South Florida is home to a number of major sport
fishing tournaments and NASCAR's Sailfish Cup Invitational
is the second richest regional challenge behind the World Sailfish
Championship in Key West. 43 teams are invited to participate in a 3-day
competition that includes a celebrity-filled awards banquet and auction
benefitting the Homestead Hospital's race car themed pediatric unit. The
hospital provides top level child care regardless of the patient's
ability to pay thanks in part to the generosity of NASCAR members and
fans.
Hosted by NASCAR President Mike Helton, this sport
fishing event combines the worlds of professional angling and car racing
so it pits race team owners, drivers and sponsors against one another in
gleaming watercraft off South Beach rather than the steaming asphalt of
the Homestead Motor Speedway. A welcome relief from the high stress,
high dollar world of professional car racing, the Sailfish Cup promotes
a friendlier side of the big ticket competition as it allows TV fans to
see their favorite drivers competing in an arena that's definitely out
of their element.
The Sailfish Cup starts Monday November 14 with a
captain's meeting and team kick off party and on Tuesday and Wednesday
the boats launch from the Miami Beach Marina at 6:30am for two full days
on the water. Because game fish are released after they are caught, each
team's efforts are filmed and the resulting memory cards are collected
by the tournament committee boat at day's end to verify results. A gala
awards banquet follows the final day at sea with a live and silent
auction benefitting the Homestad Hospital. Local South Florida NASCAR
fans interested in volunteering for the auction can sign up on the
official website.
Sailfish Cup Invitational, 2120 Range Road,
Clearwater
- 
