CELEBRATING 30 YEARS OF THE FLORIDA POWERBOAT CLUB LIFESTYLE
WINTER FUN RUN
Kicking off the 2023 season with Key Largo Style!
MIAMI BOAT SHOW POKER RUN
A Sensational fleet returned to Islamorada where it all began 28 Years earlier!
SPRING KEY WEST POKER RUN
Perfect Spring weather made this 4-day fling a memorable escape to paradise!
TAMPA BAY POKER RUN
Big Horsepower combined with Big City lights for this bay-romping blast!
And .... Our Lovely FPC Girls
WWW.FLPOWERBOAT.COM
THANK YOU to our Team, Nor-Tech Family, Partners, and the Marine Industry as a whole for your care and support during Hurricane Ian Relief Efforts.
A Magazine Showcasing The Florida Powerboat Club Lifestyle
2023#2 SPRING/SUMMER
EDITOR/PUBLISHER
Stu Jones stu@flpowerboat.com
OFFICE MANAGER
Jackie Jones jackie@flpowerboat.com
GRAPHIC DESIGNER
Lina Montes fpclina@gmail.com
PHOTOGRAPHY
Pete Boden
Jerry Wyszatycki
Stu Jones
EVENT MANAGEMENT
Jackie Jones jackie@flpowerboat.com
Megan Smith admin@flpowerboat.com
VIDEO PRODUCTION
Stu Jones
Ryan McCoy
Joe Kotrady
DIRECT ALL INQUIRIES TO
Florida Powerboat Club 1214 SW 6th St.
Pompano Beach, FL 33069
Tel: 954.545-1414
Fax: 954.782-2452
www.FLPOWERBOAT.com
POMPANO OFFICE HOURS
Monday - Thursday
10 AM - 5 PM
CONTENTS
6. LETTER FROM THE PRESIDENT
Stu Jones recaps the robust start to FPC's first four 2023 events and announces big plans for tour around the country this summer with the Mercury Racing sponsored Top Gun Flight 1130 Cigarette.
8. WINTER FUN RUN 2023
This season opener in late January gave FPC members a chance for a tropical getaway to Key Largo, visiting the luxurious Playa Largo Resort & Spa.
20. MIAMI BOAT SHOW POKER RUN 2023
This 28th edition of the event that celebrates our performance marine industry, followed on the heels of the Miami Boat Show and returned to a once-favorite destination at Postcard Inn, Islamorada with great results on every level.
50. SPRING KEY WEST POKER RUN 2023
With just 21entries, this mid-March event made best use of the smaller size in every way, as participants enjoyed high levels of camaraderie, docked like rock stars and visited remote islands in paradise.
62. TAMPA BAY POKER RUN 2023
With Downtown Tampa's big city lights as the backdrop, FPC members enjoyed daytime boating on the calm Tampa Bay waters and night-time fun with an endless menu of dining and entertainment options.
BC. NEW FPC SUMMER TOUR CALENDAR
With the pandemic behind us, Team FPC is back on the summer poker run bandwagon, announcing an exciting national tour with the Mercury Racing sponsored 38' Cigarette, TOP GUN Flight 1130.
ON THE COVER: FPC members kicked off 2023 with a roaring start on Biscayne Bay for the January Winter Poker Run. FPC Girls Chloe, Hannah and Maddie at Postcard Inn, Islamorada.
All copyright laws apply. No part of this publication may be reproduced without the expressed written permission of the publisher SEE THE COMPLETE DIGITAL EDITION OF POWERBOATING IN PARADISE MAGAZINE AT WWW.FLPOWERBOAT.COM FPC POMPANO BEACH HEADQUARTERS
Traveling? Need to lighten the load? Enjoy the digital version of this issue of Powerboating in Paradise Magazine on... YouTube: Florida Powerboat Club www.youtube.com/user/FLpowerboatClub www.facebook.com/flpowerboat Instagram @flpowerboat
POWERBOATING IN PARADISE | 5
Summer is upon us and for many powerboating enthusiasts around the nation, it is the beginning of an exciting adventure with poker runs, shootouts, fun runs and raft up parties on every weekend agenda. For the Florida Powerboat Club, including our marine trade partners and the 180+ registered teams that joined us over the span of the last four months starting last January, it is time to his the “reset” button…and make the pilgrimage home for the summer season!
While our fellow powerboat friends in more northern climates are counting the days to the Memorial Day Weekend so they can hit water with their engines already idling, the trailering snowbirds who did the South Florida winter with FPC, logged thousands of miles from Miami through the Florida Keys and on Tampa Bay for mid-April fling. For these boaters, many are squeezing in late Spring service appointments for their Mercury Racing hardware and getting their boats on trailers to head back to homeports across the United States and Canada, from Texas to New England and beyond.
Let me begin by thanking all those teams that supported our fall and winter season by attending one or more of our FPC events, and we wish you all the best over the summer season, as you return to your homeports. Now, I am pleased to share the following news about our exciting 2023 FPC Summer Tour!
boating family. The FPC 38’ Cigarette formerly known as Project 1080, received a new set of Mercury Racing 565’s with ITS and XR drives, and since the Key West Poker Run last November, has been making waves throughout Florida as the re-named, TOP GUN Flight 1130. Taking this double-anniversary celebration to the next level, I am pleased to announce the most aggressive cross-country summer tour that we have embarked on in many years. With my wife Jackie as first mate, we will be transporting the 2000 Cigarette Top Gun and attending six major poker runs in as many states June through September! With some much-needed logistics support from professional haulers along with the miracles of modern-day jet travel, we will manage this 8,000+ mile roadtrip while still staging our four FPC poker run events May through September. Please see our calendar for the 2023 FPC Summer Tour, Presented by Mercury Racing on the back page of this issue, or visit the home page of our FPC website at flpowerboat.com
We hope to see all of you over the summer months, and my final request is that you PLEASE make safety a top priority this summer, and always wear your life jacket! It doesn’t work if you’re not wearing it!
6 | POWERBOATING IN PARADISE
Warm Way to Chill
FPC members from northern climates waited eagerly for this January
opener to escape the cold winter chill, soon discovering this smaller event provided a much different kind of Chill…. the vibe that comes a casual agenda, tropical warmth, and a first-class destination in paradise.
Story by Stu Jones
After the Key West Poker Run every November, there’s a long 9-week stretch of not much going on in the FPC world, partially due to the December holiday season, but realistically, it might be attributed to the fact that the FPC management team takes a little while to hit the “reset” button after this epic fall event. It appears that the logical reboot date falls comfortably after the beginning of the new year, and the Winter Fun Run to the Florida Keys has filled the gap nicely for almost three decades. And, for this annual season opener, there is something that separates it from the rest.
For one, the Winter Fun Run is measurably smaller. By comparison, with an average of 20-25 registered teams versus its Key West counterpart in November with over 250 registered poker run teams, the Winter fling draws a small crowd, covers a short distance, and visits an upscale, family friendly destination called Playa Largo Resort & Spa, located a mere fifty miles from Miami.
Secondly, the formalities of staging a poker run event format, with card checkpoints and a formal dinner party to play out the cards, is traded for a fun run with a more casual, Laissez-faire approach. While FPC still offered evening cocktail happy-hour parties at the open-air Sole by the Sea restaurant overlooking the boat docks, it remains more of a come-if-you please agenda, which attendees seem to enjoy.
The third benefit, from an organizer’s standpoint, is that having just twenty powerboats on the roster, allows FPC to step outside the box with boating daytrips, because smaller groups are just easier to manage when it comes to high-performance boating events! This gave attendees the opportunity to explore some of the most scenic waterways in the Florida Keys, an adventure that many agreed was the highlight of their weekend escape to paradise.
The 3-day event kicked off from Grove Harbour Marina Friday morning, after many teams had overnighted at the Coconut Grove
FPC season
8 | POWERBOATING IN PARADISE
facility, which offers a variety of indoor and outdoor dry-storage options, plus a substantial number of wet slips for big yachts. After the dockside breakfast, it was a quick romp across Biscayne Bay, with the FPC chopper crew in hot pursuit, capturing the first round of FPC images to kick off the 2023 calendar year and celebrate the club’s 30th anniversary. Gilberts Key Largo hosted the lunch stop, which went off nicely, and by early afternoon the teams were taking a short ride, just ten miles further south through winding mangrove waterways to the opposite end of Key Largo. Our destination was Playa Largo Resort & Spa, a luxurious resort that is proudly marketed by Marriott as an Autograph Collection property. In addition to its expansive, well-manicured grounds, the resort offers a welcoming pool area with well-staffed bars, private cabanas, spa facilities, on-site dining, and amazing views over the colorful bay waters, providing breathtaking sunsets daily. That is only the beginning, because the resort offers such a unique variety of accommodations, including balcony water view suites, two story bungalows, and for the fortunate few, a private two-
story home with its own pool, which was happily scooped up by FPC guests, who celebrated a very festive 60th birthday bash for club member Deris “DJ” Ceresa.
The weekend continued with a fun run Saturday through the scenic Key Largo backwaters from Blackwater Sound, through the Marvin Adams cut, Largo Sound and Pennekamp Coral Reef Park, followed by a short cruise in the Atlantic to Islamorada’s Postcard Inn & Marina. If nothing else, it was the perfect opportunity for FPC members to have a sneak peek at the NEXT destination for the 2023 FPC season, with the annual Miami Boat Show Poker Run returning to this landmark location just a month later. The good news is, that event is also featured in this issue of Powerboating in Paradise Magazine, but don’t jump ahead too soon!! Take your time and enjoy our feature coverage of this smaller boutique-ish winter season opener, where the warm tropical escape combined with the chill vibe appeared to be the winning formula for everyone in attendance. SJ
Photos by: Jerry Wyszatycki and Stu Jones
POWERBOATING IN PARADISE | 9
Stu & Jackie Jones with FPC Girls Jackie and Hannah
Tom Gourzis | PA | Team OPA II | 42' Cigarette
Ray & Kristine Gremaux | NY | Team BIG SHOT! | 42' Mystic
BIG SHOT! Crew
10 | POWERBOATING IN PARADISE
Grove Harbour Marina provided a great staging location for the Winter Run, while major docking expansion project was underway, as management prepared for the Mercury Racing launch party in February during the Miami Boat Show.
Cliff & Mellissa Anderson | AZ | Team AIR SIGN | 34' MTI
Eric Fudala | FL | Team INCORRIGIBLE | 39' Concept
Stu & Jackie Jones | FL | Team TOP GUN FLIGHT 1130 | 38' Cigarette
12 | POWERBOATING IN PARADISE
Stu & Jackie Jones joined by Team BE FIRST, Tory Robson & friends
Tom Archer | NJ | Team LAUGHING GIRAFFE | 41' Skater
John Jordan II | IN | Team WIDE OPEN | 38' Fountain
Curtis Watkins | FL | Team EVIL WOMAN | 39' Nor-Tech
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Big 60th Birthday celebration weekend for DJ Ceresa! Deris Ceresa | FL | Team PHANTOM BLACK | 43' Midnight Express
John Strama | FL | Team SUPERBEAST | 40' MTI
Another well-orchestrated lunch at Gilbert’s Key Largo.
Paul & Mariasol Ison | KY | Team STILL SMOKIN | 41' Cigarette
Alan Lima | FL | Team GROVE HARBOUR MARINA | 38' Cigarette
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Steve Behnke | MI | Team WRIGHT PERFORMANCE | 36' Wright Performance
John Wittenberger Jr | NJ | Team ANOTHER BAD DECISION | 36' Spectre
Roger & Pam Anderson | TX | Team WILD HORSES | 39' Nor-Tech
Chris & Lori Nazetta | IL | Team BLU GATTI | 48' MTI
POWERBOATING IN PARADISE | 17
ANOTHER BAD DECISION Crew
Albert Franko | FL | Team SKIPPER | 42' Skipper
Mark & Eileen Fischer Team Deep Impact joined by friends for a lunch rendezvous at Postcard Inn.
Teams enjoying lunch at the world famous Tiki Bar at Postcard Inn
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Playa Largo Resort docks provided an impressive boat show as a backdrop for amazing sunsets.
Postcards FromParadise!
Florida Powerboat Club’s return to the landmark Postcard Inn & Marina in Islamorada for the 28th Miami Boat Show Poker Run was a welcome change to the 2023 event calendar, bringing back fond memories of the 20-year run that started in the early 90’s.
Story by Stu Jones
Pe ople around the FPC boating scene may often wonder why events occasionally shuffle around to different venues on the annual poker run calendar, and there are often many reasons why. But one reason is becoming more prominent, as FPC organizers respond to forces that appear to be beyond their control. To that point, the last decade has seen many changes in the Florida hospitality industry, illustrated by a revolving door of new resort ownership groups and new management teams on the Florida tourism scene. It’s anyone’s guess as to what corporate conglomerate or private equity group might arrive in the Sunshine State with a thirsty appetite for acquisitions and millions in their checking accounts. Such was the case with the Postcard Inn & Marina in Islamorada, the once popular destination for FPC’s annual Miami Boat Show Poker Run, which took over every hotel room, boat dock and bar stool in this rustic resort known for rumrunners, from the mid-90’s to well past 2016. Then along came a new ownership group, that chose a business model that eliminated the big group buyouts and special event business, leaving FPC organizers to find a new home for the annual February event.
Over the next six years, FPC experimented with other destinations,
favoring a Key Largo-focused event using Gilberts Resort, Mariners Club and Playa Largo Resort & Spa as event destinations, but the magic of the “one-stop” venue just wasn’t the same, until an opportunity came along. New ownership at Postcard Inn & Marina and a changing of the guard, opened the doors to FPC for the 28th anniversary of this festive February poker run, and participants were pleased to discover a fresh new polished look. Gone were the once-popular Tiki Bar, Rumrunners on the Beach, and original Raw Bar, but the replacements featured open air dining, excellent food, friendly bartenders, and those famous rumrunners were every bit as good as they were twenty years earlier. More importantly, the rooms throughout the property had been renovated thoroughly, the grounds had a major facelift with lush landscaping, and most noticeable were the improvements to the marina, which had new finger piers and deck hardware to make docking so much easier on the inside basin. It was here that FPC Series Sponsors showed off their latest hardware, with many display boats coming directly from the Miami Boat Show, just a few days earlier. (Unfortunately, the outside bulkhead which accommodated several boats rafting, is still very much in need of repairs and dredging, but FPC is in current discussions with resort managers to get some of these issues corrected for 2024.)
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Poker card #1 from the docks at Grove Harbour Marina (Note new floating dock and yacht pilings recently installed)
For those of us who recalled the old Holiday Isle days, it was a bittersweet change to the rustic property we once knew and adored, and nonetheless these upgrades that were much needed, bringing the caliber of the property up several notches from the by-gone days.
For 2023, the Miami Boat Show Poker Run kept its popular 4-day format with the Thursday departure, after organizers eliminated the optional Friday departure just a couple years earlier. Apparently, most powerboaters agree that if you are taking time away to visit the Florida Keys in the dead of winter, why mess with a threeday format, when you can easily have four days of fun? This has worked out well for everyone at the event, because after all the teams arrive in Islamorada on Thursday, this essentially gives all attendees two full days to play in the Keys. The itinerary offers a variety of boating daytrips to destinations beyond including Duck Key, Marathon, and Key West, all of which may be reached along the protected back waters of Florida Bay and Lower Keys. For other attendees not so eager to venture to faraway destinations, the local raft-up parties were the ideal way to drive less, and party more. FPC designated Friday for the raft-up at the nearby sandbar
off the Whale Harbor Channel (half-a-mile from the resort), while Saturday was scheduled for a private raft-up party at the Key Largo home of J.R Adan, co-owner of Doug Wright Powerboats. And yet there were others who were quite content to leave the boats tied up and venture off in flip-flops to the oceanfront pool at PostCard Inn, where the February sun remained on duty all day long, as did the bartenders tending to the fun loving poker run teams, many of whom had just escaped the clutches of Mister Winter, and were quite content to soak in equal amounts of Florida Keys sunshine and rum-laced refreshments.
For the evening agendas, FPC hosted a cocktail party at the Tiki Bar Thursday, followed by a Friday night dinner and awards party at the Rumrunners Beach outdoor venue, which was beautifully arranged by the Postcard Inn special event staff. With the sand in their toes, attendees were treated to incredible food, two fully staffed bars, an entertaining DJ team, plus poker run videos playing on the big screen. Light winds and mild temperatures made this the perfect outdoor event, as sponsors were recognized, the President’s Choice Awards presented, and poker run winners crowned. FPC congratulates all the winners! Continuedonpage20
POWERBOATING IN PARADISE | 21
Photos by: Jerry Wyszatycki, Pete Boden and Stu Jones
To wrap an amazing weekend, the format for Saturday evening was laissez faire, as attendees made good use of the FPC shuttle and local Uber drivers to venture off to local area restaurants. Thankfully, Islamorada has no shortage of fine dining choices, including Pierre’s, Chef Michaels, Ziggy & Mad Dog’s, and Marker 88 to name just a few.
Overall, most in attendance would agree that the return to Postcard Inn & Marina in Islamorada was a good call for this popular FPC February event, which falls immediately after the famous Miami International Boat Show. Aside from the benefits of a midwinter escape to tropical paradise, this event format provides our marine trade partners with the opportunity to display their newest models in a casual, festive atmosphere. FPC is happy to report that the venue is already booked for 2024, with even more upgrades and renovations promised for our return. SJ
Stu & Jackie Jones | FL | Team TOP GUN FLIGHT 1130 | 38' Cigarette
Beau and Tiffiney Renfroe | GA | Team DIRTY MONEY | 36' Skater
LAUGHING GIRAFFE Crew
TEAM DIRTY MONEY - FIRST PLACE WINNERS
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Tom Archer | NJ | Team LAUGHING GIRAFFE | 41' Skater
Steven Fernandez 954-655-6498
Braden Verkaik 954-651-8535
Official rigging shop for the TOP GUN FLIGHT 1130
Best Cat Award: Jorge Arellano | FL | Team ORANGE CRUSH | 47' Victory Tory Robson | MN | Team BE FIRST | 42' Cigarette THIS 42X NOW FOR SALE CONTACT WWW.TNTCUSTOMMARINE.COM Stu & Jackie Jones | FL | Team TOP GUN FLIGHT 1130 | 38' Cigarette 24 | POWERBOATING IN PARADISE
EXTREME INDUCTION Crew
Best Paint & Graphics Award: Steve & Teresa Presley | TN | Team EXTREME INDUCTION | 48' MTI
RIGHT NOW Crew
Eddie Collier | TN | RIGHT NOW | 39' Deep Impact
POWERBOATING IN PARADISE | 25
Bruno & Rebecca Perree | FL | MEGAWATTS | 39' Outerlimits
Bryan Mullinax | GA | Team OXE MARINE | 32' Metal Shark | Official Safety Boat
Michael Friedman | FL | Team CRAZY HORSE | 41' Apache
FPC Girl Chloe 26 | POWERBOATING IN PARADISE
Nick Evans | IN | Team RECOVERED MONEY II | 36' Statement
Best Team Name Award: Alexander Alanis | FL | Team NEVER KNOT WORKING | 36' Carrera
Brett Manire | MO | Team PERFORMANCE BOAT CENTER | 36' Wright Performance
FPC Girl Hannah
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Thursday lunch at Gilbert’s Key Largo
Daniel & Becky Cates | GA | Team NAUTI NAUTI | 33' Renegade
Roger & Pam Anderson | TX | Team WILD HORSES | 39' Nor-Tech
POWERBOATING IN PARADISE | 29
Cliff & Mellissa Anderson | AZ | Team AIR SIGN | 34' MTI
Best Perf V-Bottom Award: Rick Riggle | OH | Team SMOKIN | 42' Cigarette
Mark Stoddart | Canada | Team HUNTRESS | 42' Cigarette
Michael & Elena Ciasulli | NJ | Team MAXON | 39' MTI
MAXON Crew
30 | POWERBOATING IN PARADISE
TEAM SMOKIN-SECOND PLACE WINNERS
Good Samaritan Award: Simon Williams | FL | Team FOUNTAIN | 38' Fountain
Denny & Alana Leek | OH | Team TILL DAWN | 42' Cigarette
Michael Lacasse | NH | Team HANG N' BANG | 37' Midnight Express
POWERBOATING IN PARADISE | 31
TEAM HANG N' BANG-THIRD PLACE WINNERS
David & Jenny Landsman | MD | Team GAME CHANGER | 43' Midnight Express
Jeff & Brenda Jacobs | MD | Team TRIPLE J'S | 39' Cigarette
Jorge Arellano | FL | Team 151 EXPRESS | 32' Phantom
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TRIPLE J'S Crew
30' 39' Eric@conceptboats.com www conceptboats com (305) 635-8712 @ C O N C E P T B O A T S L I N E U P 32' 36' 44' CABIN 44' OPEN
Daniel Goldberg | FL | Team SHADOWFAX | 39' Nor-Tech
Connor & Allye Toomey | MD | Team ALLYE KAT | 32' Doug Wright
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Rick Spade | OH | Team SPADEMADE | 33' ARTH
Shawn Aksamit | AZ | Team ZERO DISCIPLINE | 38' Skater
ZERO
POWERBOATING IN PARADISE | 35
Joe & Amy Lee Celello | FL | Team DOUG WRIGHT | 39' Doug Wright
DISCIPLINE - Sexiest Crew Award
JR Adan | FL | Team
DOUG WRIGHT | 38' Doug Wright
Brett Manire | MO | Team PERFORMANCE BOAT CENTER | 34' Sunsation
Dan & Nancy Wall | NC | Team WALL NUTS | 38' Fountain
WALL NUTS Crew
36 | POWERBOATING IN PARADISE
PERFORMANCE BOAT CENTER Sexiest Crew Award
Eric Glaser | FL | Team MIDNIGHT EXPRESS | 52' Midnight Express
Jorge Arellano | FL | Team 151 EXPRESS | 35' DCB
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Farthest Trailered Award: Grant Bernardy | MN | Team WAVEMAKER X3 | 37' DCB
Farthest Traveled Award: Frank Bulte | FRANCE | Team SHARK RIDER | 44' MTI
SHARK RIDER Crew
Gary Morrical | IN | Team FAMILY OF FOUR | 39' Nor-Tech
Wesley Abraham | NY | Team PRODIGAL SON | 42' MTI
POWERBOATING IN PARADISE | 39
FPC Girl Chloe
FPC Girls Chloe & Maddie
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The Postcard Inn and Marina, Islamorada was a welcome venue change for this 28-year FPC event .
FPC WELCOMES DOUG WRIGHT POWERBOATS
2023 SERIES SPONSOR
On Friday morning, a two hour photo and video session with the helicopter crew was provided for all of the manufacturing and dealer sponsors. With amazing water conditions offshore, this provided an excellent opportunity for sponsors to invite customers and group up the boats for that spectacular Money Shot!
Team PLANTATION BOAT MART | 39' Deep Impact Greg & Jennifer Connell | TX | Team LEGEND MARINE GROUP | 39' Nor-Tech
LEGEND MARINE GROUP Crew
42 | POWERBOATING IN PARADISE
SPONSOR AWARDS - PLANTATION BOAT MART & DEEP IMPACT
Brett Manire | MO | Team PERFORMANCE BOAT CENTER | 34' Sunsation
Anthony Vera | FL | Team BIG THUNDER MARINE | 34' Fountain
Most Enthusiastic Team Award: Katherine Dameron | FL | Team MSS BEHAVIN' | 41' Cigarette
SPONSOR AWARD BIG THUNDER MARINE
POWERBOATING IN PARADISE | 43
PERFORMANCE BOAT CENTER Crew
Zach Polsky | NJ | Team GAME OVER | 43' Midnight Express
Christian & Andrea McCauley | FL | Team NEXT EPISODE | 43' Midnight Express
44 | POWERBOATING IN PARADISE
FPC Girl Hannah
Jesse & Stephanie Neumann | MN | Team LITTLE DIRTY $ | 40' Nor-Tech
Andrew (Rocco) Rocco | NH | Team TIME CONSCIOUS | 34' Victory
Best Sound System Award: Danek Laskowski | NJ | Team GRAY AREA | 38' Statement
TIME CONSCIOUS Crew
POWERBOATING IN PARADISE | 45
GRAY AREA Crew
Eric Glaser | FL | Team MIDNIGHT EXPRESS | 52' Midnight Express
Craig Blankenship | MI | Team STATEMENT | 35' Statement
46 | POWERBOATING IN PARADISE
Best Poker Run Boat Award: Scot Conrad | FL | Team SLT FT LAUDEDALE | 43' Canados
Saturday Night Awards Party
Sponsor Award - Performance Boat Center Team
Sponsor Awards - Legend Marine & Nor-Tech Powerboats Farthest Traveled - Frank Bulte - Team SHARK RIDER 44' MTI
Sponsor Award - Fountain Powerboats
Sponsor Award - Statement Marine
Sexiest Crew - Ladies of ZERO DISCIPLINE - 38' Skater
Sponsor Award - Cigarette Racing Team Farthest Trailered - Grant Bernardy Team WAVEMAKER X3 - 37' DCB
Best Catamaran - Jorge Arellano Team ORANGE CRUSH - 47' Victory
FPC Girls: Chloe, Maddie, Hannah
Best Paint & Graphics - Steve Presley Team - EXTREMINDUCTION - 48' MTI
Sexiest Crew - Shawn & Shelby Aksamit Team - ZERO DISCIPLINE - 38' Skater
Best Dressed Crew - Chris & Lori Nazetta Team - BLU GATTI - 48' MTI
Best Team Name - Alex Alanis Team - NEVER KNOT WORKING - 36' Carrera
Good Samaritan Award - Simon Williams Team - FOUNTAIN - 38' Fountain
Best Poker Run Boat - Scot Conrad Team - SLT FT LAUDEDALE - 43' Canados
Best Center Console - Eric Graser Team - MIDNIGHT EXPRESS - 52' Midnight Express
POWERBOATING IN PARADISE | 47
Best Perf V-Bottom - Rick Riggle Team - SMOKIN - 42' Cigarette
48 | POWERBOATING IN PARADISE
Twenty One PILOTS!
Sometimes SIZE matters but not for the 2023 edition of the Spring Key West Poker Run, where twenty-one poker run captains led their teams on a four-hundred-mile roundtrip from Miami to Key West, discovering that smaller events offer unique advantages!
Story and photos by Stu
Jones
Completing a long run of four separate FPC adventures to the Florida Keys that began in November, the Spring Key West Poker Run gave twenty-one poker run teams the chance to enjoy four days of incredible boating to a destination that is world famous for having fun. And, if visiting Key West at the height of the Spring Break season isn’t enough reason to celebrate, consider that this third event of the FPC 2023 calendar fell directly in synch with St Patrick’s Day, which happens to be a very popular occasion for thousands of enthusiastic visitors in this very festive vacation hotspot!
In addition to the local Key West festivities, there was far more to celebrate for the attendees over this four-day boating adventure. Like the Winter Fun Run that took place just two months earlier, the Spring Key West Poker Run reaps the benefits of the “less is more” scenario, where smaller events provide less stress
over docking and over-crowded functions, and more quality facetime with fellow FPC members. And not, we might add, the kind of facetime one uses with a mobile device. The fact that twenty-one teams and about eighty participants are in close quarters with each other during the four-day fling, accounts for many new friendships being created, and an event experience that is very different from the event’s counterpart, the 275team November Key West Poker Run, which takes place during powerboat race week.
On this mid-March weekend in Key West, absent from the mix are 250 of the other FPC teams, dozens of offshore powerboat racing teams and thousands of fans that crowd the streets and bars, so the Spring Key West event mood is more casual and chill in so many ways.
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Boca Grande Key, just ten miles from Key West, provided a great setting for the Friday fun run.
The other bonus that comes along with the smaller fleet, is the advantage of visiting the popular island getaways in the Mule Keys, including Boca Grande Key which is typically closed by National Refuge authorities every November during the Key West Poker Run. Seizing that opportunity and making the best of the incredible spring weather, FPC’s Friday agenda included a fun run to Boca Grande, with the FPC photo and video crew flying overhead in a locally based Robinson R44, capturing some amazing imagery. With double-digit winds gusting from the southeast, the ocean conditions for the short 10-mile ride were far from perfect, but that didn’t deter these weekend warriors, who feathered the throttles and rode the humps, knowing that safe harbor was just around the corner. And indeed, it was, because the bumpy conditions had kept many other local boaters back in their home ports, and for the first time in recent years, FPC
took over the protected and pristine beaches of Boca Grande, to enjoy a picnic in paradise.
The fun continued both on-water and off, as cocktail parties were hosted every evening at FPC’s hospitality tent, situated at the landmark Conch Republic Seafood company in the Key West Historic Seaport. With the majority of the FPC fleet docked at the Conch Republic venue, this made for a great backdrop, that included a formal Saturday evening dinner party in the courtyard, where everyone gathered to celebrate this wonderful weekend, and enjoyed the fun and games of playing out the poker cards and taking part in the awards presentations. Thanks to all those who attended, and we hope you enjoy all the incredible images in this Powerboating in Paradise feature. SJ
POWERBOATING IN PARADISE | 51
Hannah and little sis, Emily, at Conch Rep Seafood Co.
Ryan Garnett | TX | Team INTO THE MYSTIC | 38' Mystic
Frank Esposito | NJ | Team TODAY'S 4 SHORE | 42' MTI
FPC Girls Kelly and Ivane Handed off poker cards at Grove Harbour Marina
Paula Ackerman receives a bonus card dockside from FPC girls.
52 | POWERBOATING IN PARADISE
Rachael Garnett, Team INTO THE MYSTIC, receiving card #1 Grove Harbour Marina
This Sunseeker Superhawk was purchased as a low-hour fresh water boat from Michigan and completely refit in 2022 with new components and systems including diesel generator, bow thruster, new trim tabs, Dolphin battery charger, JL Audio System and a completely updated helm with new shifters, gauges and electronics. The entire boat was refinished in 3M vinyl by Boatwraps, and outfitted with new canvas and extended bimini top to cover the helm, then finished with extensive U-Dek flooring over the entire deck, cockpit, cabin and swim platform. This triple 502Efi Sunseeker is maintained by FPC marine partners and stored at Jones residence in Pompano Beach on a 40k hydraulic boat lift.
$139,000 half interest | Ownership through a registered Florida LLC corporation. Annual maintenance, insurance and storage budget of $ 30,000 is split 50/50 with a low cost of $ 1,250/month.
* The boat is privately owned and no longer offered for charter.
Fractional partnerships are the smart way to own and operate a powerboat, aircraft or yacht! Call Stu Jones 954-684-9333
This
a great opportunity to own a luxurious performance cruiser at a fraction of the cost!
John Stella | NY | Team PERFECT RX | 39' Nor-Tech
Cliff & Mellissa Anderson | AZ | Team AIR SIGN | 34' MTI
Ron Paul | IL | Team NOTHING BUT TIME | 39' Nor-Tech
Team NOTHING BUT TIMEFIRST PLACE WINNER
54 | POWERBOATING IN PARADISE
Mike & Olivia Lopez | IL | Team BAD CHOICES | 42' MTI
Lane Christianson | TX | Team KNOT SO" FAST LANE | 50' MTI
KNOT SO" FAST LANE Crew
Eusebio Verrier | FL | Team SO BLESSED | 34' MTI
Team SO BLESSED-THIRD PLACE WINNERS
FPC Girl Hannah
POWERBOATING IN PARADISE | 55
FPC Girl Emily
Dominick Boscaglia | SC | Team CHUMLORD | 38' SCOUT
Ivan Lopez | LA | Team NAVIVAN | 39' Nor-Tech
Bentley Thompson | SC | Team MADDHATTER | 39' Cigarette
Craig & Paula Ackerman | GA | Team LEVEL UP | 39' MTI
Hugo Prigue | FL | Team X PRINT X | 36' Doug Wright
56 | POWERBOATING IN PARADISE
Team X PRINT X-THIRD PLACE WINNERS
JOIN THE CLUB. JOIN THE FUN .
Five levels of membership to suit your boating lifestyle.
PLATINUM MEMBERSHIP
• Access to all FPC events and parties.
• Powerboating Video. (Dozens of titles to choose.)
• Powerboating in Paradise Magazine subscription.
• Embroidered Club T-shirt in your choice of colors.
• Access to all Membership discount programs.
PLUS:
• Premium mens OGIO club polo shirt.
• Premium Concierge Services
• Priority booking status for rooms and dockage on all FPC Events.
• Marina and marine service referrals for your powerboat.
• Nautical assistance to a variety of marine resorts and boating destinations.
• Planning and hotel/slip reservations for your Florida boating weekends.
$499.00/year*
GOLD MEMBERSHIP
Membership suggested for married couples Includes all of the Standard Membership benefits
COMMERCIAL MEMBERSHIP
Membership Includes:
• Discounted rates on FPC Magazine advertising
• Discounted rates on all web advertising/banner programs.
• Access to all FPC events and parties.
• Second membership for spouse/partner included
• Premium mens OGIO Club Polo Shirt.
• Premium womens OGIO Ladies Tank Top
PLUS: $399.00/year*
STANDARD MEMBERSHIP
Membership Includes:
• Access to all FPC events and parties.
• Powerboating Video. (Dozens of titles to choose.)
• Powerboating in Paradise Magazine subscription.
• Embroidered Club T-shirt in your choice of colors.
• Access to all Membership discount programs.
$299.00/year*
• Business listing on our website affiliate section.
• Business card introduction Ad in FPC magazine. Commercial Members also have the opportunity to run promotions and discounts through FPC events.
$399.00/year*
Membership Includes:
• Club T-shirt in your choice of colors.
• Powerboating in Paradise Magazine subscription.
• Access to FPC parties
• Discounted Boat Show tickets.
$99.00/year*
and international memberships will have a slightly higher rate to compensate for mailing/shipping costs. 954-545-1414 | FLPOWERBOAT.COM | ADMIN@FLPOWERBOAT.COM
SOCIAL MEMBERSHIP *Overseas
Saturday Night Awards Party
58 | POWERBOATING IN PARADISE
Most Enthusiastic Team - Dominick & Christy Boscaglia - Team - CHUMLORD - 38' Scout
Best Center Console - Ivan Lopez Team NAVIVAN - Nor-Tech 390 Sport
Broken Propeller Award - Frank Bulte - Team SHARK RIDER 44'MTI
Sponsor Award - Matt & Liz Neely - Matts Sports & Ammo
Farthest Trailered - Ryan & Rachael Garnett Team - INTO THE MYSTIC - 38' Mystic
FPC Girls: Abbey & Hannah
Best Performance V-bottom - Bently Thompson Team - MADHATTER - 39' Cigarette Top Gun
Membership Appreciation Award - Pam & Roger Anderson Team - WILD HORSES - 39 Nor-Tech
Best Dressed Crew - Dwayne Reith Team - FLY MTI - 34 MTI
Good Smaritan Award - Ivan Lopez Team - NAVIVAN - 39 Nor-Tech
Best Paint & Graphics - Mike & Olivia Lopez Team - BAD CHOICES - 42' MTI
POWERBOATING IN PARADISE | 59
60 | POWERBOATING IN PARADISE
THUNDER on the BAY!
Tampa Bay is certainly known for high levels of year-round boating traffic from recreational boaters and commercial traffic alike. But only once yearly do these bay waters come alive with over sixty poker run teams, as they push the throttles and roar from shore to shore, for this amazing display of high-performance hardware and adventurous weekend warriors!
Story by Stu Jones
Now in its 13th year, the Tampa Bay Poker Run seems to have found its place on the map, after FPC moved event headquarters from St. Petersburg across the bay to Downtown Tampa five years ago, where abundant hotels, adequate docking facilities and a vibrant backdrop of dining and entertainment options were just steps away for the 300+ participants that attended this mid-April rendezvous. If there was one poker run on the FPC event calendar that had the Big City theme, the Tampa Bay Poker Run would win this credit by a landslide. In sharp contrast to the previous four FPC events that visited rustic Florida Keys destinations from Key Largo to Key West, the Tampa event is situated in the heart of a metropolitan city with a population that hovers around three million residents, boasts three major league sports franchises, and hosts A-list concerts and sports tours including the likes of WWF Smackdown, and musical royalty like Bruce Springsteen and the E Street band. Did we mention Taylor Swift, with her three back-to-back gigs
at Raymond James Stadium on the same three nights that the Tampa Bay Poker Run was in town? Oh, “that’s just splendid”, said the FPC members who procrastinated long enough to miss the registration cutoff date, which would have assured them $ 300 per night rooms at the Westin Tampa Waterside or the Tampa Marriott Water Street. On the contrary, when the 30-day hotel contracts expired with FPC, the Swifties drove the rates to $ 1,000 per night in about a 24-hour span! Yes indeed, this caught many attendees off guard, and it hit their wallets with a swift blow! So, just a helpful note to those who want to book for the TAMPA BAY Poker Run next year; register before the 30-day deadline or get out your wallet big spender!
The good news is, regardless of the price of the hotel rooms, this 2023 edition of the Tampa Bay Poker Run weekend may have reported some of the best weather and boating conditions we have seen in recent years. The handful of earlybird visitors that
62 | POWERBOATING IN PARADISE
arrived Wednesday, probably got more area boating in than anyone else, getting their boats in the water in time to enjoy a Thursday shakedown run to area hotspots. FPC organizers kicked off a structured program Thursday afternoon, by opening poker run check-in at the Westin Waterside resort and later staging a 7PM captains meeting, so participants could get all the preevent details squared away, giving them two full days on Friday and Saturday to partake in the FPC boating agenda.
The Friday fun run was primarily a casual lunch excursion, with no structured poker card checkpoints. Due to the size of the fleet, with 62 registered teams, a total of three lunch locations had been set up on Tampa Bay, including the popular Getaway along the Gandy Blvd causeway, the new Doc Fords Rum Bar & Grille, situated at St. Petersburg Pier, plus a hidden gem called FINNS, located in the heart of the Apollo Beach boating community, across from St. Pete on the eastern shore of Tampa
Bay. By all reports, everyone enjoyed the casual fun run format, which made best use of some of Tampa Bay’s most popular waterfront hotspots. The Saturday poker run took on a more structured format, with a scheduled 10:30 am start time from the docks at Tampa Convention Center, with the first poker card handoff from the FPC Girls, and a robust poker run course. The modified course offered five checkpoints that covered all four corners of Tampa Bay, explored Gulf coastal waters to Egmont Key, visited two St. Petersburg checkpoints at Indian Key and Vinoy Basin, along with a final fifth poker card near Hula Bay Club, a Saturday lunch stop.
While about half the teams settled in at Hula Bay for lunch, the remaining 30+ teams continued north to Old Tampa Bay, reaching the popular Whisky Joe’s Bar & Grill, where boats were nestled into the soft sand, and attendees enjoyed a casual lunch rendezvous under a special event tent. Continuedonpage64
Photos by: Pete Boden and Stu Jones
FPC Girl Kitty
POWERBOATING IN PARADISE | 63
Barefoot Lunch: Whisky Joe's in Tampa has everything that boaters love, with a long stretch of beach that made for the perfect rendezvous location.
After an incredible day of boating fun, poker run teams re-united at the Tampa Westin Waterside for the Saturday night dinner and awards party. The once formal captain meeting room was converted to the fun zone, with the three basic ingredients to keep poker run teams entertained: A fully stocked bar, poker run videos playing on the big screen, along with Hannah and her team of FPC Girls playing out the poker cards! What more could anyone ask for?
The usual festivities included Sponsor presentations, Presidents Choice Awards and selecting the top three poker run winners from the poker hand playing boards. FPC thanks all those attending, and we are happy to report that 2024 events dates are already blocked off with the same popular hotels, and Tampa Convention Center management promises that all construction projects along the Riverwalk and event docks will be completed for next year’s event. With other promised repairs to the Marjorie Park docks (near the fuel dock) FPC estimates this event could easily reach 75-80 registered teams for 2024! SJ
Kitty became very fond of this new Deep Impact 369.
Hula Bay Club docks as boats arrived for Saturday lunch stop.
Midnight Express owners raft up for the Hula Bay lunch.
64 | POWERBOATING IN PARADISE
Statement! Marine has a great turnout with ten boats on the event roster.
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Chris LaMorte | NJ | 36' Skater
Stu & FPC Team | FL | Team TOP GUN FLIGHT 1130 | 38' Cigarette
Joseph Castellana | NY | Team AWESOME | 38' Skater
FPC Girls Maddie, Hannah, Kitty & Chase
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FPC Girl Maddie
Robert McAtee | OK | Team STATEMENT | 36' Statement
FPC Girl Kitty POWERBOATING IN PARADISE | 67
Best Performance V-bottom Award: Red Reynolds | FL | Team LADY LISA | 55' Nor-Tech 550 Flyer
Mark & Eileen Fischer | FL | Team DEEP IMPACT | Deep Impact 399
Best Poker Run Boat Award: Simon Williams | FL | Team FOUNTAIN | Fountain 38 SCX - New model - first poker run!
68 | POWERBOATING IN PARADISE
Farthest Traveled Award: Frank Scheelen | GERMANY | Team TOP FUN | 36' Nor-Tech Supercat
FRIDAY FUN RUN
With most of the teams in town by Thursday, the Friday lunch run was well attended, and required three different lunch locations to accommodate the large group. The Getaway in St Petersburg has always been a favorite for local boaters, and made the ideal lunch stopover for about 25 poker run teams.
Greg Collinson | ON | Team STATEMENT | 35' Statement!
POWERBOATING IN PARADISE | 69
James Paris | OH | Team YOJIMMY | 35' Statement!
Gary Karwowski | FL | Team LOADED DECK | 42' Mystic
Jeff & Brenda Jacobs | MD | Team TRIPLE J'S | 39' Cigarette
FPC Girl Kitty 70 | POWERBOATING IN PARADISE
TRIPLE J'S Crew
Mark & Spencer Headley | OH | Team MAIDEN AMERICA | 42' Fountain
Craig Blankenship | MI | Team STATEMENT | 35' Statement
Michael Ciasulli | NJ | Team MAXON AUTO GROUP | 39' MTI
POWERBOATING IN PARADISE | 71
FPC Girl Hannah
Midnight Express owners took charge during their chopper time, getting these three 43's lined up in nice formation for the Money Shot!
Jon Lynch | FL | Team FOUNTAIN | 38' Fountain
72 | POWERBOATING IN PARADISE
Are You Ready For Your DREAM JOB?
Florida Powerboat Club is pleased to announce that new management positions are available for young candidates who are passionate about boating and would love to pursue a lifestyle career with this established thirty-year organization.
We are seeking individuals with a desire to train and be engaged in many aspects of event management, safety programs, course logistics, marina staging and docking coordination, membership recruiting and activation, lodging and reservation activities, catering and party planning, as well as media management across multiple social and digital platforms.
WE ARE CURRENTLY HIRING FOR TWO POSITIONS:
GENERAL MANAGER - EVENT OPERATIONS
Working behind the scenes of event planning, this individual will be in close contact with event partners that include marina management teams, safety program first responders, and law enforcement agencies in the jurisdictions for each event. Before and during events, this individual will oversee the logistics of event staging, acting as liaison between FPC members/attendees and facility management teams, to coordinate safe and efficient movement of trucks, boats and attendees, through the hosting venues. For event management, this team leader oversees all operations that relate to the movement of the boats over the poker run course, including the pre-event captains meetings and/or coordinating the event safety guidelines, course maps, poker run checkpoints, including fuel and lunch stopovers. This position will require travel to every poker run event, which may involve extensive travel, from five to seven days for every event. A USCG captain's license would be a tremendous asset for this position, along with substantial previous experience boating on Florida's waterways.
Compensation: Training period up to six months: $ 1,000/week salary
Completion of Training Period: $ 2,000/week ( $ 100,000 annual + plus event revenue incentives )
LODGING & HOSPITALITY MANAGER
This position requires an individual with tremendous communication and customer service skills, and involves the daily management of all event-related hotel reservations for all FPC events, as well as catered food & beverage functions for all poker runs. Candidates must have previous hotel and/or restaurant industry experience, and be available to travel to FPC events for on-site duties at least 8-10 times annually, within the Sunshine state. Requires experience negotiating and managing large-scale, high-dollar value lodging and catering agreements for events that are typically attended by several hundreds of guests. FPC is an IATA accredited travel agent, working with major hotel chains, therefore travel industry experience would be an asset, as well as any hospitality industry certifications.
Compensation: Training Period up to three months: $ 750/weekly salary
Completion of Training: $ 1,500/week ($75,000 annual + commission incentives)
EQUITY PARTNERS: Florida Powerboat Club is actively seeking ownership partners at this time. Please call Stu Jones for information: 954-545-1414
Office hours: Mon-Thurs 10am to 5pm
Stu@flpowerboat.com
Powerboat Club is a Florida corporation, registered in 1993, with headquarters in Pompano Beach Florida. 1214 SW 6th St. Pompano Beach, FL 33069 www.flpowerboat.com
STU@FLPOWERBOAT.COM
or email;
Florida
PLEASE SEND RESUMES ONLY TO:
( NO PHONE CALLS PLEASE)
FPC Girls Chase & Hannah
POKER CARD#1TAMPA CONVENTION CENTER
Team ALL HAIL- 43 Midnight Express
Thomas Klein & Crew - Nor-Tech 390 Sport
Team STIMULUS PLAN - 38 Fountain
Team MAIDEN AMERICA - 42 Fountain
Team Concept with Miss Priscilla reaching for Card #1
74 | POWERBOATING IN PARADISE
Hagen Glaser - Team MIDNIGHT EXPRESS
Thomas Klein | FL | 39' Nor-Tech
Ron Paul | IL | Team NOTHING BUT TIME | 39' Nor-Tech
78 | POWERBOATING IN PARADISE
George Olson | TX | Team LAST ONE | 38' Cigarette
Best Paint & Graphics Award - Thomas Freund | NY | 39' MTI
POWERBOATING IN PARADISE | 79
Eric Lemoine | FL | Team TIMEKILLER | 43' Midnight Express
Brad Hancock | FL | Team ALL HAIL | 43' Midnight Express
Best Team Name Award: Mike Boyle | FL | Team CATTITUDE | 39' MTI
80 | POWERBOATING IN PARADISE
FPC Girl Maddie
Ryan Foster | FL | Team TRY IT NOW! | 39' Nor-Tech
Brandon Mayer | FL | Team SWEETWATER LANDING MARINA | 40' Mystic
POWERBOATING IN PARADISE | 81
Julian Colson | FL | Team CREAMSICLE | 38' Donzi
Chris & Shelby Mattingly | KY | Team ANOTHER ONE | 43' Midnight Express
ANOTHER ONE Crew
Good Samaritan Award: Robert Bushea | FL | Team DIVEOCEAN | 36' Front Runner
82 | POWERBOATING IN PARADISE
David & Jenny Landsman | MD | Team GAME CHANGER | 43' Midnight Express
TAMPA 2023 / POKER CARD CHECKPOINTS
Bill Waters arranged for this lovely crew to hand off poker card #4, at the Vinoy Basin checkpoint in St.Petersburg.
Hannah, Chase & Jackie - Poker card checkpoint # 3, Princess 72 Motoryacht
Princess 72 Motoryacht, INVICTUS IV, courtesy Jim Morton
POWERBOATING IN PARADISE | 83
Eric Avila | FL | Team CONCEPT | 44' Concept
Anthony Toskov | MD | Team JOINTVENTURE | 39' Nor-Tech
Bill Robbins | TX | Team CENTER OF ATTENTION | 39' Cigarette
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JOINTVENTURE Crew
Eric Glaser | FL | Team MIDNIGHT EXPRESS | 43' Midnight Express
Zach Polsky | NJ | Team GAME OVER | 43' Midnight Express
Alan Lima | FL | Team GROVE HARBOUR MARINA | 38' Cigarette
POWERBOATING IN PARADISE | 85
Eric & Hagen Glaser - Midnight Express Crew
Jorge Arellano | FL | Team 151 EXPRESS | 39' Outerlimts
Jorge Arellano | FL | Team 151 EXPRESS | 39' MTI
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Tony & Jessica Gielow | FL | Team NINO | 43' Midnight Express
Craig Millett | FL | Team WRIGHT TIME | 36' Wright Performance
Poker card #2 handed off from Team Y-KNOT, 65 Viking at Egmont Key / Courtesy: Steve Turner
Team Y-KNOT Crew poker card # 2 checkpoint
Curtis Watkins | FL | Team EVIL WOMAN | 39' Nor-Tech
Kevin Kugler | OH | Team STIMULUS PACKAGE | 38' Fountain
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Three Fountains get together for some great photos
Chad & Nadya Van Tilburg | FL | Team HIGH LIMIT | 44' Concept
Aaron Swafford | FL | Team FOUR PLAY | 38' Fountain
HIGH LIMIT Crew
POWERBOATING IN PARADISE | 89
Wes Johnston | TX | 38' Statement
Poker Card Checkpoint #5 - Near Hula Bay Club
Sean McClash & friends, at Tampa Bay Yacht Management.
Safety boat and poker card boat courtesy Sean McClash & friends.
90 | POWERBOATING IN PARADISE
FPC Girls Maddie & Kitty
Dean Palestra | FL | Team WELL ADJUSTED | 38' Statement!
Jerry & Susan Hartman | PA | Team HER ULTIMATE STATEMENT | 38' Statement!
Keith & Emily Overton | FL | Team STATEMENT | 38' Statement!
POWERBOATING IN PARADISE | 91
WELL ADJUSTED Crew
Brett & Trisha Patterson | FL | Team DEEP INNER | Deep Impact 369
FPC Girl Hannah on Deep Impact 369
92 | POWERBOATING IN PARADISE
Marty Reisky | FL | Team GREAT WHITE | 44' Concept
Florida Powerboat Club offers a “Commercial Member” program which is designed for individuals or companies that are engaged in some form of commerce that relates to the marine industry. In many cases these members provide special discounts and offers to FPC members, so we invite you to contact them and keep your boating-related needs within the FPC family. Join us in RECOGNIZING these FLORIDA POWERBOAT CLUB COMMERCIAL MEMBERS:
RICHARD GARCIA
Boat Depot | 305-587-3094
boatdepotonline.com | boatdepot@live.com
JON BELLEMARE
Dynamic Boats | 305-518-7338
dynamicboats.us | jon@dynamicboats.us
4238
NW
KYLE GREENFIELD
BoatWithMe Inc. | 512-627-2026
browardmotorsports.com | kyle@boatwithme.com
101500 Overseas HWY | Key Largo | FL 33037 111 Craigen Rd | Liberty Hill, TX 78642
JEFF JOHNSON
DCB Performance Boats | 619-442-0300
dcbperformanceboats.com | jeff@DCBracing.com
Hamilton Marine Finance | 470-248-2655
hamiltonmarinefinance.com | jody@hamiltonmarinefinance.com
3231 Lake McGinnis Dr | Suwanee | GA 30024
ED MILLER
Hi-Tech Marine | 410-375-1638
www.hitechmarine.com | hitechmarine1@gmail.com
POWERBOATING IN PARADISE | 93
MEMBERSHIP
FPC
MARKETPLACE
1468 N. Magnolia Ave., El Cajon, CA 92020 37th
Ave| Miami | FL 33142
JODY HAMILTON
2023 River Road | Baltimore | MD 21221
94 | POWERBOATING IN PARADISE
FPC MEMBERSHIP MARKETPLACE
JOHN CLARKE
Jaguar Powerboats LLC | 954-673-8961
CONRAD KRAY
Sportboats Marine | 239-770-2744
jaguarpowerboats.com | dawn.clarke@jaguarpowerboats.com
1437 Cunningham Brick Yard Rd | Thomasville | NC 27360
JORDAN LAMPKIN
Lampkin Marine Services | 242-376-3066
lampkinmarine.com | jordan@lampkinmarine.com
1323 SE 17th st | Fort Lauderdale | FL 33316
GREG CONNELL
Legend Marine Group | 214-676-6885
8500 Colony Trace Drive | Ft Myers | FL 33908
STEPHEN MILES
Stephen Miles Design | 270-570-4442
stephenmilesdesign.com | propainter7970@yahoo.com
3854 Griffin Ave | Owensboro | KY 42301
BRANDON MAYER
Sweetwater Landing Marina | 270-570-4442
sweetwaterlanding.net | bmayer14@yahoo.com
1835 Forms Dr #100 | Carrollton | TX 75006
ALBERT FRANKO
Marine Connection | 646-785-0125
16991 St Rd 31 | Ft Myers | FL 33905
DAVID SHAEFFER
T&D Custom Painting | 616-841-1086
tanddcustompainting.com | david@tanddcustompainting.com
9500 Henry Ct Suit 50 | Zeeland | MI 49464
ANDY IMHOF
legendmarinegroup.com | greg@ legendmarinegroup.com marineconnection.com | albert@marineconnection.com mdoffshore.com | info@mdoffshore.com
1410 W 24th Street | Miami Beach | FL 33140 235-A Derwood Cir | Rockville | MD 20850
FRANK SCHEELEN
Maryland Offshore Marine | 301-294-5936
REESE BROWN
Miramont Interests | 832-691-1581
Scheelen-Racing | 239-450-2931
scheelen-racing.com | topfun@me.com
Mallory Court 397 | Naples | FL341100
JOHN HERMAN
Total Marine | 201-741-6817
totalmarine.com | tcaruso@totalmarine.com
160 Water St | Norwalk | CT 06854
VINCENT ODDO Office Furniture Connecti | 832-368-2066 ofconnection.com | voddo@ofconnection.com
750 Almeda Genoa Ste. A | Houston | TX 77047
LES & KAYLA VOUDRIE
Precision paint worx | 618-972-3513
reese@mt-tx.com macgyver2491@gmail.com
ANDREW POKORNY
Powerstroke Performance | 239-910-4169
RICK SPADE
Spade Kreation | 513-383-6825
spademade.com | rick@spademade.com
Dallas Boulevard | Cincinnatti | OH 45231
STEVE SPRAGUE
Tuppen's Marine | 561-252-6105
tuppens.com | boatking@earthlink.net
5999 Homeland Rd | Lake Worth | FL 33449
JOSEPH LABON
Ultimate Marine | 407-276-5800
ultimatemarine.com | zoie@ultimatemarine.com
DAVID DELEZENNE
sportboats.com | conrad@sportboats.com powerstrokeperformancespecialties.com | andrew.pokorny@gmail.com
Unique Custom Marine | 954-980-4887
ucmarinevault.com | uniquecustommarine@gmail.com
3419 WD Judge Dr #150 | Orlando | FL 32808 2044 NW 25th Ave | Pompano Beach | FL 33069
Membership Info: 954-545-1414
9595
1074
Dr
Osage
Six Pines Dr Ste. 8210 | The Woodlands | TX 77380
Armory
|
Beach| MO 65065
5660 Division Drive
| Fort Myers | FL 33905
POWERBOATING IN PARADISE | 95
11308
Saturday Night Awards Party
96 | POWERBOATING IN
PARADISE
First Place Winner - Chad & Nadya Van Tilburg Team - HIGH LIMIT - 44' Concept
Second Place Winner - Jerry & Susan Hartmann Team - HER ULTIMATE STATEMENT - 38' Statement!
Third Place Winner - Jorge Arellano Team - 151 EXPRESS
Best Center Console - The Couto Family Nor-Tech 390 Sport
Sponsor Award - Mark & Eileen Fischer - Team Deep Impact
Poker Run teams enjoying Saturday dinner party at Westin
Sponsor Appreciation Award - Geoff Tomlinson Nor-Tech
Erickson Family & friends - Lady Lisa Crew
Broken Propeller - Team MAXON AUTO
Simon Williams 1st Mate Dee with the FPC Girls
FPC Crew: Chase, Hannah, Nicholas, Maddie, Kitty
Thomas Klein & Crew - Nortech 390 Sport
Best Poker Run Boat - Simon Williams Team - CORTEZ COVE FOUNTAIN - 38' Fountain
Member Appreciation & Sponsor Award - Nick Buis - Statement! Sponsor Award - Eric Glaser - Midnight Express & Best Sound System David Landsman - Team - GAME CHANGER - 43' Midnight Express
Farthest Trailered - John Van Dyck - Michigan
Best Performance V-bottom - Red Reynolds Team - LADY LISA - 55' Nor-Tech
Best Classic Boat - Captain Austin for Alan LimaTeam GROVE HARBOUR MARINA - 38' Cigarette
Sponsor Award - Eric Avila - Concept Boats
Most Enthusiastic Team - Team - HIGH LIMIT - 44 Concept
Best Catamaran - Robert McAtee - Team STATEMENT - 36' Statement! Sexiest Crew - Girls of Team Fountain
Best Team Name - Mike Boyle - Team CATTITUDE Farthest Traveled - Frank Scheelen - Team TOP FUN - 36' Nor-Tech
POWERBOATING IN PARADISE | 97
Sexiest Crew - Hagan & the girls of Midnight Express
AO COOLERS 65 BIG THUNDER MARINE .................................................. 11 CIGARETTE RACING TEAM ...................................... 76-77 CONCEPT BOATS ......................................................... 33 CORTEZ COVE YACHT SALES ......................................... 7 DEEP IMPACT CUSTOM BOATS.................................... IBC DEEP IMPACT CUSTOM BOATS..................................... 13 DOUG WRIGHT POWERBOATS 41 FOUNTAIN POWERBOATS 7 FOUNTAIN FOR SALE 93 FPC MARKET PLACE 93/95 FPC DREAM JOB 73 FPC MEMBERSHIP 57 FPC SUMMER TOUR BC MERCURY RACING 2-3 MIDNIGHT EXPRESS BOATS 15 MYCO 59 NOR-TECH HI PERFORMANCE BOATS 4 OUTLAW CHALLENGE .................................................. 61 PIRATES OF LANIER ..................................................... 87 PERFORMANCE BOAT CENTER ..................................... 27 PLANTATION BOAT MART ............................................ 75 SD MARINE GROUP ..................................................... 19 SUNSEEKER FOR SALE ................................................ 53 TNT CUSTOM MARINE 23 TOP GUN PERFORMANCE 37 98 | POWERBOATING IN PARADISE
FPC SUMMER TOUR / CIGARETTE TOP GUN FLIGHT 1130
SUMMER ROAD TRIP
JUNE 16-18, 2023 | PERFORMANCE BOAT CENTER RENDEZVOUSOSAGE BEACH, MO
JULY 14-16. 2023 | 1000 ISLAND CHARITY POKER RUNCLAYTON, NY
JULY 21-23, 2023 | THUNDER IN THE CITYCHESEPEAKE CITY, MD
AUG 4-16, 2023 | BORDEN LIGHT CHARITY POKER RUN, FALL RIVER MA
SEPT 8-10, 2023 | LAKE CUMBERLAND POKER RUN, STATE DOCK, JAMESTOWN KY
SEPT 15-17, 2023 | PIRATES OF LANIER POKER RUN, LAKE LANIER GA