October 22, 2009 — by Dave Lear
Photos by Dave Lear (click on photo to enlarge)
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The yacht The Bottom Line is resting on the bottom on the Sea of Cortez. Minutes after the shotgun flare starting the 29th Annual Bisbee’s Black & Blue Marlin Tournament doused in the ocean, one of the participating sportfishing boats, already miles away, caught fire and sank. All seven crew members aboard were rescued by Sneak Attack, another tournament contestant. Mexican rescue boats and tournament officials were also quickly on the scene.
“It was miraculous no one was seriously injured,” said tournament director Wayne Bisbee, as he and the rescued anglers watched the burning vessel slowly dip below the surface aboard the tournament committee boat, Team Baja Cantina. “It was a tragic and a very humbling experience.”
A total of 94 boats are competing in the world’s richest sportfishing event. Anglers are vying for nearly $2 million in prize money. The Bottom Line, a 50-foot Hatteras convertible homeported in Cabo was coming off a 2nd Place win in the Bisbee's Los Cabos Offshore that took place the 16th-18th. Fishing will continue through Saturday, after a one-day delay due to Hurricane Rick.
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