RATEL LADIES TUNA INVITATIONAL: Women anglers take on the Cape in search of tunas!
WORDS: Charmagne Grimbeek PHOTOS: Supplied
What started as a joke at Gordons Bay Fishing Club during this year’s Tuna Classic, namely inviting only women to target tunas, then became just a consideration, and then after some serious planning within two months morphed into a successful and memorable few days in Gordons Bay!
Wilana Oosthuizen of Ratel spread her enthusiasm for deep sea angling from the North Coast to the Cape to host a women’s tuna invitational tournament. In collaboration with the boat club to test the market they invited only five boats to participate. The entry included a four nights’ stay at Krystal Beach Hotel, plus two days at sea including a boat and crew, fuel and gear, three meals each day, beautiful pink fishing jackets, a fishing shirt, and a bright pink backpack packed with handy gifts.
Gordon’s Bay was lit up with pink attire, and everyone, including all the skippers, ghillies and even the public, enjoyed the whole joyous spectacle of the women’s tuna anglers!
With typical Cape weather the offshore conditions could have been better, but nevertheless both tournament days could be fished. An excursion to a wine farm was included on a non-tournament day, and thanks to generous sponsors, whether it was for food or drink, with typical winelands hospitality the day contributed to the event’s success.
The main prize of the tournament was for the boat with the heaviest bag of three tunas, and then also for the heaviest tuna.
*Next month: A full report with photos and videos of how the women fared and enjoyed it. – Ed
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