OCEAN CITY- The Cape May Marlin and Tuna Club edged the Ocean City Marlin Club last weekend in the 2013 Challenge Cup to pull ahead in the decades-long competition each fall between the two rival clubs.
The Challenge Cup, which pits teams of boats from the Ocean City Marlin Club against teams of boats from the Cape May Marlin and Tuna Club, officially began in 1979 as formal competition between the friendly rivals which share the same canyons off the coast of the resort. The two rival clubs meet each September to compete for the Challenge Cup and bragging rights until next year.
Last weekend, nine boats from the Ocean City Marlin Club competed against the 16 registered from Cape May and the New Jersey teams edged the local team to take a 16-14 edge in the decades-long competition. Last weekend’s win marked the second in a row for Cape May after Ocean City had won two years in a row to even the series at 14-14.
If either team wins three years in a row, that cup is retired and remains in possession of the victors, while the losing team bucks up for a new cup. With two straight wins, Cape May will look to retire the current cup during the tournament next fall.