Anglers win Yamaha-powered prize boat at Sea Angling Classic

A jubilant team of anglers picked up the richest prize in UK boat fishing when they were presented with an Extreme 745 Game King fully rigged with Yamaha 300hp V6 outboard engine, complete with a Helm Master EX joystick boat control system, at the 2023 Sea Angling Classic on 18 June 2023.

The winners of the first prize, Jason Lee Williams and Liam Smith, took the keys and drove the boat away from Gunwharf Quays in Portsmouth, UK, after catching a combined total of 1,756cm of fish over the two-day event in the Solent.

“This is awesome – we can’t wait to try out the boat, and that engine is incredible,” says Williams. “We are really looking forward to putting the Helm Master EX through its paces too. We do a lot of shark fishing so this whole package really will take us to the next level.”

In total, 124 anglers onboard 41 boats competed in the recreational boat category to win the incredible boat, engine and electronics combination, which was part of a prize table valued at more than £185,000.

Designed to encourage sustainable practices, the format required the anglers to catch, photograph and release five species – tope, smooth hound, black bream, rays and bass.

The longest three fish of each species were tallied up to give the overall length for each boat, with the results being decided on that basis.

Matt Taylerson, divisional marketing manager at Yamaha, comments: “The initial introduction came through Extreme Boats as they are one of our boat partners. For Yamaha, we have been involved in recreational fishing since the first P7 outboard was launched back in 1960.

“When you look around the harbour here, you will see Yamahas on the back of small and large boats alike, so it was a logical step to support the Sea Angling Classic.

“Congratulations to the winners – I know they will thoroughly enjoy their prize.”

Ross Honey, founder of Angling Spirit, which runs the Sea Angling Classic, adds: “All of our partnerships are key, but Extreme and Yamaha’s involvement, with the prize boat, engine and control system as first prize, really is incredible.

“We love working with engaged partners, and Yamaha really understands what we are trying to do with all aspects of this event and, of course, it mirrors many of the projects they are also undertaking – it’s a great match.

“I have been so impressed with the level of engagement that Yamaha have had with every part of the Sea Angling Classic, and I am delighted they are on board. The 300hp V6 engine and the Helm Master EX joystick control system is a prize truly worthy winning, and I know the triumphant team will really appreciate all it can do for them on the prize boat.”

At Sunday’s presentation ceremony there was also an additional award for the best-placed boat with a Yamaha engine; with the team of David Wilson, Stuart Jones, Wayne Hand and Scott Rennie in their Extreme 745 Game King coming in third overall and receiving a wildcard entry to Yamaha’s pan-European angling competition, the Pro Fish Cup.

Students from Portsmouth University joined the Sea Angling Classic anglers onboard on the first day of the event, gathering data about the number and size of fish and taking DNA swabs to understand more about each species and their habitats.

From an environmental standpoint, each competitor taking part also had to undertake a beach or shoreline clean up in the run to the event as a condition of entry.

Honey explains: “The environmental aspects of the event are key to what we do – this is about safeguarding our environment, understanding and looking after our fish and their habitats, as well as encouraging youngsters to get involved through initiatives such as our crabbing competition.”

Taylerson adds: “This is as much about the competition as about the work Ross and his team have done beforehand, with the shore clean ups; something which is close to our hearts as Yamaha has its own ‘Clean the Sea’ initiative.

“This came about in Portugal back in 2018. There is a challenge for us all, not just in the marine industry, to ensure there are clean seas. The idea was that, when a WaveRunner was sold, the buyer got a bag which they could use to put rubbish in when they come across it.

“It is now being rolled out across Europe and we are working with schools and marinas around the country, providing facilities for people out on the water to clean up any rubbish they find by putting it into a bag and taking it away with them so it’s not left in the sea. It’s another part of Yamaha’s commitment to the environment, our seas and our planet.”