Article overview: The final day of the Viking Key West Challenge didn’t ease anyone in—it hit hard, fast, and sideways. Morning broke under a slate-gray sky, with rain driving across the water in...
The final day of the Viking Key West Challenge didn’t ease anyone in—it hit hard, fast, and sideways.
Morning broke under a slate-gray sky, with rain driving across the water in sheets and wind stacking the seas into something far from friendly. It was the kind of weather that tests more than skill—it tests resolve. And on the last day of a tournament, resolve is everything.
Team HMY didn’t hesitate.
Aboard the HMY 64 Demo, captained by James Ewing, the decision was made to push offshore. Deeper water meant opportunity, even if it came at the cost of a punishing run. Lines were set, teasers deployed, and the sonar dropped into the depths—searching, scanning, hoping.
Then it happened.
One marlin. Then another. Then a third.
Three fish raised in the teasers—each one a shot at glory. The first two came in hot but refused to commit, fading back into the gray-blue like ghosts. Missed chances on the final day can linger, but there wasn’t time to dwell.
Because the third one stayed.
It bit.
What followed was more than just a hookup—it was history in the making. Junior angler Colin Dicembrino stepped up and took the fight. In rough seas, under pressure, with everything on the line, he worked the fish cleanly and confidently—earning a textbook release.
Three hundred points.
And with it, a milestone: the first marlin ever caught in the 12-year history of the Viking Key West Challenge.
For Colin, it meant even more.
As the grandson of HMY owner Steve Moynihan, the moment carried a deeper weight—a generational thread woven into a single, unforgettable fight. A young angler standing on the deck of an HMY boat, representing the family behind the brand, delivering a performance that would be talked about long after the lines were pulled in.
Just like that, Colin vaulted into the top spot for Junior Angler.
But nothing about this day was going to come easy.
Second place was lurking—less than a sailfish release behind. Close enough to make everyone on board acutely aware: one more fish could make the difference between holding the lead and losing it at the last moment.
The mood shifted from celebration to focus. They needed insurance. One more solid fish to lock it in.
Then someone spotted it.
A frigate bird, hovering with purpose in the distance—nature’s unmistakable signal. The kind of sign offshore anglers trust without question. The boat turned, closing the gap, eyes locked on the bird as it circled tighter.
Right underneath it—life.
The baits in the water.
And almost immediately—hooked up.
A dolphin.
Not just any fish, but exactly the fish they needed—capping off a day that had already delivered something far more meaningful than points on a board.
Because the Viking Key West Challenge isn’t just a tournament—it’s a gathering.
It’s where owners, dealers, clients, and vendors come together, not just to compete, but to connect. It’s shared laughs at the dock, stories swapped over dinners, and the kind of camaraderie that only a week on the water can create.
For HMY Yacht Sales, this moment carried that spirit in full.
Aboard the HMY 64 Demo, with friends, colleagues, and family all part of the journey, it wasn’t just about the catch—it was about who you shared it with. Watching Colin, the grandson of owner Steve Moynihan, step up in that moment made it personal. It made it special.
In a day that tested everyone, it was those connections that stood out the most.
From sideways rain to a historic blue marlin release, the final day for Team HMY wasn’t just about perseverance—it was about celebration. A reminder of why everyone comes back year after year.
Because at its core, this week has never been just about the leaderboard.
It’s about time on the water with people who feel like family. It’s about building relationships that go beyond business. It’s about the stories you take home long after the tournament ends.
Fishing. Fun. Family.
And on this final day, Team HMY lived every bit of it.
