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Defying expectations, the rookie team Liquidated from Lighthouse Point, Florida, emerged as champions in The Quest for the Crest Sailfish Series.
At the 12th annual Operation Sailfish, the first leg of the series, Liquidated, led by owner Patrick Wieland and Capt. Danny Clinton, made their debut with a 36-foot Yellowfin. Despite a slow start on Day One, they roared back on Day Two with seven sailfish releases, securing first place and 31 points.
For the second leg, the series moved to the 21st annual Sailfish Challenge, a South Florida event that stretches from Government Cut in Miami to Hillsboro Inlet in Pompano Beach. The event attracted 60 top-tier teams that released a tournament record-breaking 587 sailfish. The Liquidated team performed impressively, tallying 18 releases over two days, earning a fifth-place finish and 26 points toward the series standings. This placed them second overall, just one point behind the leader, Fish On.
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The 11th annual Final Sail marked the climax of the series. Liquidated, with 57 series points, faced off against Fish On, led by Capt. Andrew Dotterweich, which had 58 points. In this final leg, Liquidated released eight sailfish on Day One and four on Day Two, overtaking Fish On by two releases. Their fifth-place finish in Final Sail added 26 points, clinching the series championship.
Liquidated’s victory marked not only the first series win for a rookie team but also the first for a boat under 37 feet. The team’s performance earned them the prestigious title of Quest for the Crest World Sailfishing Champions and the burgundy jackets that come with that honor.
