Catalina Classic's Most Entertaining Crew...simply Rickdiculous

[livetofishnj]

As most have you have seen, we've been out on Catalina covering the tournaments. Each one begins with a shotgun start, the Classic having 48 boats line up and then stand on the throttles, tearing off to the fish. Plus, these guys are all scouring the water in their gyro stabilized binoculars looking for striped marlin up on top.
It's pretty serious, and definitely wild with some boats jumping out ahead, crews watching some of the best crews and where they were headed and wakes that combined to rock the Pacific Provider at a modest 160 feet and 500 tons...
I was up on the crow's nest of the Provider shooting the start as all of the boats blast off, snapping photos as fast as the camera will focus and behind us we here a bunch of shouting and laughing...
I turn around and here is the Rickdiculous. They are all hanging out on the bow just taking in the start. These tournaments are so serious, and the crews work harder than anything I've ever seen and yet these guys are just hanging out with their coffee or frosty beverage watching it all.
The didn't really lose much by waiting two minutes to head off and some comic relief is always appreciated. I met these guys several times and they were always having fun and good for a laugh but this might be the best of them all...

One Rickdiculous start.....

[livetofishnj]

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[livetofishnj]

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[livetofishnj]

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[livetofishnj]

And I've got to thank Capt. Rich on the Provider for letting me shoot from the top spot on that awesome boat, and for moving 500 tons wherever I wanted to make sure I could get the shots... plus Chef Drew for hooking me up with a Five-Star breakfast every morning....