APRIL 17, 2007
Hello to everyone,
As we head into summer, our newly announced Bisbee’s Bluewater CUP Series is gaining a lot of momentum. This includes involvement from Sponsors as well as heightened interest from our anglers wishing to be crowned “THE Champions of Billfishing” at our Bluewater CUP Championship Tournament in Cabo San Lucas 11/29-12/02.
For details on participating in the CUP Series, and how to qualify for the Championship, please visit www.bisbees.com.
 On the Sponsor front, we’re proud to have EPYC (Eastern Pacific Yacht Club) as the first official sponsor of the CUP Series. For that reason this eBlast is focused on their very exciting new project. Also aboard is Contender Boats whose killer boats will be the focus of our next eBlast. For now, please read on, and see how you can get involved with EPYC’s exclusive yacht club.
See you where the fish are,
R. Wayne Bisbee
Director
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Tom Ellsworth 619-222-1388
ELLSWORTH MARINE LAUNCHES
EXCLUSIVE OFF-SHORE YACHT CLUB
www.epyc.com
SAN DIEGO, CA, April 17, 2007 – Ellsworth Marine Inc. has purchased the 156’ F/V Shelikof, the first step in the company’s plan to launch an unprecedented venture combining the amenities of a yacht club with the provisions of a mothership.
Following a six-month conversion process, the F/V Shelikof will house the “Eastern Pacific Yacht Club,” an exclusive membership club offering boaters a luxury social platform and provisioning at sea in the hottest fishing and cruising locations off the Western U.S. and Mexican coastlines. The ship, to be re-christened the M/V Pacific Provider, will feature six luxury suites, two 35’ game boats, 60,000 gallons of fuel, dining room and lounge and a variety of other amenities.
 “Our aim is to provide a new dimension to boating,” said Tom Ellsworth, EPYC founder and owner of Ellsworth Marine, one of the world’s top Riviera dealers. “The Club and its amenities will provide unparalleled access to waters off the Western U.S., Mexico and Central America. What’s more, we’ve structured the club as a not-for-profit to benefit the Scripps Institution of Oceanography, allowing the membership to give back to oceanographic research so members will continue to enjoy the benefits of a healthy marine environment in the years to come.”
 In addition to following the annual migration of game fish, the club plans to host Scripps scientists when they are doing research nearby, and to facilitate informal interaction with those scientists such that members will learn more about the scientific work at Scripps that is focused on developing a better understanding of our oceans and also better ways of managing ocean resources such that fish and other marine resources will continue to exist into the future. Other special opportunities for members could include the observation of pacific whales in their breeding grounds of Magdalena Bay, turtle hatcheries in the Sea of Cortez and diving with the hammerhead sharks of Espirito Santo.
“The EPYC will invite a host of scientists and fisheries researchers aboard the Pacific Provider throughout the year, allowing our members to learn about the research underway designed to help us more fully understand the ocean environment,” said Ellsworth. “We hope that by bringing together sport fishermen and scientists, groups who have historically misunderstood one another, we can facilitate the development of a shared vision.”
 Ellsworth Marine has contracted with Yacht Escort Services (YES), for the construction of the M/V Pacific Provider. Under the management and direction of YES owner Captain Stan Antrim, the M/V Pacific Provider will be renovated to ABS class with all systems and engineering brought up date during the major refit.
“Stan and his team basically invented the concept of a shadow boat and have re-fit numerous OSV’s from 130’ to over 200’,” said Ellsworth. “He understands what it takes to produce this kind of product, and we couldn’t be more pleased with his level of professionalism and enthusiastic approach.”
A former Navy Seal, Antrim holds a degree in Naval Engineering from the U.S Naval Academy. When making the transition to the private sector, his first new-build project was Oceanco’s 210 foot Lady Lola, Showboat’s 2002 yacht of the year. Work on the conversion of the F/V Shelikof is slated to start in June with the completion in December of 2007.
 EPYC will offer memberships to boat owners as well as those who would rather utilize the club’s game boats, foregoing private boat ownership. Membership will include 28 advanced reservation nights aboard the ship in any of the luxury suites, as well as unlimited access to the ship’s overflow lodging and non-advanced reservation use. A full tackle center with gear from fly tackle to 130 unlimited tackle will be complemented by a large assortment of water toys, gym, hot tub, Marlin Bar, dive gear, 4x500 gallon bait tanks and other provisions.
 While the first ship will cruise between Southern California and Ixtapa, Mexico, within five years the EPYC plans to expand its fleet to 3 ships, providing access as far north as Alaska and as far south as South America with less distance between each club house. All existing members will have the same access to each additional ship to enjoy for no additional cost aside from their annual dues.
“Boating off this coast has not changed much in decades,” said Ellsworth. “While boats have gotten bigger and have better equipment, access is still limited for most boaters. We’re confident that nothing will come close to the combination of either a members own boat or the ship’s game boats, coupled with the amenities of the Eastern Pacific Yacht Club.”
Each ship in the EPYC fleet will be limited to 50 memberships. Membership is subject to provisions set forth by the EPYC. For more information or to secure a membership package, call 866-841-0931. |
2007 Qualifying Events
Bisbee’s East Cape
Offshore Tournament
July 31-August 4
Buenavista, Mexico
Avalon Billfish Classic
September 9-11
Catalina, California
Riviera Zane Grey
Invitational
September 16-19
Catalina, California
Hatteras Catalina Classic
September 23-25
Catalina, California
Bisbee’s Los Cabos
Offshore Tournament
October 19-21
Cabo San Lucas, Mexico
Bisbee’s Black & Blue
Marlin Tournament
October 23-27
Cabo San Lucas, Mexico
Bisbee’s Bluewater
CUP Championship
November 29-December 2
Cabo San Lucas, Mexico |
Design by Tournament Control