WINTER FUN RUN

from Powerboating In Paradise Vol22#2

MIAMI BOAT SHOW POKER RUN

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

Over 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 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.

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