April 21, 2007 – A.H. Riise, the official Rolex Retailer in the U.S.V.I. and B.V.I., will present a Rolex timepiece to the winner of the inaugural AH Riise B.V.I. Billfish Tournament to be held July 31-Aug. 4, at the Bitter End Yacht Club in North Sound, Virgin Gorda. In addition to a Rolex timepiece, the winning boat will receive a rocket launcher, courtesy of new sponsor Murray Products, and a specially engraved Waterford Crystal trophy, courtesy of sponsors Waterford and The Crystal Shoppe on St. Thomas.
For those wishing to charter for the tournament, a list of charter boats available, with all appropriate contact information, is also available on the event Web site. "If people want to fish the tournament, we will make every effort to find them a good boat," said LawrenceWheatley, tournament director.
Al Behrendt, tournament organizer, added that "registrants can download all necessary customs and immigration forms as well as all fishing license information from the event Web site: http://bvibillfishtournament.com. In addition, representatives from Customs, Immigration and Fisheries will be on site so that everything can be handled in one location."
Sponsors continue to sign up, with the addition of Island Global Yachting, Murray Products, Corona beer, Caribbean Cellars and Delta Fuel joining Mainsail Resort Spa and Marina (BVI), Jack Daniels, Southern Comfort, Finlandia, Sonoma Cutrer, Five Rivers Vineyards, Johnnie Walker, Tanqueray, Cuervo Black, The Crystal Shoppe, Waterford Crystal, Southern Boating magazine, Mt. Gay Rum, First Bank, Hatteras Yachts, Antilles Yachts Sales, Gregory Poole Marine Power, Road Town Wholesale, and the B.V.I. Chamber of Commerce and Hotel Association.
An all release event for blue marlin, the tournament has already gained status as a qualifier for the IGFA Offshore Championships in 2008. Proceeds from the tournament will be donated to charities to be selected by the Government of the B.V.I. and A.H. Riise and will be administered by the Community Foundation of the Virgin Islands.
The A.H. Riise BVI Billfish Tournament will include three days of fishing and a lay day, so anglers and their guests can cruise the B.V.I. or get in a day of shopping in Road Town.
For more information about the tournament go to the event Web site at www.bvibillfishtournament.com or contact Lawrence Wheatley at lwheatley50@yahoo.com or 284-499-4177, or Al Behrendt Enterprises at (954) 920-7877 or al@albehrendt.com
