State VIP Fishing Tourney was held on 3 piers and 2 head boats. To make it interesting for the New England VIPs, the New England teams hold a  “New England Fishing Tournament” on the Miss Oregon head-boat. The fishing was pretty sparce but everyone was kept very busy  rebaiting the fishing hooks. Whatever was down there, it would strip the bait in minutes. A school of dolphins put on  a spectacular show.

The RI  VIP’s still managed to do very well compared to the rest of the VIPs on the boat and Ray managed to catch a 17.5” Flounder that could have been the largest fish of the day. Unfortunately, he was not a North Carolinian and was not eligible for a prize  in the North Carolina tournament.

Trophies for the New Englanders  were

awarded at the Wednesday breakfast.

The  2023 winners were:
1st Place – Joe Bonardi, MA
2nd Place – Maryanne Melley, CT
3rd Place – Len Schlenk, CT
 

 

The  1st Mini-Golf Awards  (VIP T-shirts) went to:
Derek Camille – 9-Hole Champ
Maryanne Melley – 18-Hole Champ

The National Tournament was held on Wednesday on Jennette’s Pier and, once again, the prolific rebaiting of fishing hooks continued and the catch was very light and small.

 

Then, mid-tournament and out of nowhere,

3 poles were bent to their limits,  including

Derek and Randy’s from RI and Larry’s from NC.

They soon realized that they really had hooked  

Black Drumfish from a school that had passed

through, a very rare occurrence according to

locals. The caught fish were 24-25 inches long

and, since all fish caught are scored by a

species/point system, they all counted the same.

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The balance of what each VIP caught determined the winners.

The day finished at the Awards Dinner during which Ken Barthelemy (Scituate Lions and organizer of the trip) had the honor of presenting a Progressive VIP Ambassador pin to PDG Dom Branco.