Powerboating In Paradise Vol22#2 by STU JONES

VOL 22#2 SPRING-SUMMER SHOWCASING THE FLORIDA POWERBOAT CLUB LIFESTYLE

WINTER POKER RUN

A Chilly But Fun Start to 2022!

MIAMI BOAT SHOW POKER RUN

A Boat Show - A Poker Run - A Fun Way To Spend Four Days In February

SPRING KEY WEST POKER RUN

32 FPC Poker Run Teams Escape To Paradise In Key West And Beyond

TAMPA BAY POKER RUN

Lighting Up The Fleet With Downtown Tampa’s Big City Lights

And .... Our Lovely FPC Girls

WWW.FLPOWERBOAT.COM

A Magazine Showcasing The Florida Powerboat Club Lifestyle SPRING-SUMMER EDITON

Vol. 22#2

CONTENTS

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

4 LETTER FROM PRESIDENT: FPC President Stu Jones pays tribute to the FPC Team for the club's continued success as the organization celebrates 30 years of Powerboating in Paradise.

6 WINTER FUN RUN FPC members kicked off the 2022 calendar in winter apparel for this chilly but fun escape to the Florida Keys.

14 MIAMI BOAT SHOW POKER RUN:

EVENT MANAGEMENT

Jackie Jones jackie@flpowerboat.com Megan Smith admin@flpowerboat.com

MEMBERSHIP COORDINATOR Megan Smith Admin@flpowerboat.com

This multi-location poker run had something for everyone, with a performance boat show at Gilberts, at least four host hotels and great weather for cruising through the upper Keys.

50 SPRING KEY WEST POKER RUN This Spring fling departed on St Patrick's Day and visited Key West at the height of Spring Break, with great cruising options by day, and plenty of party options at night.

VIDEO PRODUCTION Stu Jones Ryan McCoy Joe Kotrady

70 TAMPA BAY POKER RUN

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

With the bright lights of downtown Tampa's hotel highrises and waterfront entertainment complexes, it was a big city backdrop for a weekend of cruising in Tampa Bay's abundant waterways.

96 SAFETY FIRST Just another important reminder from FPC and Florida FWC, that powerboating safety should never take a back seat on personal boat outings or poker runs.

POMPANO OFFICE HOURS Monday - Thursday 10 AM - 5 PM

ON THE COVER: The Miami Boat Show Poker Run gets under way in late February with the spectacular Miami skyline as a backdrop. FPC Girl Hannah braves the chilly weather for a dockside photoshoot on the Winter Fun Run to Islamorada. YouTube: Florida Powerboat Club https://www.youtube.com/user/FLpowerboatClub

FPC Pompano Beach Headquarters

https://www.facebook.com/flpowerboat Instagram @flpowerboat

All copyright laws apply. No part of this publication may be reproduced without the expressed written permission of the publisher

Traveling? Need to lighten the load? Enjoy the digital version of this issue of Powerboating in Paradise Magazine on...

SEE THE COMPLETE DIGITAL EDITION OF POWERBOATING IN PARADISE MAGAZINE AT WWW.FLPOWERBOAT.COM

e are two months into Spring 2022 by the time this issue of Powerboating in Paradise goes on circulation, and we have a lot to be thankful for at FPC. First, we have reached that milestone that only a fraction of business owners can celebrate, that magical 30-year mark that illustrates a number of things, perhaps some good, some bad. So, let's focus on the good stuff! First off, our record membership numbers and attendance at our FPC events may well be fueled by the post-covid surge toward recreational boating, combined with the possible reality that powerboaters around the continent realize that poker runs are…. well just damn fun! Secondly, as we complete more events and continue to gain valuable experience in managing small to epic-sized events like our Signature Key West Poker Run event, our staff members at FPC are getting better at understanding both our product, and more importantly, our customers' needs. Finding the right formula to create a well-oiled machine never happens overnight. Conceptually, FPC has spent three decades offering the same thing…. the best and safest possible way to enjoy the Florida powerboating lifestyle. But the bundle of services that go along with that business model, has changed dramatically over those three decades, and somewhere during that evolution, FPC was able to carve out a niche that many thought to be impossible. The question many ask is, how did we get there? As the guy at the helm since day one, I might easily take an entire day to list dozens of reasons as to how that all happened, but one word sums it up, PEOPLE! On the management side of our business, we are supported by a staff and independent service professionals, who have been a part of this team for many years. On the front lines, many see and communicate with my wife Jackie Jones, who answers phones, books hotels, crunches numbers and details to ensure your shirt orders are perfect and oversees the check-in process at poker run functions. Just one desk away and through every step of that process, is Megan Smith in our FPC office, dotting the Is,

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crossing the Ts behind the scenes, and somehow staying as pleasant as a Sunday-school teacher with every point-of-contact! On the creative side, it’s Lina Montes, who manages thousands, (perhaps millions) of images to ensure custom photo orders get out on time, along with designing cover-to-cover, our colorful Powerboating in Paradise Magazine, which goes to the printer four times a year. In the video arena, the same is true of Ryan McCoy, our in-house producer and FPC camera man, who spends hours at home and in the FPC Mancave (i.e. upstairs studio) making sure the club members and sponsors are looking their very best in the FPC YouTube videos and Instagram posts. As for the guys who capture that magical content flying fast N’ furious in helicopters, Jerry Wyszatycki, Joe Kotrady and Pete Boden have all logged countless airtime hours seeking that magical money shot, on events that span from Key West to the Florida Panhandle. Our Florida gulf coast video team includes brothers Ryan and Eric Christen, who in recent years have teamed up to cover both Emerald Coast and Orange Beach powerboat week events. For services as simple as getting a ride on the FPC courtesy shuttle, that task is relegated to Darin Gleichmann, who is quite possibly the longest-running FPC service provider, approaching 20 years of helping FPC by managing support vehicles like the FPC mini-bus and hauling the FPC paceboat to events, not to mention a long list of other important on-site management tasks. These are the people who make this a great team, and that is how we have managed to come this far! Thanks to everyone on the FPC team for their loyalty and support, and thanks to our FPC members and sponsors for believing in the Florida Powerboat Club and giving us a chance to make a difference in your lives. Hang on for the ride because 2022 is shaping up to be a great time for FPC to be celebrating 30 years! SJ

The Big With the coldest weather reported in South Florida in over a decade, FPC members took a leap of faith and added a few extra layers as they boarded their boats in Miami on a chilly Friday morning in January, discovering this first 2022 FPC event truly lived up to its name...the WINTER FUN RUN! Story by Stu Jones

ver forty Florida Powerboat Club teams from all over the US and Canada made the final roster in the weeks leading up to the January Winter Fun Run event- but in the final days at least a half dozen teams had to cancel. For what reasons? Four of them painfully admitting that the cold January weather, forecast to bring morning temperatures in 30’s Fahrenheit, appeared to be the deal breaker. As for at least two other teams, we can credit that ongoing COVID curse, often referred to as the New Normal, for keeping them at home. In fairness to these unfortunate few, not wanting to spread the dreaded curse further than their own front doorstep, was the right thing to do, and we salute them. But in spite of the doom and gloom in the weekend forecast, Mother Nature provided a much-welcomed concession, as rain and precipitation held off for the three days of the frosty fling. After the Friday start from Haulover Inlet and smooth offshore waters to Government Cut, the next leg along the protected waters of Biscayne Bay to Coconut Grove was calm, perhaps a little chilly, but otherwise uneventful.( a good outcome in the world of powerboating ) And while the winter weather gods dropped their guard on the cold chill of precipitation, they would not relinquish their

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control of the mighty winds, which often soared well into the 30mph gusting range on Saturday. With official gale force warnings on the FAA forecast, our Marathon-based chopper pilot elected to forego the $ 1,500 photo flight for the Saturday Run, which dampened any hopes of the aerial money shot so many had looked forward to. Nonetheless, as bound-and-determined as they can often be, there was no measurable limit of challenge among a certain group of our would-be adventurers, who eventually took to the waters of the Upper Keys. Indeed, a majority of teams were content to stay on hard soil at Post Card Inn, our headquarter hotel in Islamorada and a destination that has been off the FPC getaway list for number of years. Staying back wasn’t the worst idea, because there were certainly enough amenities, open bars and area restaurants to explore. Yet a handful of more “courageous” teams could not stand the idea of a full tank of un-burned fuel and a perfectly good-running boat tied to the dock. Alas, by late morning Saturday, with the mercury barely measuring in the 50’s, they took to the waters with most of them setting their GPS on a heading to Marathon, just thirty-five miles to the south.

Photos by: Jerry Wyszatycki,Stu Jones and FPC Members Whether they boated to Marathon, or just shivered by the pool, the vibe among participants remained festive, and with so many newcomers attending, it was a great chance for many of the 100-plus attendees to make new boating friends. Perhaps, the newly rebuilt Tiki Bar, nothing like its rustic predecessor from a decade earlier, and the friendly service from the bartenders on duty, could have something to do with the positive outcome? After the organizer announced that the $ 1500 saved from the cancelled helicopter would be re -purposed to an open tab for happy hour, it was amazing how well-attended that pre -dinner function was. Clearly the subject of conversation always circled back to how crazy we all were for even being there, but cold weather on a fast boat, in a strange kind of way, can really make one feel alive! By Sunday morning, the temperatures had dropped even further to the low 40’s and combined with the wind-chill of the fast-paced powerboats, it was time for some extra layers before heading out on the 80+ mile ride back to Miami! For the organizer, that ride home from the Keys started in (wife) Jackie’s Volvo SUV, and there seemed to be a hint of guilt, and maybe even a little jealousy, that not taking the chilly boat

ride would end in some level of despair. “Can you drop me off at Gilberts?“ I begged, as we made our way over the Key Largo causeway. There had to be someone…anyone there, that could take me on that cold nasty ride from Key Largo to Miami! I had to feel alive once more. Just as I ran to the docks, there was the only FPC boat left at the dock! It was the final chance, the only chance to get that feeling back – and I proceeded to invite myself on Mike Ciasulli’s brand new, brightly painted MTI 390X. “Of course

we will take you Stu! You are always welcome to ride with us!” Mike replied with a smile. I ran back to the car and grabbed the only FPC hoody I had, zipped it up to the top, pulled the strings tight, and jumped in that little right hand bucket seat with my suspender PFD snugged up. It was going to be fun, and at and average speed of 100mph all the way to Grove Harbour Marina, it was simply, invigorating! That is the kind of adventure that makes us all feel alive, and it just never gets old! FPC thanks all those who braved the cold to attend the FPC Winter Fun Run! This one goes down in the FPC archives as the coldest run in more than a decade, creating some frigid, but lasting memories for all of us! SJ

POWERBOATING IN PARADISE | 7

John Jordan II | IN | JORDAN INVESTMENTS | 38' Fountain

Jackie Jones and FPC Girl Kendall Paul Ison | KY | Team STILL SMOKING | 41' Cigarette 007 Crew

FPC Girls Abbey & Hannah

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Jeff Stevenson | FL | Team WICKED | 42' MTI

Stu Jones & Mike Ciasulli - Crossing under Card Sound Bridge, Key Largo - MTI 390X

FPC Girls Abbey & Hannah

Jeffrey McMahon | KY | Team RUM RUNNER | 38' Statement

Deris Ceresa & first mate Amanda - Team MIDNIGHT

Kevin & Melissa Welch | MA | Team FAST AND DELIRIOUS | 48' MTI

FAST AND DELIRIOUS Crew

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Build your Perfect Storm.

2520 NE 9th Ave Cape Coral, FL 33909

Nor-Techboats.com

contact@nor-techboats.com

Boats rafted at Postcard Inn Marina, Islamorada, FL

Jackie Jones & John Wittenberger SR

Stu Jones & Michael Ciasulli Bobby Murray, David Landsman, Sara Christine, Stu Jones & Winn Farnsworth

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Escape To KEY LARGO OVERWHELMINGLY POSITIVE FEEDBACK MAKES IT CLEAR THAT THE "BOAT SHOW" PART OF THE MIAMI BOAT SHOW POKER RUN IS HERE TO STAY. Story by Jason Johnson

amazing boat. To be able to cruise at 90 to 100 mph is such a different boating feel. Don’t get me wrong, the center consoles are fun, but that style of boating is a different animal.”

And, based on the positive responses from the 2022 event, Florida Powerboat Club president Stu Jones and his team are likely to keep the same format going for quite some time. Especially when longtime FPC members such as David and Jennifer Landsman, who attended the 2021 and 2022 events, have praised the poker run with affirmative feedback.

Landsman was referring to the slew of Midnight Express Boats models he’s owned recently from the Miami-based company, which had a handful of new boats in the poker run, including Zach Polsky’s 43 Solstice powered by five Mercury Racing 450R engines. The poker run was the New Jersey boater’s first in the red-hot 43-footer that was delivered to Stephen Miles Design in Kentucky a few weeks after the event to get some accents and highlights added to its all-red canvas. “We had a great time in the new boat during the Miami Boat Show Poker Run,” said Polsky, who owns the King of Cars and Trucks dealership in Woodbury, N.J. “The Florida Powerboat Club sure knows how to organize an event. We brought the family down and stayed for 10 days. We did the first half of the trip in Miami and the second half of the trip in Key Largo. The boat was everything I expected and then some. Those 450R engines are something else. “And to me, you can’t beat the look of the Solstice,” he added. “I think our boat looked good all red, but it’s going to look even better once Stephen Miles Design is done with it.”

lways intended to be the show after the show, the Florida Powerboat Club’s Miami Boat Show Poker Run has taken on new meaning the last couple of years with the addition of in-water and on-land displays at Gilbert’s Resort and Tiki Bar in Key Largo in 2021 after the Miami International Boat Show was cancelled. While the boat show was back on in 2022 with a return to the revamped Miami Beach Convention Center, the club opted to keep its own show going the following week thanks to encouragement from sponsors, participants and manufacturers alike.

During last year’s Miami Boat Show Poker Run, David Landsman met with Randy Scism, the owner of MTI in Wentzville, Mo., and ended up ordering a new 390X catamaran with twin Mercury Racing 450R engines. The Maryland-based performance boater, whose new 39-footer was on display in MTI’s boat show booth at the Miami Beach Convention Center, said he had a great time at the FPC event, adding that the water conditions were perfect and that the weather was great. “The Miami Boat Show Poker Run is always one of the best FPC events of the year,” Landsman said. “It was great having the chance to run a cat again—I haven’t had one in five years so that made it a little more fun. The 390X is incredible. MTI builds an

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Polsky praised Lesly Puentes and the Glaser brothers behind Midnight Express—Eric and Harris—for their support during the event, and for building such incredible boats. The company, which sponsored the event, showcased several new boats in front of Gilbert’s, including the Glasers’ personal boat, the 100th 43-footer to come out of the factory.

Photography by: Jerry Wyszatycki & Stu Jones Performance Boat Center co-owner Brett Manire, who brought the Florida- and Missouri-based dealership’s latest Cigarette Racing Team 41 Nighthawk to the poker run, said the whole setup worked out wonderfully. “The event was perfect for us,” Manire explained. “We had rooms for the team at Gilbert’s and we were able to treat a bunch of our customers to a small fun run and lunch at Island Fish Company in Marathon.” The Performance Boat Center group wasn’t the only one to host its own fun run as the various customers from MTI, Mystic Powerboats, Nor-Tech Hi-Performance Boats and more enjoyed some fun with their fellow boaters. “I had a lot of fun during the poker run seeing everyone enjoying their boats,” said Shad Vera, sales manager for Big Thunder Marine’s Florida Keys operation, which had two new Fountain Powerboats center consoles in the run as well as a Donzi Marine 38 ZRC that Big Thunder’s Ed Champion drove to Key Largo with FPC head Jones by his side. “That was my first time doing an FPC run as a ‘working event.’ The crowd was good and we got a lot of leads. Overall, the vibe was great and it’s clear Stu and Jackie know how to organize a fun event. “One thing I thought was cool was the different brandspecific runs that took place,” he continued. “Next year we’re going to try to do something like that for sure. Big Thunder is looking forward to the full FPC season.” The team at Concept Boats in Sarasota, Fla., turned the run into a family outing as company founder Luis Avila was joined by his

wife, Belkys, his son, Eric, who is Concept’s vice president, and his daughter, Eden Hernandez. “We had a great time at the poker run and got a lot of exposure,” Eric Avila said. “Stu and the FPC team are always wellorganized and they pulled off another awesome event. We had the three 44s as well as two 39s and a 36 on hand. We didn’t sell any boats during the run but we got a lot of leads.” Another “family” on hand for the run included a couple of DCB Performance Boats owners from each side of the country. South Florida performance boaters Greg Harris and Yvonne Alemán, who are new to the DCB family, were thrilled to show off Mad Props, their new DCB M37R Widebody catamaran powered by a pair of 450R outboard engines. They were also thrilled to get to know FPC newcomers Mauricio and Angie Vivanco, who came all the way from Southern California with their twin Mercury Racing 1550/1350-powered DCB M44 Widebody catamaran, which ended up taking home the event’s Best Catamaran award. “Stu brought me up and asked me, ‘Who should I give the Best Catamaran award to?’” said Mauricio Vivanco, who was joined by DCB president Jeff Johnston and the couple’s good friends and fellow DCB owners, Todd and Samantha Edinger. “I said he should give it to whoever he thinks deserves it. He said, ‘Well, of course it’s going to you guys, Mauricio. You have the best catamaran here; do you know that?’ I said, ‘Well, I do now.’ “We were shocked,” he added. “There we so many beautiful boats there. We had an amazing time at the event. I am speechless on how the boat ran in rough water. It was like butter.”

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Poker Run Start From Haulover Marine Center, North Miami Beach

Michael and Neveda McClallen—Illinois residents who spend most of their boating time on Missouri’s Lake of the Ozarks—said they had a great time at the event in their 37-foot Active Thunder V-bottom, which they’ve since sold after acquiring a wave-smashing 50-foot Hustler Powerboats V-bottom with triple 800-hp Innovation Marine engines and surface drives. “The Miami Boat Show Poker Run was a more relaxed type of run,” Michael McClallen said, adding that the couple was able to attend the boat show and stick around for the poker run, which they did alongside their friend from the lake, Precision Paint Worx owner Les Voudrie who ran his recently revamped MTI-V 42 center console. “It was a very relaxing weekend because we were free to do what we wanted to do. One day we went to Marathon and another day we ran around Islamorada and hung out at the sandbar for a while. We had great weather and met a lot of cool people. We’re hoping to get a little more active with FPC. I’ve really enjoyed Stu and Jackie’s expertise and how well they put everything together.” Another Midwest couple who enjoyed the run was Kirk and Liz Anderson from Missouri. The Andersons are relative newcomers to FPC, having done the 2021 Key West Poker Run in their Sunsation Boats 40 CCX dubbed Sun Dog. “We had a wonderful time with the FPC group; their events are well-organized and they take such good care of us,” Kirk Anderson said. “So does Performance Boat Center—we are PBC customers at home at the lake and in South Florida. We utilize F3 Marina in Fort Lauderdale because it’s so darn convenient. A few years back we decided we like being down in the Florida Keys in the winter so we gave it a try and were hooked. After that we decided that we probably needed a boat with outboard power so we started looking at center consoles. We have a 47-foot SeaRay and a Cigarette 42X

Frank Bulte | France | Team SHARK RIDER | 44' MTI

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so my wife wasn’t sure about switching to a center console. I told her if we don’t like it, we’ll sell it and get another cruiser. Now the Sunsation is her favorite boat.” Also relatively new to the club, New Jersey’s Jim and Tammy Johnson had one of the most attention-getting boats in this year’s poker run—a 50-foot Nor-Tech Hi-Performance Boats catamaran with four 1,200-hp engines. They also had some luck on their side as they pulled the high poker hand on Friday night at Gilbert’s. “I couldn’t believe we pull five 2s to win whole thing,” Jim Johnson said with a laugh. “We had such a good time in the poker run. It was nice to be around so many big performance boats. I am really starting to enjoy that type of atmosphere and getting to know so many people who are all on the same page.” Johnson, who is a helicopter pilot so he appreciates the engineering that went into the boat’s complex setup between its driveshafts, crashboxes and two-speed transmissions, said the team at TNT Custom Marine in North Miami has been a huge help with the boat. “I love this boat—it’s so mean,” he added. “Wherever this boat rolls in—even at TNT Custom Marine—everyone stops to look at it. There are not a lot of boats like it. I can’t say enough good things about the team at TNT; if I didn't have them, I don't know what I'd be doing. They put so much work into maintaining my boat. They have it ready to go when I get there and they wash it when I come back. They have it down to a science and they take care of us big time.” In the end, that’s what really matters because without the teams behind every poker run—whether that’s the organizers, the crews at the marinas, the restaurant staffs and the folks who keep the boats running—the Miami Boat Show Poker Run would be a lot less fun.

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Michael & Neveda McClallen | IL | Team COLD ONE CONFESSION$ | 37' Active Thunder

Kirk Anderson | MO | Team SUN DOG | 40' Sunsation

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Tory Robson | MN | Team BE FIRST | 42' Cigarette

From YouTube Viewer To Club Member

little more than a year ago, Minnesota’s Tory Robson was sitting in his office watching FPC videos of powerboats making their way through the Florida Keys. He’d watched many of the club’s videos on YouTube before, but at that moment he asked himself, “I’m sitting here and they’re all down there—why am I not doing that?” “Literally 30 days later I had a boat, a condo in Miami and a spot at Haulover Marine Center,” said Robson, who initially bought a Cigarette 38 Top Gun with twin Mercury Racing 565 engines and recently upgraded to a Cigarette 42X with a pair of Mercury Racing 1100 engines. “I plan on doing several runs with the Florida Powerboat Club this year. I’m lucky because there are four direct flights a day between my house and either Miami or Fort Lauderdale. I feel like I’m leading a dual life now, which is amazing. “The Miami Boat Show Poker Run was killer as was the Spring Key West Poker Run we did a few weeks later,” he added.

Michael Stordahl | MN | Team JETSTER | 39' MTI

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“It’s great to be boating on the waterways I’ve seen in the videos so many times. It was especially cool boating through the mangroves because you feel like James Bond. I call that area the James Bond channel. Sometimes I still can’t believe I’m actually there doing it.” Besides driving his boat, the self-proclaimed “V-bottom guy” said the most fun part about the poker runs is getting to know the other boaters and being able to see their boats cutting through the water next to his. “It’s kind of like a team concept or a tribe, don’t you agree?” Robson asked. “It’s really neat to be a part of and it’s especially interesting to find out where people are from and what they do for a living. I can’t wait to do more events and get to know even more club members.”

PERFORMANCE BOAT CENTER Crew

Brett Manire | MO | Team PERFORMANCE BOAT CENTER | 41' Cigarette

Les & Kayla Voudrie | MO | Team AFTER WORX | 42' MTI

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SO BLESSED Crew Bill Munholland | KS | Team PIRATE BOOTY | 39' Cigarette

Eusebio Verrier | FL | Team SO BLESSED | 34' MTI

Ron & Deonee Paul | IL | Team STROKE THIS | 34' Sunsation

POWERBOATING IN PARADISE | 23

David & Jenny Landsman | MD | Team GAME CHANGER | 39' MTI

GAME CHANGER Crew

Tom Archer | NJ | Team LAUGHING GIRAFFE | 41' Skater

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OUT OF CONTROL Crew

NO XCUSES Crew Michael Tandoi | NY | Team OUT OF CONTROL | 40' Skater

MTI Crew

Frank Lovato | NJ | Team NO XCUSES | 42' Cigarette

Charlie Mattingly | MD | Team MTI | 48' MTI

POWERBOATING IN PARADISE | 25

Dawn & Donald Hadden | SC | Team DIRTY LITTLE SECRETS | 44' Concept

Sponsor

Jorge Perez | FL | Team CONCEPT BOATS | 44’ Concept

Team Concept Boats - Factory Sponsor photo shoot - Upper Keys. Three Concept 4400 Models

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POWERING

YOUR LIFE STYLE Eric@conceptboats.com (305) 635-8712 www.conceptboats.com

@CONCEPTBOATS

Eric Avila | FL | Team CONCEPT BOATS | 44' Concept

Paul Ison | KY | Team STILL SMOKING | 41' Cigarette

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ON THE ROCKS Crew

Dan Knox | TX | Team HARD KNOX | 36' Wright Performance

John Wittenberger SR | NJ | Team ON THE ROCKS | 39' Cigarette

Team PERFORMANCE BOAT CENTER | 32' Sunsation

POWERBOATING IN PARADISE | 29

Michael & Brenda Carravetta | CANADA | Team ROUGH RIDER | 46' Cigarette

Joseph Castellana | NY | Team AWESOME MOTORSPORTS | 38' Skater

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Corey Murray | NJ | Team DESTINATION UNKNOWN | 39' Deep Impact

Gerard Ruffenach | PA | Team ELEANOR-CATHERINE | 38' Pursuit

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Shad Vera | FL | Team DONZI | 38' Donzi

James Johnson | NJ | Team NEVER ENOUGH | 50' Nor-Tech

POWERBOATING IN PARADISE | 33

Julian Maldonado | FL | Team MANATEE MARINE UNLIMITED | 44' H-Craft Powerboats

Michael Friedman | NY | Team CRAZY HORSE | 41' Apache

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Greg Harris | FL | Team MAD PROPS | 37' DCB

Sal Olivia | NY | Team X-SCAPE FROM NY | 39' Cigarette

POWERBOATING IN PARADISE | 35

Chris & Quinn LaMorte | NJ | Team SKATER 36 | 36' Skater

Beau and Tiffiney Renfroe | GA | Team DIRTY MONEY | 36' Skater

36 POWERBOATING IN PARADISE |

Mike Pizzelanti | FL | Team WASABI | 42' Mystic

Daniel & Becky Cates | GA | Team NAUTI NAUTI | 33' Renegade

Matthew Lasinski | MD | Team BIG CHIEF | 40' Formula

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F L O R I D A P OW E R B O AT C LU B - THANKS -

CIGARETTE RACING TEAM FPC 2 022 SERIES SPONS OR

Sponsor

Eric Glaser | FL | Team MIDNIGHT EXPRESS | 43' Midnight Express

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Zach Polsky | NJ | Team RELOADED | 43' Midnight Express

MIDNIGHT Crew

Deris Ceresa | FL | Team MIDNIGHT | 43' Midnight Express

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John Stella | NY | Team PERFECT PRESCRIPTION | 39' Nor-Tech

Don Goins | FL | Team BLUE HEAVEN | 34' Nor-Tech

Robert McAtee | OK | Team ROBALDO | 39' Nor-Tech

POWERBOATING IN PARADISE | 43

John Wittenberger Jr | NJ | Team BAD DECISIONS | 30' Spectre

Big Thunder Marine Sponsor photoshoot - Fountain 38' CC

Big Thunder Marine Sponsor photoshoot - Fountain NX 34 CC

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FRIDAY NIGHT AWARDS ParTy

Stu & Jackie Jones presenting awards

1st Place - James Johnson - Team NEVER ENOUGH Best Catamaran - Mauricio & Angie Vivanco - Team DCB

Sponsor Award - Michael Hall - PERFORMANCE BOAT CENTER

2nd Place - Joe Gallo - Team X-RATED

Sponsor Award - Eric Avila - CONCEPT BOATS

3rd Place - Frank Bulte - Team SHARK RIDER

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Sponsor Award - PLANTATION BOAT MART

Most Spirited Crew - Tom Archer - Team LAUGHING GIRAFFE

Best Performance V-Bottom - Tom Hofstetter - CHIEF MARINE GROUP - Cigarette 515

Sponsor Award & Best Paint Graphics Award Eric & Hagan Glaser - Team MIDNIGHT EXPRESS

Farthest Traveled Award - Frank Bulte - Team SHARK RIDER

Sponsor Award - Steven Fernandez - TNT CUSTOM MARINE & Tom Stuart - MTI

Best Dressed Crew Award - Michael Tandoi - Team OUT OF CONTROL

Sal Olivia & Stu Jones - Emotional Member Appreciation Award

Sponsor Award - Ed Champion & Shad Vera - BIG THUNDER MARINE

Sponsor Award - Team LEGEND MARINE GROUP accepting NOR-TECH FACTORY award

DCB Award accepted by: Mauricio & Angie Vivanco, Greg Harris, Yvonne Aleman, Tony Chiaramonte

FPC Crew: Stu, Ryan, Kendall, Hannah, Abbey, Jackie

POWERBOATING IN PARADISE | 47

Spring Fling IN PARADISE With snow still on the ground and boats remaining in winter storage throughout much of the continent, FPC members embarked on the third event of the Club’s 2022 event calendar, discovering there is something MORE to be enjoyed on the smaller poker runs! Story by Stu Jones

ith 32 registered teams on the event roster, the four-day Spring Key West event enjoys a very different agenda than its much larger November counterpart, the Key West Poker Run which stages every November. With the smaller roster, attendees enjoy more availability of lodging and docking facilities in Key West, plus easier access to island destinations such as Boca Grande and Dry Tortugas, where poker run teams can enjoy the true meaning of Powerboating in Paradise.

And “Go” we did, as the Mercury Racing 1100s brought the colorful performance V-bottom to an effortless 80-mph cruise, with a spectacular rooster tail streaming from the shiny cleavers. After passing through Port Miami, a handful of teams joined in at Grove Harbour Marina for poker card #2, and it was a smooth ride to Key Largo on Biscayne Bay, with the FPC helicopter in pursuit, capturing great images and video coverage.

About 25 teams kicked off the beautiful Spring St. Patrick’s Day with a poker card at the Haulover fuel dock, and the calm coastal conditions saw most of the boats exit Haulover Inlet for the short coastal romp to Government Cut and Port Miami. The event organizer enjoys plenty of great opportunities to ride on some amazing boats in the club, but was especially thrilled to be riding with new member Tory Robson from Minnesota, who had just taken delivery of a late-model Cigarette 42X “Be First” from Performance Boat Center. Accepting the task as crew member in itself was fabulous, but it was the owner’s gracious offer that iced the cake, as Tory stated, “Stu, I’m just thrilled to have you on board, and it only seems appropriate that you take the helm for the first leg….I’ll get the lines, Let’s Go!”

The 180-mile scenic run to Key West maintained a clockwork schedule for the St Patrick’s Day boat ride, as teams started arriving on cue at 3:30 pm at the Conch Republic and Key West Bight docks in the Historic Seaport.

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The amazing Spring weather continued, as teams enjoyed a variety of daytime destinations including Boca Grande on Friday, and with some generous contributions from club members, Stu Jones and Robson took to the skies in Key West based R44 helicopter for the second ariel flight of the event, giving FPC attendees another heaping helping of photo and video content. For a club event with a little more than 30 teams, two consecutive days with aerial coverage is normally rare; so

Photos by: Jerry Wyszatycki and Stu Jones having that extra time to capture the action ended up being a great outcome for everyone in attendance. Moving into day three of the festivities, the continuation of amazing weather and light winds attracted several teams to head out to the calm waters of Woman Key, while a handful of adventurous teams took the 150-mile roundtrip excursion to Dry Tortugas National Park, home of the historic Fort Jefferson. This is a must-do excursion for any boaters visiting Key West, but the decision to make this daytrip is very weather sensitive, and on this particular Saturday, it was just the perfect time. The fun didn’t stop when the boats were tied up at the end of each day! Evening parties for the poker run were well-planned and executed, thanks to the staff at Conch Republic Seafood Company in the Historic Seaport. Thursday night offered a casual happy hour mixer, and club members gathered again for another one Friday evening, which was followed by a well-attended Duval Street rendezvous until midnight at Rick’s upstairs Martini Bar. As always, FPC organizers provided a structured but flexible format to participants, getting groups together wherever possible for socializing, but keeping

it casual and optional to attend. By Saturday night a very spirited roster of sun-drenched weekend warriors gathered under a courtyard patio tent at Conch Republic Seafood company, in a private setting with dinner served and the FPC girls Hannah and Abbey, on hand to play out the poker cards. Stories of fun experiences and supporting photos were shared by all, as everyone celebrated their final night in the little town that knows how to have fun! The best way to sum up the Spring Key West event, is that it’s a miniature version of FPC’s signature November event, taking place at the height of Spring Break when the town is vibrant and festive. The March fling, however, shares a different vibe and offers many perks that cannot be enjoyed on larger events. Several attendees commented on the benefits of the smaller group, which included easier docking at checkpoints and fuel stops, and especially the more casual vibe that seemed to attract more social interaction among the teams. After all, while the scenic boating in the Keys may be the most obvious benefit, it’s the chance to create new friendships and lasting memories, that makes it all worthwhile. SJ

POWERBOATING IN PARADISE | 49

Capt Raymond | FL | Team 151 DCB | 29' DCB

Jorge Arellano | FL | Team 151 Fountain | 42' Fountain

Rickenbacker Causeway, Miami Jeffrey McMahon | KY | Team RUM RUNNER | 38' Statement FPC Girl Lisa Marie

Chris Nazetta | IL | Team RELENTLESS | 48' MTI

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Team RELENTLESS approaching card stop

Richard Hartz | CT | Team HARTZ | 39' FOUNTAIN

Les & Kayla Voudrie | MO | Team AFTER WORX | 42' MTI

POWERBOATING IN PARADISE | 51

Dwayne Reith | NY | Team FLY MTI | 34' MTI

Dan & Nancy Wall | NC | Team STATEMENT | 36' STATEMENT

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POWERBOATING IN PARADISE | 53

Tory Robson

BE FIRST Crew

Tory Robson | MN | Team BE FIRST | 42' Cigarette

Stu & Jackie Jones Mike & Olivia Lopez | IL | Team GRAY AREA | 40' Sunsation GRAY AREA Crew

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FLORIDA POWERBOAT CLUB

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Michael & Brenda Carravetta | Canada | Team ROUGH RIDER | 46' Cigarette

WE'RE BACK Crew Jeff & Brenda Jacobs | MD | Team WE'RE BACK | 39' Cigarette

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PERFECT PRESCRIPTION Crew

John Stella | NY | Team PERFECT PRESCRIPTION | 39' Nor-Tech

X-SCAPE FROM NY Crew Sal Olivia | NY | Team X-SCAPE FROM NY | 39' Cigarette

Eric Rajchel | FL | Team JOAN SEA | 32' Sunsation

POWERBOATING IN PARADISE | 57

STREGA Crew

Gary Nelson | FL | Team STREGA | 36' CONCEPT

Stephen & Ashley Rak | CT | Team OUTERLIMITS | 37' Outerlimits

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FPC Girl Lisa Marie

PICNIC IN PARADISE - Boca Grande in the Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary

Connor Toomey | MD | Team DOUG WRIGHT | 32' Doug Wright

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Jackie Jones & CHIEF MARINE GROUP Crew

SWEETWATER LANDING Crew BE FIRST Crew

Chris Nazetta, Dan & Nancy Wall

CHIEF MARINE GROUP Crew

POWERBOATING IN PARADISE | 61

MADDHATTER Crew

Bentley Thompson | SC | Team MADDHATTER | 39' Cigarette

WILD HORSES Crew

Roger & Pam Anderson | TX | Team WILD HORSES | 39' Nor-Tech

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Thomas Taylor | FL | Team TBANK | 39' Nor-Tech WILD HORSES Crew

Brandon Mayer | FL | Team SWEETWATER LANDING | 40' Mystic

Robert Sigg | FL | Team MILITARY GROUP | 43' Midnight Express

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FAST CAT Crew with FPC Girls

Lance Rader | FL | Team FAST CAT | 32' Sonic

Hugo Prigue | FL | Team X PRINT X | 36' Doug Wright

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And love the life! SAFEBOATINGCAMPAIGN.COM

“It’s so much fun!” “We love it!”

“We ‘Wear It’ to be safe.” “I caught a fish!”

“It’s exciting!”

This message brought to you by the National Safe Boating Council.

Stu & Jackie Jones

Special thanks to Conch Republic Seafood Company the Official Event Headquarters

BE FIRST Crew

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1st Place - Sal Olivia - Team X-SCAPE FROM NY

Best Dressed Crew - Team Dwayne Nelson - Team FLY MTI

2nd Place - Stephen & Ashley Rak - Team OUTERLIMITS

Hannah & Jackie

3rd Place - Hugo Prigue - Team X PRINT X

POWERBOATING IN PARADISE | 67

Best Team Name - Gary & Jenn Nelson - Team HOTSEA TOTSEA

Best Catamaran - Brandon Mayer - Team SWEETWATER LANDING

Best Performance V-Bottom - Tory Robson - Team BE FIRST

Member Appreciation Award - Jorge Arellano - Team 151 EXPRESS

Best Ceneter Console - Robert Sigg - Team MILITARY GROUP

Most Enthusiastic Team -- Bryan Tapocik & Mike Pizzelenti - Team WASABI

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Team WE'RE BACK Crew

Best Paint & Graphics - Les Voudrie - Team AFTER WORX

TAMPA A favorite amongst many club members, the ever-evolving Tampa Bay Poker Run did not disappoint. By Jason Johnson and Matt Trulio

espite having to limit the number of participants in this year’s Tampa Bay Poker Run because of restricted dock space and rooms in downtown Tampa, the 55-boat fleet for the 12th annual event showed up for an incredibly fun-filled weekend featuring welcoming lunch stops, a couple of nights of social activity, an added raft-up and two distinctly different days on the water during the event’s new two-day poker run format.

Louisiana performance boater for the run on Friday and Saturday.

The unpredictable Florida weather stayed pretty true to form during the late-April event as club members and their guests were greeted with a solid dose of rough water on Friday that included frothy three- to five-footers coming from multiple directions. Then on Saturday, which was predicted to have similar weather as Friday, the wind laid down to provide much tamer conditions on the Gulf of Mexico.

For New York’s Matt Borcina, a regular at FPC events, this year’s Tampa Bay Poker Run was extra special, and not just because it was his first in his 38-foot center console from Statement Marine. More so because he and his wife brought their daughter and four of her friends to the poker run to celebrate their high school graduation. Borcina—a cat guy at heart—acknowledged that doing the poker run in a center console with six women on board was out of the ordinary for him but still fun.

Of course the consensus from the participants was that the twoday format worked out well, and would have whether or not the conditions improved on Saturday because club president Stu Jones was concerned enough to change the course ahead of time so participants could avoid heading into the Gulf of Mexico. Among those in attendance was South Florida-based Tim Gallagher of Performance Boat Center. Gallagher delivered a new Sunsation Powerboats 40 CCX to repeat customer Scott Favre, who also owns a 44-foot MTI catamaran, and joined the

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“On Saturday we went to this little lunch stop, The Getaway in St. Pete,” Gallagher said. “Saturday was really nice. Friday was rough. “The 40 CCX is a very cool boat,” he continued. “Scott had a 32 CCX before this one and he’s been a longtime Performance Boat Center customer. We had a really nice time.”

“The event was awesome—it always is—but it was the first time in my center console so I wasn’t used to being that slow,” Borcina said with a laugh. “Because I like to run hard, that part was a little disappointing. It was a different perspective though and I can see why center consoles are so appealing. “Overall the run was excellent,” he continued. “It was pretty rough on Friday but other than that the boating was great. We enjoyed downtown Tampa and the convention center. The club put on a nice

Photos by: Pete Boden, Robbie Robertson, Stu Jones, Joe Kotrady event at the convention center and the lunch stops were a lot of fun. The girls had a blast, too. I think it’s a trip they’ll never forget.” Tackling the poker run in his company’s demo C4000 catamaran, Mystic Powerboats owner and founder John Cosker and his wife, Robin, enjoyed the event as much or more than they did the year before. Neither of them minded Friday’s rowdy conditions when running the 40-foot cat powered by a pair of Mercury Racing 450R outboard engines. In fact, they had a blast. “We ran 70 to 75 mph right over the top of it,” Cosker said. “I love these boats in the rough. That’s where they belong.” Along with a new 41 Nighthawk from Cigarette Racing Team, Chief Marine Group’s Gaby Pacheco brought a substantial entourage of people up from the newly established Florida Keys service and sales center founded by Tommy Hofstetter in 2021 and they had a fantastic time. “Tampa has always been a great venue that draws a great crowd,” Pacheco said. “We’re only an ‘arms reach’ away from Tampa being down in the Keys so we wanted to get on board and get some more exposure up that way.” The exposure, thanks to the 41-foot Cigarette powered by four Mercury Racing 450R engines, was second to none, Pacheco said.

“The 41 Nighthawk speaks for itself—it’s one of the best multipurpose, multi-person packages available,” he added. “I really like the boat’s cleanliness and its elegance. It has that Cigarette elegance that you just can’t beat. Plus it’s so versatile and its handling is excellent in any conditions. You can go out and run 80 mph or you can take an Intracoastal cruise with 20 people on board with plenty of space left.” Another notable participant in one of the most attention-getting boats at the run was Eric Glaser, who owns Midnight Express Boats in Miami. Glaser and his wife, Hagen, enjoyed the event with a sizable crew of people on board the company’s 100th 43-foot center console, a 43’ Solstice powered by five Mercury Racing 450R engines that made its debut at the Miami International Boat Show in February. “Tampa was fun; it’s a cool place to boat but for some reason it tends to always be a rough event,” Glaser said, after both he and his customers in another 43’ Solstice, Kentucky’s Chris ad Shelby Mattingly, ended up bending a tie-bar during Friday’s run. “We both bent tie-bars during the run so I asked my parts manager to overnight the parts, but they didn’t arrive in time so we did our best to get the Mattinglys on the water with what we had available. We had fun though—Tampa has some great restaurants on the water so we always enjoy that aspect of the run.”

POWERBOATING IN PARADISE | 71

John & Robin Cosker - Team MYSTIC

Poker Run teams gathered up their first card voucher at the Tampa Convention Center docks Mollie Dignan - Team SNUFF RIDER

Team TRY IT NOW Crew Crew

Team XCAT

The Girls of Team MIDNIGHT EXPRESS Crew

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Shelby Mattingly - Team NEVER ENOUGH

Tammy Ritchie - Team WICKED ADDICTION

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. • Personal assistance(up to 4 hours) for boat shopping by FPC President Stu Jones( Hourly rates apply for additional time spent)

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SOCIAL MEMBERSHIP

Membership Includes:

• Club T-shirt in your choice of colors. • Powerboating in Paradise Magazine subscription. • Access to FPC parties • Discounted Boat Show tickets. $89.00/year*

*Overseas and international memberships will have a slightly higher rate to compensate for mailing/shipping costs.

MADDHATTER Crew

Bentley Thompson | SC | Team MADDHATTER | 39' Cigarette

FPC Girls Masyn & Kolbie

Scott Favre | LA | Team SUNSATION | 40' Sunsation

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Gaby Pacheco | FL | Team CHIEF MARINE GROUP | 41' Cigarette-Nighthawk Chief Edition

Tony & Jessica Gielow | FL | Team SKIDS OFF | 39' Midnight Express

Chris Colson | FL | Team FLUID FRIENDLY | 39' Lavey Craft

POWERBOATING IN PARADISE | 75

Curtis Watkins | FL | Team EVIL WOMAN | 39' Nor-Tech

James Patti | LA | Team WICKED ADDICTION | 42' Fountain

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TRY IT NOW! Crew

Ryan Foster | FL | Team TRY IT NOW! | 39' Nor-Tech

Mark Stoddart | Canada | Team HUNTRESS | 42' Cigarette

POWERBOATING IN PARADISE | 77

Mike Boyle | FL | Team XCAT | 34' Pilini Marine

Bruce & Tracy Kruglick | FL | Team BAD DOG 3.0 | 38' Statement BAD DOG 3.0 Crew

Brandon Mayer | FL | Team SWEETWATER LANDING | 40' Mystic

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John & Robin Cosker | FL | Team MYSTIC | 40' Mystic

Frank Scheelen | FL | Team SCHEELEN MOTORSPORTS | 36' Nor-Tech

Frank Sr & Frank Jr Jannucci | NJ | Team FUND$ALOW | 39' Cigarette

POWERBOATING IN PARADISE | 79

FPC Girls Kolbie & Justine

Saturday morning at Tampa Bay Convention Center

Team FOUNTAIN 38TE

Team ULTIMATE MARINE

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Team SCHEELEN MOTORSPORTS

Tampa Bay Convention Center Docks

FPC Girls Masyn, Justine, Kolbie & Hannah

Team SPARTAN POWERBOAT CLUB

Team 151 FOUNTAIN

Team JEFF'S BOYS

POWERBOATING IN PARADISE | 81

Departing Downtown Tampa on Seddon Channel

Dennis Delatorre | FL | Team PLANTATION BOAT MART | 39' Deep Impact

Thomas & Andrea Anselmi | NJ | Team NECESSARY EVIL | 38' Donzi

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Team ULTIMATE MARINE - 53' HCB Suenos, Team OFF THE HOOK - 46' Invincible

Joseph Labon | FL | Team OFF THE HOOK | 46' Invincible

Clint Hayes | TN | Team KISS THE PAPER | 42' Fountain

POWERBOATING IN PARADISE | 83

Gary Karwowski | FL | Team LOADED DECK | 42' Mystic

LOADED DECK Crew

Robert McAtee | OK | Team ROBALDO | 42' Mystic

Delvis Flores | NJ | Team SPARTAN POWERBOAT CLUB | 36' Statement

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Eric Glaser | FL | Team MIDNIGHT EXPRESS | 43' Midnight Express

Aaron Swafford | FL | Team FOUNTAIN 38TE | 38' Fountain

Billy Glueck | FL | Team POPEYES | 42' Fountain

POWERBOATING IN PARADISE | 85

Poker card stop at Vinoy Yach Basin Team SUNSATION

Poker Card ladies aboard Bill Waters 62 Baia - Vinoy Basin

Team HUNTRESS

A new twist on picking up the poker card!

Team FLUID FRIENDLY

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Team FUND$ALOW

Jesse Stephanie Neumann | MN | Team DIRTY MONEY | 50' Nor-Tech Team MADDHATTER

Chris & Shelby Mattingly | KY | Team NEVER ENUFF | 43' Midnight Express Team MYSTIC

Mike & Amber Holderness | FL | Team AMBER DAWN | 36' Yellowfin

POWERBOATING IN PARADISE | 87

Al Jr. & Liz Copeland | LA | Team SWEET HEAT | 39' Nor-Tech

Joseph Gross | NY | Team NOR-TECH | 39' Nor-Tech

Greg Tolson | FL | Team ON THE HUNT | 39' Nor-Tech

88 | POWERBOATING IN PARADISE

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Jorge Arellano Fleet | FL | Team 151 EXPRESS | 32' Phantom

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Joseph Labon | FL | Team ULTIMATE MARINE | 53' HCB

Joseph Labon | FL | Team ULTIMATE MARINE 2 | 53' HCB

POWERBOATING IN PARADISE | 91

Mark Fitzgerald | MD | Team STATEMENT | 36' Statement

Jorge Arellano | FL | Team 151 FOUNTAIN | 42' Fountain

Scott Witt | FL | Team OFFSHORE ACCOUNT | 36' Wright Performance

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Brad Hancock | FL | Team AL HAIL | 50' Hustler

Raymond Evans | NJ | Team JEFF'S BOYS | 35' Cigarette

Bailey Clermont | NJ | Team SNUFF RYDER | 30' Spectre

POWERBOATING IN PARADISE | 93

SATURDAY NIGHT AWARDS ParTy

Sponsor Award - Tim Gallagher Performance Boat Center

1st Place - James Patti - Team WICKED ADDICTION 3rd Place - FPC Girls with a third place prize for Dennis Delatorre

2nd Place - John Wittenberger SR - Team ON THE ROCKS

Sponsor Award - Team CHIEF MARINE GROUP

Best Paint & Graphics - Eric Glaser Team MIDNIGHT EXPRESS

Broken Propeller Award - Team WICKED ADDICTION

Sponsor Award & Sexiest Crew Award- Team MIDNIGHT EXPRESS

Most Spirited Crew - Team 151 EXPRESS

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Sponsor Award - Dennis Delatorre Plantation Boat Mart

Best Team Name - Robert McAtee - Team ROBALDO

Sponsor Award - Team MYSTIC POWERBOATS

Farthest Traveled - Team SCHEELEN MOTORSPORTS

Best Performance V-Bottom - Karsten Melcher Team GERMANY

Farthest Towed - Team X-SCAPE FROM NY

Member Appreciation Award - John Wittenberger SR & Scott Witt

Best Dressed Crew - Bruce Kruglick - Team BAD DOG 3.0 & Mike Holderness JR - Team BAYWATCH

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POWERBOATING IN PARADISE | 95

DIVER DOWN! - SERIOUS THREAT ON FLORIDA WATERS By Stu Jones

y the time this issue of Powerboating in Paradise Magazine is in full circulation, National Safe Boating Week, May 2228, 2022, will have just passed. Regardless of what hat I am wearing, whether editor of this publication, or President of Florida Powerboat Club which is operating in its 30th year, boating safety is as subject that should not just be half hour topic in a captains meeting before a poker run, but rather a “mindset” that takes top priority on any given day, every time we get into our boats and turn the keys. While common safety practices are second nature to experienced boaters, there are still many boaters who need to have constant reminders about the most basic of safety practices, especially in the performance boating arena. The Florida Fish & Wildlife Commission (FWC) recently released its 2021 Boating Accident statistics, and it is clear that Florida remains the state with the highest frequency of boating accidents, but sadly Florida also has the worst record for serious injuries and fatalities, (70 deaths last year) so we clearly have to do better to reduce these numbers.

Here are some of the key guidelines that require constant attention by boaters: Wearing PFD’s: I don’t know why this is such a hard point to hit Improper Lookout or “Watch”: home, but one statistic I noticed is that of 70 fatalities, the largest number of deaths were related to passengers being thrown overboard while the vessel was underway. While this may not be as serious in smaller boats or cruisers that operate under 30mph, the same cannot be said in the performance boat sector, where speeds average 70-100mph at times. For these reasons, PFDs on poker runs are highly recommended by FPC management. And for those boats that average higher speeds in the 75mph plus range, the racing style lifeline jacket is the most suitable application.

Kill Switch Lanyards:

On a recent FPC poker run event, an outboard cat landed awkwardly in some choppy conditions, stuffing a sponson and hooking hard, almost rolling over. All four occupants were tossed into the water about 60+ mph, and thankfully all wearing good PFD’s. They were immediately rescued by another poker run boat, but their boat engines did not shut down because of a faulty kill switch lanyard. When the boat righted itself, it drove miles with no crew and crashed on the shoreline, thankfully with no injuries, but the boat was damaged seriously. When a driver uses a kill-switch lanyard, that does not kill the motors, then the system was never TESTED properly. These lanyards must be tested before they can be relied on, and once proven…must be worn properly. FPC will be focusing more attention on this issue for future poker runs, putting great emphasis on the proper use of engine kill lanyards.

96 | POWERBOATING IN PARADISE

One of the requirements in Maritime law and Rules of the Road collision-avoidance guidelines, is to maintain constant watch as the vessel proceeds on course. FWC reported that 44% of the boating accident collisions that occurred, were due to ‘Operator inattention or improper lookout.’ In today’s performance boating arena, this task can rarely be done effectively by captain alone, simply because of the many distractions that come from multiple sources. New boats have so many gauges and gadgets, giant highly detailed GPS screens with engine monitoring data, a stereo command center, engine control instruments, shifters, gauges, trim and tab buttons and VHF radio…not to mention cell phones that can lead to distractive text messaging. This equation is further complicated with the increasing popularity of center console boats, which have robust T-top supports and windshield frames that create far more visual obstructions that the old school performance boats that were once commonplace in the performance boating scene. Another factor is the greater number of passengers, since these large center consoles can often carry 15-20 crew giving a captain more distractions than ever before. Therefore, it is important to have one or possibly two additional crew members to take watch at the helm alongside the driver, to assist with this important “watch” task.

GENERAL WARNINGS - Challenges of RECREATIONAL boating: 1. Inexperienced & CARELESS Boaters: Thousands of Americans discovered recreational boating during Covid, and in the wake of the pandemic we more (new) boaters on the waters than ever before. This generally means more inexperienced boaters are out there than ever before, and it requires every driver to take extra

caution, especially on weekends and in congested areas where rental fleets of PWC, pontoon boats and runabout rentals, is at an all-time high. Be on the lookout for these boaters, as they are the ones most likely to cross your path when you least expect it!

2. Inexperienced Beach-Access SCUBA Divers: This is a growing threat, especially in Florida! One would think certified scuba drivers are licensed for this adventure sport and should follow a code of conduct when it comes to safety. Sadly, many do not. A PADI certification course teaches all the dos and don’ts of equipment use and managing underwater pressure and oxygen gauges, but little is addressed about how to safely enjoy diving in a high-density powerboating environment (like Florida). In recent months, along coastal waterways from Palm Beach County to the Florida Keys, there has been an increase in solo scuba divers who enter the ocean from beach access points, using no dive support boat. To complicate matters, many preserve their air supply, by surface-swimming up to a mile offshore, to various reef destinations. While the mandatory dive flags are often used, they are extremely small, and frequently lean over or tip in the light swell, making them impossible to see when approaching in any powerboat. This problem is compounded by the faster closing speed in a performance boat, and these divers may have no way to escape a tragic encounter.

3. Divers Separated from Support Boat:

This happens quite often and has the same outcome as the above scenario. Often when scuba divers are underwater, they fall victim to currents that push them far away from their support boat. Even with use of small drift flags, these flags can be compromised by wind and waves, rendering them invisible to a naked eye from one

hundred yards or more. On an early weekend in May, the FPC crew encountered a two-man dive team on the surface, over one mile offshore, and their support boat was not in site. Only when we stopped to assist, did the support boat notice our position and respond. We have seen many near misses in recent months, and this is becoming a serious threat.

Advice to boaters running these FLORIDA waterways: 1 Stay well offshore! 1.5+ miles is a good rule of them. Divers rarely make it out this far, so it’s not likely you will encounter this accident threat. 2. Stay several hundred yards clear of (any) vessel that appears

3. Pay attention to your GPS and local waters. Any reef or shallower areas along coastal waters will often attract scuba diving enthusiasts and recreation fishermen. Stay well clear of these areas, there is no need to get close to them.

to be stationary or anchored. Even if you cannot SEE a dive flag, it is always best to assume there are divers down.

For more information on the latest FWC Boating Accident statistics, visit www.Myfwc/Boating

POWERBOATING IN PARADISE | 97

FLORIDA POWERBOAT CLUB 2022-2023 Event Calendar

JUNE 10-15

JULY-AUG

| 31st ANNUAL BAHAMAS POKER RUN

Three day format to Bimini, extended four day format to Chub Cay & Nassau.

| SUMMER POKER RUN TOUR 2022

FPC organizers joining fellow members & industry colleagues at powerboating events around the nation.

AUG 16-21

| BAHAMAS SUMMER BLAST 2022

SEP 21-25

| EMERALD COAST POWERBOAT WEEK 2022

*New Dates

Destination Bimini/Chub Cay/Nassau

Luxury accommodations at the Emerald Grande Resort.

NOV 8-14

| 30th ANNUAL KEY WEST POKER RUN 2022

Multiple lodging & docking options. Optional Tuesday departure being considered.

JAN 26-29 2023

| WINTER FUN RUN 2023

FEB 22-26 2023

| MIAMI BOAT SHOW POKER RUN 2023

MAR 16-19 2023

| SPRING KEY WEST POKER RUN 2023

Playa Largo Resort, Key Largo, FL. Registration opens November 15, 2022

Post Card Inn, Islamorada. Registration opens November 15, 2022

Hyatt Centric, Key West & Conch Republic Seafood Co. Registration opens November 15, 2022

Disclaimer: Please note that FPC event dates and venues may be modified, so it is important to always refer to the FPC website www.flpowerboat.com before making any event plans.

WATCH FPC ON YOUTUBE - SUBSCRIBE TO FLORIDA POWERBOAT CLUB !!

98 | POWERBOATING IN PARADISE

@FLORIDA POWERBOAT CLUB

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Powerboating In Paradise Vol22#2

Articles inside

TAMPA BAY POKER RUN

LETTER FROM PRESIDENT

SAFETY FIRST

WINTER FUN RUN

MIAMI BOAT SHOW POKER RUN