Winners of Great Lakes Scuttlebutt’s 3rd Annual Vacation Giveaway Announced

Congratulations to Patty Bryant & Amy Green!

Published: Wednesday, March 11, 2020 1:00 am

"After we hung up, I was torn between disbelief and excitement," explained Amy of the February 10 phone call wherein she was informed she was the U.S. winner of Great Lakes Scuttlebutt's 3rd Annual Vacation Giveaway.

Recounted Patty of her notification as the Canadian winner of the same, “I couldn't believe it. At first, I thought [the voicemail] was going to be a sales call. You know, 'you entered and for a very special price you can...' but then, when I read the follow-up email, my heart started racing. Is this real? It seemed so!"

It is human nature to protect oneself from disappointment, which is why both winners of the week-long trip to Tahiti found themselves in a mild state of shock after learning of their amazing wins!

Including airfare, five days and nights aboard a Sunsail sailing catamaran, two nights in an over-water villa, and food along the way, the 2020 trip is valued around $14,000 – PER COUPLE! Amy and Patty, plus their guests—husbands Ray and Rob, respectively—will board planes to Los Angeles in early May, and quickly transfer to an eight-hour flight that will deliver them to Pape'ete, Tahiti, where their catamaran awaits.

Although the winners grew up in locations nearly 2,000 miles (3,000 kms) apart, they share similar passions in boating and a love of the water.

Patty grew up fishing the many lakes of British Columbia with her parents (both avid fishermen) and spent plenty of time in the Okanagan Lake area of BC. These days, she and her husband, Rob, often boat, fish, and explore, even participating in ice fishing and snowmobile racing when their local waters freeze over.

Unfortunately, the past few years have been challenging for Patty and Rob, made more so recently having just finished moving both their house and Rob's restoration shop, which included coordination of several cars, trucks, and snowmobiles in various states of repair.

“The day after my win, when I went to work, I had to ask for the time off 'because I won a trip to Tahiti,'” said Patty. “My supervisor immediately approved my time and my co-workers are super excited for us." With a laugh, she added, "Excited, as well as just a little bit jealous."

"A chance to put it all behind us while we revel in the beauty of Tahiti will be amazing," said Patty.

The US winner also grew up on the water, spending much of her time on Saginaw Bay (Mich.) with her parents, boating in the summer and ice fishing in the winter. Now avid boaters of Lake St. Clair, Amy and her husband, Ray, have hosted a number of PWC races around the Great Lakes.

"I raced professionally for 20 years and won some World Championships along the way," Amy summarized rather humbly. The truth is, in 2016, she was recognized with a Legacy 'Wake of Fame' Award acknowledging her "commitment to PWC-boating safety education across a large regional area" and helping to "significantly reduce injuries or accidents and increase operational capabilities." She has also raced in several countries including Thailand, Monaco, Malaysia, and Russia and earned herself five world titles, 15 national titles, and a slalom world record.

These days, Amy continues to advocate in the world of PWC racing and has a whole new adventure ahead of her. When asked what she is looking forward to the most about the vacation to Tahiti, Amy said, "We've chartered around the BVI before but have never been to Tahiti. It's been something we've always wanted to do so we're really looking forward to spending a week on clear blue water, exploring new places and meeting new people."

This remarkable trip was made possible through the group effort of several sponsors, including The Islands of Tahiti tourism bureau, YACHTS, and Great Lakes Scuttlebutt—each representing as a major sponsor. Other supporting sponsors include Conrad Bora Bora Nui resort, the Toronto International Boat Show, Sunsail, and the Vancouver International Boat Show.

Make sure you follow Great Lakes Scuttlebutt on Facebook, Instagram, or Twitter for more about the trip in the coming months. You can also subscribe to the print or online magazine, or to their weekly newsletter to stay up to date on this and ALL the news about boating on the Great Lakes.