Powerboating in Paradise vol#2 2017

VOL 17#2 FALL 2017-FT LAUDERDALE BOAT SHOW & KEY WEST A MAGAZINE SHOWCASING THE FLORIDA POWERBOAT CLUB LIFESTYLE

HAPPY BIRTHDAY EMERALD COAST

PLUS...

• FLORIDA-HAVANA POWERBOAT RALLY • LARRY GOLDMAN TRIBUTE • LEVERICK BAY BVI POKER RUN • SMOKIN’ THE SOUND POKER RUN • FPC EUROPEAN POKER RUN • BAHAMAS POKER RUN • PIRATES OF LANIER POKER RUN • EMERALD COAST POKER RUN • LAKE POWELL CHALLENGE WWW.FLPOWERBOAT.COM

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G R DE R ACIN U Y O R Y U C MER SEE

A Magazine Showcasing The Florida Powerboat Club Lifestyle CONTENTS

FALL 2017 Vol. 17#2

4

4 LETTER FROM THE PRESIDENT

EDITOR/PUBLISHER Stu Jones stu@flpowerboat.com

FPC president Stu Jones punctuates the challenges of keeping a fresh new agenda for FPC members and finding new poker run destinations for the 2018 FPC calendar.

6 CUBA POKER RUN 2017

6

Tracey Gutierrez tracey@flpowerboat.com

Mother nature proves that in spite of months of event planning for the club's 2nd rally to Havana, it is she who decides the fate of FPC members when venturing into the Straits of Florida.

GRAPHIC DESIGNERS

14 LARRY GOLDMAN MEMORIAL

Lina Montes fpclina@gmail.com

We bid farewell to a marine industry leader and family man that reached the lives of thousands over his amazing career in South Florida.

14

PHOTOGRAPHY

20 BVI POKER RUN

20

OFFICE MANAGER

Jerry Wyszatycki Stu Jones Sven Teuber

EVENT MANAGEMENT Jackie Jones jackie@flpowerboat.com

VIDEO PRODUCTION Stu Jones David Steel Ryan McCoy Mike Frenden Travis Nellem 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 - Friday 10 AM - 5 PM

FPC Pompano Beach Headquarters 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...

Leverick Bay in Virgin Gorda once again hosted an epic Memorial weekend poker run, which was enjoyed by two FPC poker run teams.

28 SMOKIN' THE SOUND

This annual Mississippi rendezvous attracted over 30 poker run teams for a horsepower-charged weekend in the Gulf of Mexico and Biloxi's backwater bayous.

28

34 EUROPEAN POKER RUN

FPC members enjoyed a week-long driving adventure through the scenic Alps, visiting quaint villages and resorts in four European countries.

46 BAHAMAS POKER RUN

It was a blast-off to Bimini for a weekend in paradise, for a dozen FPC poker run teams who enjoyed a full-house at the luxurious Hilton Resorts World Bimini Resort & Marina.

52 PIRATES OF LANIER

A new family format for this seven year event gave hundreds of boaters a weekend of fun at the amazing Lake Lanier Islands Resort.

54 EMERALD COAST POKER RUN 2017

It was a big celebration for event participants, organizers and local Emerald Coast merchants as the "Big One" hit the ripe age of 25 years, raising money for local youth charities.

34 46 52

90 LAKE POWELL CHALLENGE

We checked off another poker run on the FPC national poker run tour, by visiting the 9th annual edition of this amazing poker run on scenic Lake Powell.

ON THE COVER: FPC members and event co-organizers celebrated 25 Years of the Emerald Coast, with millions raised over the years for local charities. The contestants of Miss Boat Week at the Emerald Coast poker run always entertain our poker run participants.

COVER GIRLS: FPC models Kayla, Brandie & Miss Boat Week girls.

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

PRESIDENT'S

LETTER

FA L L 2 0 17

By: Stu Jones

By the time you focus your attention on my President’s Letter you most likely have leafed through the pages of this issue of Powerboating in Paradise Magazine, to see that we have had an exciting summer of 2017 with Florida Powerboat Club. We left off in the last issue with feature coverage of the April Fort Myers Poker Run, then we shifted gears on a global tour that included adventures in Cuba, Mississippi, Europe, Bahamas, Georgia and then finished the summer of 2017 by celebrating the 25th Annual Emerald Coast Poker Run. Needless

Emerald Grande Resort-Destin

to say, this issue is fully packed with colorful images and story lines that illustrate our ongoing and relentless passion to seek adventures abroad, by land, sea or air…and above all, to share these experiences with loved ones and our closest friends. But amidst all the fun and enjoyment that comes with reporting these memorable adventures, there are some extremely important messages that I must share with our members, readers and industry peers, and right here is the time and the place for that.

First, I cannot even begin to express the sadness and emptiness so many of us continue to feel, after losing our good friend Larry Goldman, this past May. So many of you knew him and had dealings with Larry over the years, because he was a hardworking, multi-tasking entrepreneur who had the energy of 10 men and a spirit of enthusiasm for performance boating that was contagious. In more The Late Larry Goldman recent years, Larry was the owner and operator of Xtreme Powerboats, which remains based at Haulover Marine Center in North Miami Beach, now fully operational under the management of his widow Jodi, their children Jake and Jillian, and a dedicated staff of employees. There’s far more to the Larry Goldman story, but the most important message I want to convey in this issue of PiP, is that Larry was a driving force in the creation of the Florida Powerboat Club from the early days in 1991, when I first met him at Sunny Isles Marina in North Miami. This story is on

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Max, Stu, Jackie & Tyler Jones

page 14, and I hope you can take time to read it.

On another note, and more of an update to my editorial in the last issue of PiP, I would like to remind everyone that the ongoing challenges with seeking Poker Run venues, just escalated to a new level.

I previously made observations with respect to many marine resort operators changing their business models, making it increasingly difficult for FPC to stage large-scale poker run events at some of the more desirable resorts. If that wasn’t enough, along came the deadly duo of Hurricanes Irma and Maria in September, leaving a path of destruction along the way. Indeed, our losses in Florida and the interruption of normal life PALE in comparison to our poor friends in the Caribbean, who may take years to recover. That said, it’s important that our boating visitors understand the significance of the long-term impacts here in the Sunshine State, as they arrive for the Fall & Winter FPC poker run season. We’ll certainly be able to conduct the 25th Annual Key West Poker Run without interruption, but many changes to the agenda have already been made, because of hurricane damage from Miami to Key West. Then, as we proceed into 2018…there will continue to be more challenges with our event calendar, as some popular marine resorts in the Upper and Middle Keys, have sustained severe damage and remain closed through the Winter Hurricane Irma Damage at Grove Harbour months. Clearly, as your club president, it is my utmost priority to find the best alternatives or new destinations so that our members can continue to enjoy their boating adventures with the Florida Powerboat Club. We as Floridians rely very much on the tourism economy for our livelihoods, and we cannot change the outcome of these mammoth storms. What we CAN do….is Adapt, Recover, and Rebuild!

Most of all, we rely on the support from our members and sponsors to keep the FPC wheels spinning, and we appreciate all the calls and emails that came from our concerned friends as we weathered the storm. Final words…. Irma, you can kiss my ass.

SJ

AFTER MAKING WORLD HISTORY WITH GLOBAL MEDIA EXPOSURE IN MAY 2016, FLORIDA POWERBOAT CLUB WAS CHALLENGED WITH THE TASK OF STAGING A “REPEAT PERFORMANCE” FOR THE 2ND ANNUAL FLORIDA HAVANA POWERBOAT RALLY. BUT MOTHER NATURE HAD OTHER PLANS, SERVING UP 25MPH WINDS AND 12-FOOT SEAS IN THE FLORIDA STRAITS, AND INSTEAD OF PARADING A FLEET OF US-FLAG PERFORMANCE BOATS INTO HAVANA BAY, FPC MEMBERS JOINED THE MASSES AND ARRIVED QUITE UNEVENTFULLY, VIA COMMERCIAL AIRLINES.

WORDS & PHOTOGRAPHY BY STU JONES

T

here are several words that can describe the adventure of taking your personal boat across ocean waters to another country, and they vary according to the experience, and most often they are very positive. But for the handful of poker run teams that had braved the rough seas from Key West to Havana in May 2016, it may have been that butt puckering, white-knuckled, hand-rail death grip, or the intense salt water intrusion of the eye sockets, that made it easy for most to...

JUST SAY NO, for a 2017 repeat performance. With nearly twenty teams registered and after months of planning for the 4-day Havana adventure, marine weather reports that included several continuous days of double-digit winds from the east, made it painfully clear that opposing east-flowing waters of the Florida straits, would create a mountain-climbing expedition for small craft. It was a frustrating reminder to FPC organizers, that there are no guarantees when we plan offshore boating adventures, but as we would soon discover, Plan B wasn’t such

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a bad alternative. In fact, the 2017 experience set the course for FPC to make sweeping changes to future Cuba excursions.

After the announcement by FPC that a treacherous, life threatening ocean-crossing would be replaced by $250 pp roundtrip flights, a few teams withdrew, citing that the absence of the “boating adventure” aspect would ruin the true experience for them. This we feel, was short-sighted and not carefully analyzed, due to their loss of substantial deposits prepaid to our Cuba Travel tour operator, not to mention a 4-day Havana experience that reached new highs. Nonetheless, Cuba 2017 was a valuable experience for all of us, and aside from the obvious weather challenges, here are (3) reasons why FPC has now re-considered its position on staging future powerboat rallies to Cuba. #1: Documents: Cuba cruising requires extensive documentation and permits. The easiest of these items, is

acquiring the US Customs decal, which is required for any boat cruising international waters. However, when visiting Cuban territorial waters, a special USCG permit is required for (every) vessel, for each crossing, and must list an exact detailed crew manifest for all passengers on board. These documents must be precise and must be presented several weeks prior the trip, to a single officer in Miami, who has several weeks of backlog. Problem: Rarely can owners/captains ever nail down their exact crew attending several weeks before the cruise. It is without a doubt, the most frustrating registration process that FPC has ever encountered in our club’s 25-year history. #2: Hull Insurance: Every marine insurance company has certain inclusions and/or requirements when it comes to coastal cruising, and particularly in Atlantic offshore waters.

Not a single carrier in our experience includes Cuban waters, and therefore a binder is required that can cost upwards of

$500 to a few thousand dollars, for the one-time cruise. Some carriers have multi-page questionnaires, that must be completed accurately, and of course this is very time-consuming. #3 Marine Facilities in Havana: There is only one marina that recreational boats can visit in Havana, named Marina Hemingway, located about 10 miles west of Havana’s city center, which is the most desirable place to stay. The customs clearance process takes our group hours, it’s frustrating, and the concrete seawalls of the marina are not powerboatfriendly. The only good thing there is Hemingway Int’l Yacht Club, where our Commodore Escrich rolls out the welcome mat to American boaters. Arguably, it is Commodore Escrich who was instrumental in getting FPC to make our first FPC cruise in 2016, where we made world history, being the first US flag fleet of powerboats in 58 years, to parade through Havana Bay.

POWERBOATING IN PARADISE | 7

MAY 18-22

The Cuban government is fully engaged in all aspects of welcoming large groups of travelers to its country, and it is a top priority of the tour operator to ensure that a People-to-People exchange with Cuban people is properly executed. On the flip side, the US government’s OFAC guidelines require that US Citizens visiting Cuba, meet one of the 14 criteria to qualify for (exemption) to Federal trade guidelines. Among these exemptions are musical or artistic performances, sporting events and such, but the most popular most widely used, is “Non- Academic educational experience”. Essentially, it’s another way of saying It’s not tourism, but rather, a non-classroom educational field trip… For grown-ups. Combining this government mandate with the flexibility for the (FPC) group planner to create a customized program for its guests, the result is an educational-but-fun travel experience. For our 2017 Cuba program, we enjoyed the company of a pleasant, professionally trained tour guide named Lisette, travelled in a modern air-conditioned bus, stayed in first class accommodations at the landmark Parque Central Hotel, and shared an eventful itinerary that mixed history, culture, architecture, and people watching with plenty of private time over the four-day visit.

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MAY 18-22

Along with its friendly natives and magnificent architecture, the most noticeable and perhaps one of the most intriguing features of the Cuba travel experience, is the 1950’s era time capsule that has left tens of thousands of 1940’s and 1950’s American-made cars on the streets of Havana. With classic cars being such a big part of the American culture, few can resist the temptation to jump in the back seat of a cherry red 57’ Chevy convertible or a bright yellow 56’ Buick Roadster,

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and take a scenic ride along the Malecon, with the Atlantic Ocean in the background! As one of the added features of the FPC Cuba travel agenda, we secured more than a dozen of the finest convertibles in Old Havana, and lined them up in front of the Parque Central Hotel, for a Havana Classic Car Rally through the streets of Havana. From Revolution Square, to the gates of the Morro Castle…. our spirited Cuban drivers made it a memorable experience for everyone!

MAY 18-22

Although Florida Powerboat Club for the past 25-years, has remained committed to the mission of staging adventurous vacation experiences for owners of performance boats, it’s an ironic twist that some of the best experiences can occasionally happen, without the boats at all. Cuba 2017 has proven to be one of those occasions, and our beloved

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friend and Cuba attendee, the late Larry Goldman said, as he stepped out of a purple metallic 58’ Ford Fairlane, “You know Stu, I can’t believe I’m saying this, but without having the boats here to worry about.…. I’m having the time of my life. This is awesome!” Larry, we couldn’t have said any better ourselves.

SJ

In

Memory o f

LAR RY GOLDMAN 19 59 - 2 017

Larry enjoyed the Cuba Classic Car Rally in a 1958 Ford Fairlane convertible

By the time this issue of Powerboating in Paradise is in circulation, it will have been five months since we lost our good friend Larry Goldman, who passed away in a Hollywood, FL, soon after learning of his life-threatening cancer condition, a serious form of leukemia that had escalated in his body without Larry’s knowledge. For his loving wife Jodi, his two children, his mother, close friends, co-workers, employees, powerboating customers

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and industry colleagues…it was a sudden, extremely bitter and almost bizarre incident that left everyone numb, dumfounded and asking above all…...How? How could this possibly be? How could someone so full of life, so charged with energy, so engaged in his profession, so passionate about his life…. How, could Larry have been so ill? How…could Larry be taken so soon?

When any of us lose a close friend or a loved one, it’s often a natural human reaction for most of us, to want to share with others what great experiences we may have had with that person, or even to remind others what important accomplishments they made in their personal journey of life. I suppose that’s my way of rationalizing the need to tell

at least one very important chapter of the Larry Goldman story, as it pertained to the creation of the Florida Powerboat Club. Clearly, there are many other chapters…all as unique and memorable, but this story dates back to summer of 1991, when I met Larry Goldman at Sunny Isles Marina in North Miami Beach.

POWERBOATING IN PARADISE | 15

LAR RY GOLDMAN 19 59 - 2 017 After transplanting myself from Canada to South Florida in January 1991 to escape the cold winters and start an exciting career in the performance marine trade, the new Sunny Isles Marina in North Miami Beach became one of my first marine clients. I was hired to produce their color brochure, and later stage a powerboat poker run as part of their grand opening in July 1991. This was uncharted territory for me,

but thankfully I met Larry Goldman, who had just opened his service and rigging shop called CobraPower Marine, at Sunny Isles Marina. Larry took me under his wing, helped me to sign up powerboaters and make the first poker run successful, and soon afterwards I founded the Sunny Isles Powerboat Club. It was a slow start, I didn’t have much money, but Larry believed in my talents, gave me a place to

continue on page 18

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LAR RY GOLDMAN 19 59 - 2 017

stay, introduced me to offshore powerboat racing or extra income, and coached me all the way. That’s about the shortest version of this amazing relationship I had with Larry Goldman, and how it all got started. Surely, there will many more stories that can be told about my journey with Larry for the next 27 years, and as a tribute to Larry Goldman’s Legacy, I will be happy to tell them for many years to come.

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As we approach a very special anniversary of Florida Powerboat Club’s signature poker run event in November 2017, I can’t think of a better way to illustrate my thanks to a very deserving friend, than to dedicate the 25th Annual Key West Poker Run, to Larry Goldman. R.I.P Larry…. Along the scenic waterways from Miami to Key West, across the open ocean to the Bahamas and Cuba, you will always be right there, riding along with us!

CARIBBEAN

CRUISIN'

VIRGIN GORDA ONCE AGAIN PROVIDED A BREATH-TAKING BACKDROP FOR THE ANNUAL LEVERICK BAY POKER RUN, ATTRACTING AN OUTSTANDING FLEET OF OVER TWO HUNDRED & FIFTY POWERBOAT TEAMS FOR THIS FESTIVE MEMORIAL-DAY WEEKEND IN PARADISE. AMONG THEM WERE TWO US FLAG VESSELS THAT FLEW THE FPC FLAG PROUDLY, GIVING THESE VISITORS AN ULTIMATE ESCAPE TO PUERTO RICO AND THE BRITISH VIRGIN ISLANDS! WORDS & PHOTOGRAPHY BY STU JONES

I

t’s no secret that powerboat poker runs have taken center stage on the global boating scene, from United States to Europe and as far away as Australia. No matter where, it’s clear that powerboaters enjoy the camaraderie of the group setting, the adrenaline rush of pushing the throttles on open waters, and the chance to challenge lady luck in the pursuit of a winning poker hand!

Just over a decade ago, more than 1,000 miles from Miami to the heart of the Caribbean, the Leverick Bay Poker Run emerged and quickly drew the Caribbean boating elite, from nearby Puerto Rico, the US Virgin Islands, and

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St. Maarten. British entrepreneur and adventure seeker Sir Richard Branson made the Leverick Bay event roster on numerous occasions, giving this event celebrity sizzle that may have bolstered the registration numbers, along with the obvious allure of the tropical setting of the breath-taking BVI’s. But it can be said that behind every successful poker run, is a team of dedicated organizers, and most Leverick Bay Poker Run veterans would agree, that the warm hospitality of the Leverick Bay Resort staff, including the event’s founder Nick Willis, is a common denominator of the event’s popularity.

POWERBOATING IN PARADISE | 21

MAY 25-28

Transporting two forty-foot center console powerboats to BVI, isn’t exactly a hop-skip-and-a-jump. Advance planning by the FPC staff included the comparison of two ocean carriers, and negotiating the best rates for weekly sailings from Port of Jacksonville with roll-on/roll-off vessels to Puerto Rico. Upon clearing the vessels at the Puerto Rico, FPC affiliate Wally Castro Marine, managed all the customs clearing process and transport of vessels to his marina in Fajardo, Puerto Rico. FPC attendees flew privately to Puerto

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Rico, overnighting at the El Conquistador Resort & Marina, before departing for the 100+ mile trip to Virgin Gorda.

Upon arrival, the boats stayed in safe harbor Leverick Bay Marina, while our FPC guests enjoyed luxurious villas, several hundred feet atop the adjacent hillside, with panoramic vistas of Leverick Bay and neighboring islands.

Daily outings to area hotspots gave our attendees plenty of exciting adventures to explore on the days leading up to the Sunday poker run event.

MAY 25-28

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MAY 25-28

A SA D ENDING IN 2017: HUR R ICANE-R AVAGED CA R IBBE AN Sadly, after two consecutive years of attending the Leverick Bay Poker Run in Virgin Gorda, we are crushed by the news and images that reveal the tragic devastation throughout the Caribbean, and particularly the entire family of the British Virgin Islands we have come to love. More than 80% of the British Virgin Islands were destroyed, with Leverick Bay Resort & Marina among the most severe casualties. The entire dock was wiped clean and every building destroyed, making it unlikely that we will ever see the Leverick Bay Poker run ever return to its glory. At least 80% of the BVI natives have lost their homes, possessions and jobs. The entire power grid was destroyed along with water and food supply to thousands of victims. Puerto Rico was the primary source of aid for BVI in the aftermath of Irma, bringing food and supplies by boat, and evacuating women and children. But just two weeks later, Puerto Rico took a direct hit from Hurricane Maria‌ending the short-lived support to BVI. Now, with the major U.S. media focus and the Federal government’s efforts to help Puerto Rico, the British Virgin Islands have largely been forgotten. If anyone would like to help these islands recover, please visit: www.BVIRELIEF.com where donations of money or supplies may be made to many relief programs. Meanwhile, our hearts, thoughts and prayers go to all those who suffered major losses on American soil or beyond, in the wake of this very devastating 2017 Hurricane season.

We recently spoke with Leverick Bay Resort owner Nick Willis, who assured us that he and his family are alive and well, despite the complete loss of the property. Nick assured us that they do plan to rebuild, and Leverick Bay SJ Poker Run will one day return.

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FROM TEXAS TO FLORIDA, THE COASTAL SHORELINE OF THE GULF OF MEXICO SPANS 1671 MILES AND ACCOUNTS FOR OVER 17,000 MILES OF TIDAL SHORELINE, ENCOMPASSING A COMPLICATED NETWORK OF BAYOUS, INLETS AND TIDAL RIVERS. WHILE MISSISSIPPI CLAIMS ONLY 44 OF THESE COASTAL MILES ACCORDING TO NOAA, SAVVY BILOXI EVENT PROMOTERS RECOGNIZED THE UNIQUE GEOGRAPHY OF THE AREA’S WATERWAYS AS AN IDEAL VENUE FOR BOAT RACING AND POKER RUN EVENTS.

WORDS & PHOTOGRAPHY BY STU JONES

M

ost offshore racing enthusiasts might have fond memories of more than two decades of offshore powerboat racing in Mississippi, which were promoted with that catchy event title, Smokin’ the Sound. But in more recent years, while powerboat racing became less popular and overly political, poker run events were growing rapidly, with dozens of events taking place every year in boating hotbeds around the nation. Smokin' the Sound organizers, with input from area poker run enthusiasts, saw the opportunity to introduce a Saturday recreational poker run to their Sunday powerboat race format, and the Smokin' the Sound Poker Run has since repeated every Spring for eight consecutive years.

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Just over 35 poker run teams assembled at the Golden Nugget Resort & Casino, which has assumed the role as poker run official headquarters for two years in a row. Attendees were treated to first class docking facilities on property, including a trailer parking area, making the venue a big hit for the majority of poker run teams arriving from out-of-state.

The real bonus for so many who travelled far to attend, was the two days of fabulous weather and the casual atmosphere that this event delivers, year after year. Florida Powerboat Club’s photo and video crew was in attendance for full coverage of the event, so rather than us (tell) you what a great time we had, we’ll let the pictures to the talking, and thank the organizers for putting on a great event as they do every year! SJ

Southern Belles, Morgan & Brandie

Team CHANGE ORDER

Justin Price | LA Team Price - 30'Baja

Weston Bass | TX Team CHANGE ORDER - 39' GIR Top Gun

POWERBOATING IN PARADISE | 29

JUNE 3-5

Team WAY NUTZ

Hugh Patroni Sr | FL Team WAY NUTZ - 43'Nor-Tech

Team STRESS RELIEF

Robert Keys Jr. | MS Team STRESS RELIEF - 25'Eliminator

Cookie Draper | LA Team TENACIOUS - 26'Baja

Team TENACIOUS

Dolph Williams | LA Team VIPER & VIXENS - 38'Dozi

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JUNE 3-5

Brandon Lagarde | LA Team MTI - 44'MTI

Ron Virden | MS Team ALG - 30'Baja

David Wozencraft | CA Team WOZENCRAFT - 30' Skater Steve Young | AL Team MOVING FR8 - 35' Fountain Morgan & Brandie

Team MOVING FR8

Chris Gilmer | MS Team FULLBOAT - 32' Sunsation

32 POWERBOATING IN PARADISE |

Team FULL BOAT

Shane Moreau | LA Team CATCHIN HELL - 38'Donzi

DJ Smith | AL 27'Baja

Jonathan & Tracy Saucier | LA Team FLIRTACIOUS - 36'Baja Team FLIRTACIOUS

Team SOUND WAVES

Brad Marcotte | AL Team TOPLESS - 35' Motion

Heath Hungerford | MS Team SOUND WAVES - 29'Lightning

Scott Marcotte | LA Team CATCH ME IF YOU CAN - 38'Hustler

Ruel Smith | LA Team POWER- 26'Chaparral

POWERBOATING IN PARADISE | 33

THE 2ND ANNUAL FPC EUROPE POKER RUN GAVE EACH OF THE 37 MOTORING ENTHUSIASTS THE RIDE OF THEIR LIVES, AS WE PILOTED SEVENTEEN BRAND NEW PORSCHES FOR HIGH-SPEED SPRINTS ON GERMANY’S AUTOBAHN, ALONG THE SCENIC ALPINE PASSES OF AUSTRIA AND SWITZERLAND, WHILE BRAKING FOR BEACH SIDE BRUNCHES IN QUAINT ITALIAN LAKE FRONT VILLAGES. YET SOMEHOW, DURING THE FAST-PACED 8-DAY ITINERARY, WE MANAGED TO MAKE TIME FOR WHAT ELSE…. A LITTLE POWERBOATING FUN!

WORDS BY STU JONES

A

t first, it may seem puzzling to many that a performance boating club based in South Florida would be staging sports car touring rallies 5,000 mile away in central Europe, but understanding the mind-set of the typical Florida Powerboat Club member, might explain how the 2nd Annual Europe Poker Run came to be. Make no mistake about it. Anyone engaged in the sport of performance boating is a motor head of varying passion, and for most of us it started at a young age in our very

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own garages, where we spent endless hours tweaking and tuning our cars, motorcycles, snowmobiles and eventually, motorboats. The price of the toys has certainly increased, along with the horsepower, speed and the variety of ways to experience the adrenaline, but we can all agree that those experiences are best shared with our adrenalinejunky peers. Which, coming back full circle, is pretty much the DNA of Florida Powerboat Club members. The wheels of the Europe Poker Run started turning after Stu

A fleet of Porsches arriving at Bruckenwirt Pizzeria in St. Leonard Italy for some truly authentic Italian food.

PHOTOGRAPHY BY STU JONES, JESSICA WILLIAMS, FAST LANE TRAVEL

& Jackie Jones experienced their first Fall Treffen Porsche Tour, one of the many sports car driving adventures offered by Fast Lane Travel, a Florida based company that is the brain-child of its founder Peter Sontag, and the official tour operator that is endorsed by Porsche Club of America. In fact, for any North American Porsche buyers that opt to take what is referred to as a “Factory European delivery”, it is almost certain that Fast Lane Travel will be the designated tour operator that with then

make that experience a once-in-a-lifetime memorable occasion for all who attend. Indeed, that experience for Stu & Jackie Jones, albeit in a rented Porsche, was truly memorable, and while it was highlights by the adrenalinepumping romp at 150mph on Germany’s Autobahn, it was the combined package of scenic country road motoring, fabulous dining, and five-star accommodations that really took the status of over-the-top. Indeed, it was time to tell all our friends.

POWERBOATING IN PARADISE | 35

J U N E 9 -16

You don’t have to be a driving enthusiast to enjoy the Europe Poker Run. Sure, we drive fast most of the time, but there is plenty of amazing scenery to enjoy along the way, especially for the passenger. After a short stint of driving on the over-crowded Autobahn as we departed Stuttgart, we concluded that June was probably not the best month for this event, since the congested roads

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prevented some of us from joining the 150mph club!

But we would soon forget that mission, when we exited the superhighway and started cruising on the scenic, less travelled country roads. As we approached Austria on our first day of driving, we were soon engulfed in the amazing mountain ridges and passes...and many of us were seeing Europe in a way we had never imagined!

Since childhood, the most prominent visuals that were etched in my memory about Europe, were primarily scenes from movies and television. From the earliest age, I can’t help remembering The Sound of Music and its amazing mountain vistas of Austria and Switzerland, followed by epic war films The Great Escape and Where Eagles Dare, along with countless James Bond flicks that have shown the producers’ fondness for shooting in the Alps. From actors to athletes, it was the Winter Olympics from Innsbruck, Austria in 1964 (I was only 5) and later in 1976, that planted the Tirolean imagery and fostered my desire to one day, travel to this magical place. Fast forward five decades, and it was this amazing driving adventure, seeing the Alpine villages and snowy peaked mountains under the blanket of brilliant blue sky, that seemed to bring it all together.

POWERBOATING IN PARADISE | 37

J U N E 9 -16

More compelling, was the realization that this imagery was even more spectacular than most of us could have imagined. Admittedly, it wasn’t the first time I had laid eyes on these mountain peaks, but it surely was the first time that the experience was most visceral‌ and quite possibly, surreal. Indeed, we had rallied through the Alps

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on our first official FPC Europe Poker Run a year earlier in May 2016, and after whetting our appetites, it was by design that the 2017 event would take this experience to a heightened level, by adding substantially more mountainclimbing passes to the driving agenda.

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J U N E 9 -16

One of the best features of our driving itinerary was the occasional 2-night stay. While this certainly allows less unpacking and repacking, it provides flexible days where guests can opt to stay at the resort and enjoy its amenities, or join in for the daily driving adventure. While staying

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at the Rosa Alpina Resort near the small Italian village of Bolzano, the driving tour took us to the heart of the Dolomites. Along with the exhilarating cable-car ride to the top of the peak, the scenic 9,000-foot lookout and charming lunch made us feel like we were truly on Top of the World.

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The Europe Poker Run produces such a wide diversity of driving terrains, roadways and extremes in geography that no single day of driving can compare to another. It is quite possible to begin the day with a morning chill, zipped up jackets weaving back and forth on mountainous switch-backs, then in two hours be settled in for lunch on the sunny patio of a lake front bistro where a Cigarette CafĂŠ Racer lays nested on the nearby beach.

Such was the case, on our drive from the Dolomites to Villa Pioppi, in Sirmione, Italy, a chic waterfront boutique hotel along the southern shore of Lago di Garda.

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J U N E 9 -16

In 2016, Lake Como, Italy was a big hit with our Europe participants, and we made it clear to our organizer Sven Teuber, that we wanted 2017 to have a featured waterfront destination. The Eden Rock Hotel in Ascona, Switzerland was the perfect choice, as guests enjoyed two nights in this picturesque waterfront village on the shores of

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Lago Maggiorre. With the Porsches parked for one day, we rented a wake-board boat complete with all the toys and enough seating for a crew of ten, and spent the day giving our guests some scenic rides along the shores of this magical lake. After all, it wouldn’t be the true FPC poker run experience, without a little boating in the agenda! SJ

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BAHAMAS STARTER KIT: BIMINI 101

BIMINI IS JUST 56 MILES EAST OF FORT LAUDERDALE’S PORT EVERGLADES AND 50 MILES FROM MIAMI’S GOVERNMENT CUT, SO IT MIGHT SEEM LOGICAL TO ASSUME THAT SOUTH FLORIDA BOATERS WOULD MAKE THIS A STANDARD WEEKEND ROUTINE. BUT CROSSING THE GULFSTREAM CAN BE HIT-AND-MISS FOR SMALL VESSELS, AND CAPTAINS MUST MAKE PRUDENT DECISIONS BEFORE HEADING OFFSHORE. FORTUNATELY, FOR THE 2017 EDITION OF THE FLORIDA POWERBOAT CLUB’S BAHAMAS POKER RUN, MOTHER NATURE WAS IN ONE OF HER BETTER MOODS.

WORDS & PHOTOGRAPHY BY STU JONES

W

e’ve all heard advertising slogan, “Its Better in the Bahamas”, and for recreational boaters, most would agree that the pristine waters, amazing beaches, underwater snorkeling treasures and the pleasant nature of the Bahamian people, make this a worthwhile excursion to anywhere in the Bahamas. But where does one go in the Bahamas? It’s not always an easy decision, considering the 700-island chain extends for 760 miles, from its largest northern islands such as Grand Bahama and Great Abaco, to as far south as Great Inagua. For the true cruisers, yachtsman and sailing enthusiasts that set out to explore

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the Bahamas, several weeks or even months might barely be enough time to get in a circumnavigation that includes the most popular islands and destinations. Thankfully, for the weekend warriors, there’s Bimini.

Make no mistake about it, planning for a weekend getaway to Bimini takes careful preparation. First timers must be certain that their insurance policies will fully cover their boats in the Bahamas, and it would be prudent for everyone to upgrade to the premium TowBoat US membership. It’s call “Unlimited” and has been put to the test by FPC over the years, giving members peace-of-mind knowing they

Arriving to Bimini Harbour, Ladd Spring & his crew raised the quarantine flag aboard Ladd's 42' Cigarette

can get towed back to the mainland in case of engine or drive failure. Also, the US Customs decal is mandatory, which is purchased as the Dtops website, for a $27.00 annual fee. The processing can take a couple weeks, so pay the $ 6.00 expedite fee, and be certain the decal arrives well before your trip.

It goes without saying that maintenance on the boat must be current, fuel tanks full, and it never hurts to do a shake-down run just a few days earlier if possible, at the very least, on the day prior to departure. Last minute gremlins will leave you stranded at the dock, as the rest of

the group departs on schedule.

And finally, stocking the boat well is important, and considering most of our FPC guests were all staying at the luxurious Resorts World Hilton, it would not be necessary to pack entire meals. Just plenty of snacks, bottled water, and your favorite adult beverages will get you through the weekend. If you have beer drinkers on board, try to leave the glass bottles at home and opt for cans. A rough gulfsteam crossing can shatter several cases of beer and we all know how disappointing that can be.

POWERBOATING IN PARADISE | 47

J U N E 2 9 - J U LY 2

Crossing The Gulfstream Our Bimini group overnighted at the Hyatt Pier 66 Resort & Marina, which happens to be the perfect departure location for this event. The hotel offers low summer rates, a firstclass marina and amenities, and is located just a few minutes from Port Everglades, our gateway to the Atlantic. After a casual check-in and captains meeting by the lobby bar, most

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dined on property and called it an early night. After all, the itinerary called for a 7am departure, which is a standard practice to ensure light seas and a smoother crossing. Even then, there is never a guarantee, as winds with an east component that exceed 10mph, will most often result in at least a 3-4 foot choppy head-sea for the crossing.

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J U N E 2 9 - J U LY 2

Ladd Spring | LA Team MAXADYNE- 42'Cigarette

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Arriving With less than a dozen boats making the crossing, it wasn’t too difficult to keep track of the pack, but there was a wide disparity in cruising speeds and comfort zones for each crew. We rode on board with Tom Gourzis in his newly acquired Cigarette 42 Huntress OPA, and there seemed to be plenty of room on board for everyone. A light chopped slowed the pace to about 40 mph, and we arrived safely at the Bimini Big Game Club to clear customs and enjoy a Bahamian breakfast. It’s about 3 miles north to Resorts World Bimini, so we saved that for later. It’s always best to seize the day by heading to the southern Bimini playgrounds including the concrete shipwreck Sapona, and the sandy anchorage at Honeymoon Harbour, where feeding dozens of stingrays is always a big crowd pleaser!

Luxury yachts & cruisers are a common sight at the RWB docks

Hanging out with team OPA at the concrete shipwreck SAPONA

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Karl & Malynda Waite | FL Team MINE- 48'Fountain

Karl & Malynda Waite

Lynne Archambault Quad Mercury Verados- familiar sight in Bimini

Crew members Mary & Adamon on team MINE

Tyler Jones Tom Gourzis crew on team OPA

With a busy summer 2017 agenda, we were unable to coordinate hotels and plan the extended version of the Bahamas trip this year. Normally, that would involve a continuation from Bimini with at least 3-4 days in the Abacos, at places like Hope Town, Treasure Cay, Abaco

Ted & Antoinette McIntyre - LA Team TURBINATOR - 1st Place Winners

Beach Club or Green Turtle. We have already penciled dates for Bahamas 2018, and reservations at the best places require several months of pre-planning. If you’re ready for the ultimate escape to Paradise, don’t wait too long, because the sooner we plan, the better the adventure! SJ

Karl & Malynda Waite - FL Team MINE - 2nd Place Winners

Tom Gourzis & Crew - PA Team OPA - 3rd Place Winners

POWERBOATING IN PARADISE | 51

PI R ATE S

AND PEACHES

IT’S COMMON KNOWLEDGE THAT GEORGIA’S OFFICIAL STATE FRUIT IS THE PEACH, BUT HOW MANY PEOPLE KNOW THAT THE OFFICIAL BOATING UNIFORM IN GEORGIA, IS A PIRATE COSTUME? INDEED, THIS LITTLE-KNOWN STATE SECRET IS IN FULL DISPLAY ON LAKE LANIER EVERY JULY, FOR THE PIRATES OF LANIER POKER RUN.

The Pirates of Lanier Family Poker Run is the one big boating event that Georgia boaters look forward to every year. More than half of the participants get in the true spirit by dressing up in their favorite buccaneers outfits!

WORDS & PHOTOGRAPHY BY STU JONES

F

or over a decade poker run enthusiast have traveled

It didn’t take long for Pirate-fever to catch on, and soon

to Georgia’s Lake Lanier, a man-made lake that

everything from a pontoon boat to event co-founder John

was created in the late 50’s along the Chattahoochee

Woodruff ’s 48-foot MTI catamaran Winship, hoisted pirate

River Valley, with the completion of the Buford Dam.

flags and carried Pirate-clad crew members (wenches

Recreational boating soon followed, but it wasn’t until the

welcome), to checkpoints that were spread around the

Pirates of Lanier Poker Run was established, that those

lake’s tricky array of hidden lagoons and bayous. Of

sleek colorful high-performance cats and vees started

course, the locals didn’t have any trouble circumnavigating

flocking to this 50-mile-long fresh water lake every July,

the course, but the outsiders certainly relied on maps and

for a weekend of food, fun and arrrrrrrrgggggg …. good

following the locals to find their way around.

Ol’ Pirate booty!

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Jeff & Connie Fahmy | GA Team SUTHERN YANKEE - 42'Outerlimits

Turn the page to July 2017, and it appeared that event organizers had taken Pirates of Lanier to a more casual, low-key approach. The (new) event format was perhaps the direct result of completely new poker run committee, which promoted a less-party, more-family approach.

Understandably, it was probably overdue, as the 2016 Pirates of Lanier event had witnessed a tragic high-speed powerboating accident that took the lives of four very young adults, leaving family and loved ones behind, along with close friends in the tightly knit powerboating community. A year had now passed, and while we have all vowed to never

forget those friends lost in 2016, it was time to continue the poker run tradition, and hopefully raise some money for local youth charities.

The Saturday Poker run provided a beautiful summer day on Laker Lanier for hundreds of participants! Your writer and his two boys Tyler and Max, were invited to ride along with FPC members Josh Kirkland and his crew on the Cigarette Huntress, Dirty Duck. Special thanks to Josh, Brad and Captain Pete for treating us like family‌you made our visit a memorable one!

SJ

POWERBOATING IN PARADISE | 53

ACROSS THE SOUTHERN STATES FROM TEXAS TO VIRGINIA, POWERBOATERS AND BEACH LOVERS ALIKE HAVE ONE THING IN COMMON, THEIR LOVE FOR FLORIDA’S EMERALD COAST. WITH ITS MILES OF WHITE SANDY BEACHES ALONG THE GULF COAST SHORELINE, AND ABUNDANT CALM WATER CRUISING GROUNDS FROM SANDESTIN TO PENSACOLA, IT’S NO WONDER THAT THE EMERALD COAST POKER RUN HAS BECOME SUCH A BIG HIT EVERY AUGUST, FOR TWENTY-FIVE CONSECUTIVE YEARS!

WORDS AND PHOTOGRAPHY BY STU JONES

I

t was in the mid-90’s when one of the three Emerald Coast Poker Run co-founders John Springfield called me, to share the news about their new poker run in the Florida Panhandle. I believe it had been running for about three years at the time, and Florida Powerboat Club had just started airing the Powerboating in Paradise TV series on Florida’s Sunshine Network. While it was more than two decades ago, John’s conversation started something like this: “Stu, we could really use some nice powerboats up here on this poker run…your guys would love here in Fort Walton Beach!?” I looked it up on the map, saw it was

54 | POWERBOATING IN PARADISE

625 miles from Fort Lauderdale, and let it slide. A few years passed, and the calls kept coming, and finally, in 1999, I decided to rally up a group of about 22 FPC members, and we headed off for the Panhandle. To this day, it remains a credit to John Springfield, who was instrumental in getting Florida Powerboat Club on the Emerald Coast boating scene, and while John has not personally been active with the event for several years now, the two other co-founders of the poker run, John Reinhold (a boat dealer at the time) and Alan Laird (owner of the landmark AJ’s Oyster Bar in

Emerald Grande Resort overlooking Destin Harbor & the East Pass, provided amazing balcony views for poker run guests along with great entertainment & dining Harbor Walk Village

Destin) have remained very much a big part of the event, and above all, very supportive of Florida Powerboat Club.

If it appears that this editorial feature is shaping up to be a historical recap of the 25 years of Emerald Coast Poker Run, then give yourself a pat on the back. Indeed, it’s a milestone to reach 25 years of anything! Whether it’s a marriage, a business partnership, or owning the same home for that many years! In a word. It’s Special! What transpired in the years that followed my first visit in 1999, is nothing less than a love affair that I have had with the

Emerald Coast…on so many levels. Not just the amazing beaches or the colorful Emerald waters along its sandy shores; Not just the miles of protected cruising waters from Choctawhatchee Bay to Pensacola Beach; Not just the fantastic hotels, luxury condos and first-class marinas that have provided beds and docks for our Emerald Coast Poker Run! It’s a love affair that was fostered and cultivated with truly great people from the Emerald Coast, who have laid out a welcome mat to me and my family, and more importantly to my extended family, the members of the Florida Powerboat Club.

POWERBOATING IN PARADISE | 55

AU G U S T 8 -1 3

The Emerald Coast Poker Run is the Grand Finale to almost an entire week of boating related festivities, called Boat Week. The 2017 format kicked off on Tuesday with the Harborwalk Village Fat Tuesday Parade, staged on the doorsteps of the Emerald Grand Resort. Five years ago, powerboats were added to the mix of Mardi Gras-themed floats, giving the early bird teams a fun event to kick off their poker run boat week. At just 1/8 mile in length, it’s probably the shortest parade course in the world, but somehow thousands of spectators manage to line both sides of the course, screaming at the top of their lungs to catch a handful of those precious beads, that are tossed by our parade participants from the cockpits of the boats. For the 2017 Boat Week format, parties continued Wednesday at AJ’s on the Bayou, a Fort Walton Beach extension of Alan Laird’s AJ’s Oyster Bar restaurant chain. On Thursday the Miss Boat Week Contest, always a crowd favorite, moved to a new nightclub called The Block, which got its name from its sheer size…occupying an entire city block. ( See the girls P.58 )

By Friday morning most of the teams had rolled into town, and after poker run check-in and captains meeting, it was time to fire up the boats and head out for the Friday fun run!

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Crab Island provides area boaters and visiting poker run teams a perfect rendezvous location, with its soft sandy bottom and shallow depth.

Fat Tuesday parade at Harborwalk Village

Coyote Ugly bartender serving up big-boy cocktails

The Safety Management Team was made up of more than a dozen agencies including US Coast Guard, FL Fish & WildLife(FWC), Okaloosa County Sheriff's Department, Destin Fire Rescue, Niceville Fire Rescue, North Bay Fire, Navarre Fire Rescue and other agencies not pictured.

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Boat week festivities included the Miss Boat Week contest on Thursday night which moved to a new venue, The Block Night Club in Fort Walton Beach

58 | POWERBOATING IN PARADISE

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AU G U S T 8 -1 3

FOUR PLAY Crew

Brandie, Kayla & Rachelle - FPC Girls

Daryl Turner | TX Team FOUR PLAY - 50'Nor-Tech

BAD INVESTMENTS Crew

Bill Waters | FL Team BAD INVESTMENTS - 35'Mar Lago

60 | POWERBOATING IN PARADISE

Johnie & Dawn Weems | FL Team THOR - 42'Cigarette

Team FLYING HIGH

Lance & Paula Panepinto | LA Team FLYING HIGH - 30'Baja

Scott Favre made a rendezvous with his dad Art Favre rafting up his Cigarette wit the 92'Viking "A Work Of Art"

Ron & Joyce Paul | FL Team JOYCE FIVE - 65'Viking

POWERBOATING IN PARADISE | 61

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Mike & Susan Pascoe | GA Team CURRENT SITUATION - 42'Fountain

Kayla at Norriego Point Say Hi to her at the Key West Poker Run

Mike & Christy Fuqua | TN Team ACTIVE THUNDER - 37'Active Thunder

Ken Milstead | TX - 40'Skater

Manny & Christina Roman | FL Team MOTION 42 OPENFISH - 42'Motion

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Octavio Valvidia | GA Team BAD TO THE BONE - 47'Outerlimits

AU G U S T 8 -1 3

Juana’s Pagodas, Navarre Beach. Friday fun run and winner, Best Poker Run Checkpoint When you trailer your boat several hundred miles to the take part in a poker run, naturally you want to get in a much boating as possible. The Friday Fun Run has always given the early-birds an extra day of boating fun on the Emerald Coast, and Juana’s Pagodas in Navarre Beach has always delivered the ideal location. Special thanks to our club

member Hugh Patroni Sr from Pensacola, for sponsoring the Friday lunch for poker run teams, and to the Juana’s staff for rolling out the red carpet to welcome everyone! Extra care was taken by Juana’s owner Kevin Rudski to provide a VIP boat parking area for registered poker run teams, right along the sandy beach in front of the restaurant.

VIP beach and rafting area for FPC poker runners.

BRANDIE

64 | POWERBOATING IN PARADISE

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Nate & Robin Michel | LA Team MOJO (MIAMI VICE movie boat) - 40'MTI

Rodger Bagwell | LA Team MS MARSEA - 52'Sea Ray

MS MARSEA Crew

Rick & Charolene Milstead | AL Team CAT GOTCHA TONGUE - 36'Nor-Tech

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Greg Bent | LA Team A-TEAM - 39'Nor-Tech

Rachelle - Miss Boat Week finalist.

Say Hi to her at the Key West Poker Run

Raleigh Trotter | TX Team FOURTH DIMENSION - 33'Donzi

Jerry Swanson | MS Team TERRIBLE - 46'Skater

POWERBOATING IN PARADISE | 67

AU G U S T 8 -1 3

Donald Brady | FL Team SWAMP CHOMP II - 35'Everglades

Cass Shewbart | TX Team LIQUID PROZAC - 38'Cigarette

Brad Hancock | GA Team ROCK N TACO - 47'Nor-Tech

68 | POWERBOATING IN PARADISE

VOL 18 #1

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AU G U S T 8 -1 3

Destin Harbor provides a great spot for boats to beach and enjoy a constant parade of boats passing through the harbor.

S PO N S O R S POTL I G H T

Mark & Eileen Fischer | FL Team DEEP IMPACT - 36'Deep Impact

Jim & Lynne Archambault | GA Team KEEPIN' IT REAL - 34'Sunsation

70 POWERBOATING IN PARADISE |

Kayla, Lynne, Brandy

Jerry Swanson | MS Team TERRIBLE TWO - 50'Skater

Jerry Swanson | MS Team AMG -Cigarette

POWERBOATING IN PARADISE | 71

AU G U S T 8 -1 3

The Emerald Coast Poker Run safety management program was well executed by multiple law enforcement and fire-rescue agencies from Sandestin to Pensacola Beach. The command center for the safety management coordination continues to be USCG Station Destin near Crab Island, and we saw no less than four USCG vessels

on the poker run course, along with supporting assets from Florida FWC, Okaloosa County Sheriff ’s Dept, Niceville Fire Rescue, Destin Fire Dept, plus Navarre and Mid-way. Special thanks to John Reinhold Jr, for taking a 4-man team aboard his Fountain center console.

Robbie Ullah | GA Team DESIDERAGA - 30'Glasstream

Bill & Evie Dahl | IL Team NAS-T - 39'Sutphen

Don House | KY Team HOUSE PARTY - 36'Cigarette

72 | POWERBOATING IN PARADISE

Douglas & Kathleen Brogdon | AL Team MOJITO - 32'Glasstream

Hugh Patroni Sr | FL Team WAY NUTZ - 43'Nor-Tech

Scott & Monica James | SC Team SLIPPERY WHEN WET - 35'Fountain

Kayla

Bobby Tampa | FL Team ON FIYAH - 29'Fountain

POWERBOATING IN PARADISE | 73

AU G U S T 8 -1 3

S PO N S O R S POTL I G H T

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

Derek Wachob | OK Team BLACK DIAMOND EXPRESS - 34'MTI

Derek Wachob | OK Team BLACK DIAMOND - 52'MTI

74 | POWERBOATING IN PARADISE

Aj's Friday night party is always a big hit!

Brandie

Homer Walden | FL Team LET IT RIDE - 31'Chaparral

Don Allen | AL Team LUCKY LUCY - 42'Hydrasports

Team FOUNTAIN

Frankie & Molly Tubbs | AL Team FOUNTAIN - 38'Fountain

POWERBOATING IN PARADISE | 75

AU G U S T 8 -1 3

Michael Sobczyk | TX Team LAGO DIABLO - 35'Formula

Jeeter home - Poker Run Checkpoint

Mary Esther Poker Run Checkpoint

The new Margaritaville at Harborwalk Village

Brian D. Shelton | IN Team LIV4 TODAY - 40'MTI

Amos & Deborah Lisenby | FL Team KNOTY - KNOTY - 42'Fountain

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AU G U S T 8 -1 3

Larry & Heather Montelaro, Jr. | LA Team SMOKE SHOWIN - 33'Fountain

Mike & Angela Goldbaugh | AL Team LATE FEE$ x2 - 36'Skater

Todd Kirkland | GA Team STRESS RELIEF - 32'Sunsation

78 | POWERBOATING IN PARADISE

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Many Poker runs around the nation are often difficult events to watch as spectators, unless you have a boat and position yourself along the course. The Emerald Coast poker run on the other hand, has countless land-based locations for watching all boats, and Destin Harbor is probably one of

James & Audra Bohannon III | TX Team HAMMERTIME - 44'MTI

Shane Moreau | LA Team CATCHIN' HELL - 38'Donzi

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the best places to be. Whether it’s from your balcony at Emerald Grand, or from one of the many patio restaurants at Harborwalk Village or AJ’s, it’s always a front row seat to an amazing parade of colorful offshore powerboats and spirited crews!

Barry Hurt | FL Team SCREAMING EAGLE SPORTS - 34'Sea Rocket

Mark & Lona Albert | TX Team LICKALONAPUS - 35'Fountain

Rachelle Kayla

Brandy

POWERBOATING IN PARADISE | 81

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Wayne & Taryn Bullers | TX Team WET GIRL GONE FAST - 36'Concept

Tim & Jamie Manning | TX Team TWIN THERAPY - 42'Cigarette

Chris Blackwell | TX Team HOT WATER - 38'Formula

Once again, the Emerald Coast Poker Run attracted a wide variety of teams from more than twenty states, and some drove almost a thousand miles to attend! As always, the top two states for representation on the poker run entry roster, were Texas and Louisiana. FPC thanks all those teams who go the extra mile to attend this event, year after year!

Scott Favre | LA Team NEVER ENOUGH - 42'Cigarette

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Jason Birdwell | MS Team MAXBIDDER - 40'Profile

Kevin Kurkowski | TX Team GRASSYASS 2 - 35'Fountain Team FLIRTATIOUS

John & Tracy Saucier | LA Team FLIRTATIOUS - 36'Baja

Mark & Diana Santos | TX Team TRIBUTE - 38'Skater

POWERBOATING IN PARADISE | 83

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Anthony DiMaggio | MD Team TATA - 38'Wellcraft

Dr. Jason Parker | FL Team KREWE de DOC - 35'Fountain

Gary Nelson & Jen Voss | FL Team 711 - 30'Skater

Ross Shipley | FL Team BAD BAD GIRLFRIEND - 35'Fountain

Jim Stockton | TX Team CHICS DIGIT - 42'Fountain

Brad Marcotte | LA Team NEVER ENOUGH - 39'Hustler

Brian & Susan Hodge | OH Team BLOWN 2 B WILD - 29'Sunsation

84 | POWERBOATING IN PARADISE

Danny & Aimee Barnet | TX Team LONGSHOT - 38'Fountain

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 Outer Banks club polo shirt. (Ladies tops available.)

• Premium embroidered club hat.

• Additional Powerboating video.

• Venus Swimwear gift voucher. ($75-$100 value.)

PLUS:

Premium Concierge Services • Priority booking status for rooms and dockage on all FPC Events.

• Marina and marine service refferals for your powerboat.

• Nautical assistance to a variety of marine resorts and boating destinations.

• Planning and hotel/slip reservations for your Florida boating weekends.

$479.00/year*

GOLD MEMBERSHIP

COMMERCIAL MEMBERSHIP

Membership Includes all of the Standard Membership benefits, PLUS:

Membership Includes:

• Premium Outer Banks Club Polo Shirt. (Ladies tops avail.)

• Premium embroidered club hat.

• Additional Powerboating Video of your choice: • Venus Swimwear gift voucher. ($75-$100 value.) $369.00/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. $259.00/year*

• Discounted rates on FPC Magazine ads • Discounted rates on all web advertising/banner programs.

• Access to all FPC events and parties.

• Listing on our website affiliate section.

Commercial Members also have the opportunity to run promotions and discounts through FPC events. $349.00/year*

SOCIAL MEMBERSHIP Membership Includes:

• Club T-shirt in your choice of colors.

• Powerboating Video of your choice (Dozens to choose.)

• Powerboating in Paradise Magazine subscription.

• Access to FPC parties • Discounted Boat Show tickets. $79.00/year*

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

AU G U S T 8 -1 3

John Kontos | FL Team 007 - 80'Sunseeker

A.L. & Kruis Kirkland | FL Team RAPTOR - 36'Glasstream Greg Tolson | FL Team ADDICTIVE BEHAVIOR - 32'Sunsation

Rachelle

Rufus Scott | GA Team II Freak - 38'Baja

86 | POWERBOATING IN PARADISE

SAT U R DAY NIGHT AWA R D S

Lynne Archambault(center) with FPC Girls

Making a fashion statement

Will-Aj's dockmaster

Stu Jones, Tracey Gutierrez & Chris Daggs ( Hub City Ford)

Best Paint & Graphics - Nate & Robin Michel, LA - Team Mojo

Best Center Console Award - Mark Fischer - Team Deep Impact

Grand Prize Winner - Brad Hancock(center) took home Ford F150 Pickup

Stu Jones & Chris Daggs Hub City Ford owner

Jim & Lynne Archambault & Friends

Best Catamaran Award - Jerry Swanson-Team Terrible

Brad Hancock & Chris Daggs

Tina - IP Casino & FPC Girls

Best Checkpoint Award - Kevin Rudski-Juanas Pagodas Bar

Congratulations to Brad Hancock from Georgia for winning the 2017 Ford F150, sponsored by HUB CITY FORD, and to Mark & Eileen Fischer from South Florida, for winning the new Harley Davidson motorcycle, sponsored by Emerald Coast Harley Davidson. There

Sexiest Crew Award - Brad Hancock's crew - Rock n Taco

were several other People’s Choice Awards presented to our FPC poker run teams, and we thank everyone for their continued support of this great event.

POWERBOATING IN PARADISE | 87

A BITTERSWEET FAREWELL: FPC TO STAGE OWN EVENT IN 2018 The Emerald Coast Convention Center has been home to the festive Saturday night awards party for over a decade. In its earlier days, the party was well managed, with live entertainment, great food and plenty of seating for the poker run participants. But in more recent years, event growth and charity agendas have taken their toll on the “party experience”. Combining all the Florida Powerboat Club Emerald class attendees (over 500) along with the local Ruby class attendees, event sponsors, charity representatives, non-poker-run ticket holders, and poker run party staff, has put attendance of the party to far beyond the venue’s capacity, as illustrated by long lines at the bar and poker tables, insufficient seating, and the dinner buffet that was long gone by the time many FPC members arrived Saturday evening.

This created the highest level of dis-satisfaction by FPC attendees than ever before, most of them later sharing their opinions in a post-event survey. In addition to the party issues, FPC members reported that the presence of the slower Ruby class runabouts, and a sharp increase in the pontoon and jet ski rental fleets on the waterways, created

88 | POWERBOATING IN PARADISE

an unsafe, unenjoyable situation in the congested areas.

Therefore, with all these formal complaints and observations

by Emerald Class powerboat attendees, Florida Powerboat Club has announced that we have no other option, then to change the structure of our event, and take control of our own destiny in Emerald Coast. The only logical solution, which was discussed at length with Emerald Coast poker run co-founders and many of our event partners, was to move the Florida Powerboat Club format to the following (3rd weekend) in August.

The new dates for the FPC Emerald Coast Powerboat Poker Run, will be Aug 14-19, 2018, with "Powerboat Week" activities starting Tuesday August 14th, for the Fat Tuesday Parade at Harborwalk Village. Plan on seeing a First-class poker run that is dedicated solely to powerboat and sport cruiser entries, with a total of (4) classes to register boats.

Event headquarters will be Emerald Grande Resort, with Legendary Marina as a support facility. We will still maintain the same great selection of alternate rooms, trailer parking, and boat launching at the Marler Park Ramp in Fort Walton Beach. Stay tuned for more details, with registration opening Dec 1, 2017.

SJ

THE LAKE POWELL CHALLENGE 2017 WAS ATTENDED BY 82 POKER RUN TEAMS FROM MORE THAN A DOZEN STATES. IN ITS 9TH YEAR, THE EVENT RAISED AN ASTOUNDING $500,000 FOR JUVENILE DIABETES (JDRF) SETTING A RECORD FOR A SINGLE POKER RUN EVENT, ACROSS THE NATION. WORDS & PHOTOGRAPHY BY STU JONES

G

etting to Lake Powell, which is bordered by Utah and Arizona, might not be the easiest journey whether by air, land or sea, due its remote location hundreds of miles from major travel hubs. But most visitors agree that the breathtaking beauty of this 125-mile fresh water lake along the Colorado River corridor, make it well worth the trip. For the Jones family from Florida, it was an invitation by FPC members George & Shannon Argyros that had prompted the mid-September escape, and while Mom and Dad saw this as a great opportunity for some quality family time, the

two boys Tyler and Max were thrilled about staying aboard the Argyros family’s 100-foot houseboat and having a small fleet of water-toys to enjoy. With four tickets from FLL on Southwest Airlines, the Jones clan landed and overnighted in Las Vegas, before making the five-hour trek to Lake Powell. To understand the magnificence of Lake Powell, it always helps to learn a bit about its colorful past. After the completion of the Glen Canyon Dam in 1963, Lake Powell’s water level slowly rose up for several years through the mid 1970’s, and like many other man-made reservoirs

Antelope Point Marina Page, AZ

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in the United States, a bustling recreational boating community soon began to form. In the decades that followed, massive floating marina villages were created, harboring enormous trilevel houseboats, and the scenic playground was soon populated jet skis, pontoons, runabouts, cruisers and of course hi-performance powerboats. Alas, Lake Powell was ready for a major poker run, and Lake Powell Challenge cofounder Burl Griswold was ready to roll up his shirt sleeves and get to work.

One of the premier floating marina villages on Lake Powell is Antelope Point Marina near Page, AZ, which has been the official headquarters for the Lake Powell Challenge since its inception.

Built within the boundaries of Navajo Lands, Antelope Point Marina gives participants access to a wide variety of houseboat rentals for accommodations, and all the services and amenities required for a great weekend of family boating. Soon after arriving at the marina, it was a wow-experience every step of the way. Within moments of arriving, George Argyros had us out on his 43 Donzi for a scenic ride on the lake, and to spice up the format, we jumped on board his 44 MTI, Mayhem, for the poker run Saturday.

Max & Jackie Jones, Shannon Argyros

George Argyros

G3 Argyros

Max Jones

Tyler Jones

POWERBOATING IN PARADISE | 91

Antelope Point Marina owner, Jerry Moyes

Perfect weather made for a fantastic day of high-speed fun along the 100+ mile course, which culminated at the Jádí to´oh restaurant for the poker run dinner and a fund-raising program that witnessed unprecedented generosity on behalf of the participants. With the final tally nearing the $ 500,000 mark for Juvenile Diabetes, (JDRF) the event raised the bar for poker run fund-raising across the nation.

We give this event high scores in every category, from the scenic beauty of Lake Powell and the Glen Canyon National Recreation area, to the marine facilities and amenities of Antelope Point Marina Village. Notably, it was the warm reception from the organizers and the charming Navajo people that staff the marina, which made this an amazing experience for everyone. If you’ve never attended before, we suggest put the 10th Annual Lake Powell Challenge in our sights for September 2018. Visit www.lakepowellchallenge.com SJ

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IT’S TIME TO HANG THAT...

MONEY SHOT! FLORIDA POWERBOAT CLUB IS READY TO HELP WITH THE GIFT-GIVING SEASON, AND DECORATE THOSE EMPTY WALLS AT HOME, AT WORK OR IN YOUR GARAGE! • 12-color Professional Canon printing system • Custom sizes from 8x12" to 24x36 In -house!

• Larger sizes..no problem!

• Variety of frames to choose from, shatterproof Lucite

CUSTOM VIDEOS NOW AVAILABLE

PRINT SIZE 16x24 20x30 24x36

PRICE PER PRINT

$ 85.00 $ 100.00

$ 150.00

CUSTOM FRAME $ 150.00 $ 175.00

$ 250.00

Custom sizes to 4’x 8’ now available!

Call for pricing

• All orders are shipped and READY TO HANG! • Custom Photoshop retouching and color enhancement!

• YOUR BOAT WILL NEVER LOOK BETTER! • Substantial discounts for large orders over $ 500!

CALL US: EMAIL: stu@flpowerboat.com 954-545-1414

I

t's no secret that the powerboating lifestyle has become the fabric of our lifestyle for many Floridians, and it’s likely the main attraction that brought some of us here to Florida in the first place‌. or kept native Floridians from ever leaving. With tropical weather that permits year-round boating opportunities, and a performance marine industry that is very much alive, it’s no wonder that world has taken notice, and attracted many like-minded enthusiasts to the Sunshine State for decades.

For these reasons, along with some tireless marketing efforts and the power of social media, Florida Powerboat Club has evolved as an international organization, with membership that expands far beyond international borders.

Our membership roster now span more than 30 states, north to Canada, south to the Central America and across the Atlantic to more than fifteen European countries.

To illustrate this, our recent Key West event fielded teams from more than a dozen countries, confirming that the scope of our reach has achieved an all-time high. The result, is that FPC has built relationships with powerboating

94 | POWERBOATING IN PARADISE

enthusiasts, poker run event organizers, and performance industry colleagues, in no less than five continents.

What this translates to, is that with a strong focus on building an international organization, and by enlisting Ambassadors from every state, every province, and from every country where the powerboating lifestyle has become deeply seeded, the opportunities are endless.

Imagine an organization, where your fellow member can entertain you in the South of Spain, and take you for a cruise to the world class island of Ibiza. Or picture yourself on the Monaco Poker Run, weaving amidst amazing yachts and glancing over at the historic streets that have hosted the F1 Grand Prix of Monaco for decades. These are but a few of the possibilities, that will come by embracing the World Powerboat Club.

I invite you to share your interest, by consider volunteering as a World Powerboat Club Ambassador, and together we will take our powerboating lifestyles to a whole new place.

FUTURE AMBASSADORS / WPC FALL 2017 UPDATE Since we announced the launch of World Powerboat Club back in February at the Miami International Boat Show, we're happy to report amazing feedback from around the globe.

Here's just a quick update with some of our prospective Ambassadors who have pledged their support to World Powerboat Club in recent months, illustrating the fabulous

future this organization will have, with connecting the international powerboating community through our global exchange programs. Stay tuned, and be sure to e-mail us if YOU want to become the World Powerboat Club ambassador for your state, region or country!

SJ

BRITISH VIRGIN ISLANDS (BVI): Nick Willis – Nick@surfbvi.com CANADA : MEGHAN BROUSSEAU- meghan.brousseau@gmail.com FINLAND: George Takkula - takkula@lincolnwood.ch HOLLAND/NETHERLANDS: Helmich Hillen – Hhillen@gmail.com MALLORCA, SPAIN: Rolf Hoellger - rhoellger@vipo-deutschland.de NORWAY: Andree Bakkegaard- andree@predatorboats.no PUERTO RICO: Wally Castro – Wally@wallycastromarine.com

UNITED STATES: COLORADO: Mario Funes Mariofunes10@gmail.com FLORIDA: Stu Jones stu@flpowerboat.com KENTUCKY: Justin Lucas j.aquaholic@gmail.com NEW JERSEY: David Kramer davekramer08087@gmail.com TEXAS: Paul Robinson – Rtechperformance@verizon.net

ST. THOMAS USVI: Guilderoy Sprauve - jixterdistribution@yahoo.com TURKS & CAICOS: Ron Williams - touchcommtci@gmail.com

POWERBOATING IN PARADISE | 95

MOM ALWAYS TOLD YOU

AFFORDING THE PLEASURE OF LUXURY HAS NEVER BEEN EASIER THAN WITH FPC’S FRACTIONAL OWNERSHIP CLUB.

T

he concept of fractional ownersh ip for yachts and aircraft is certainly not new, but Florida Fractional Club puts a new spin on the concept, by adding a center console powerboat and a Class A motorhome to spice up the f leet. Consider the benefits of owning a boat, yacht or RV, with no maintenance or management worries, and only one quarter of the cost to go it

alone. Besides, with your work agenda, family commitments and busy travel schedule, you can’t possibly have enough TIME to justify sole ownership!

It’s time to take a closer look at the Florida Fractional Club program. So lessen the financial burden, eliminate management worries, and share the toys with your friends. Mom would be very pleased!

CONTACT: STU JONES | STU@FLPOWERBOAT.COM PH: 954.684.9333

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MOTORYACHT: $ 375,000 quarter share/ $ 3,750 monthly (Includes: full time crew, storage, docking, maintenance, insurance) Image of proposed 70' Azimut is for illustration purposes only. Actual yacht used for Fractional Program may differ.

• 2011 70’ Azimut Flybridge Motoryacht • Twin MAN Turbo Diesel 1360HP • 1,300 hours- all maintenance current • Cabins + Crew quarters • Twin SeaKeeper stabilizers (very desirable)

• Homeport: Fort Lauderdale & Bahamas (summer) • Follows FPC Poker Run events • 10 weeks guaranteed/ charter rev-share • Full time captain / part time stew •Three year program/ sell or trade up

POWERBOAT: $ 30,000/quarter share / $250-monthly –Includes (Storage + Maintenance + Insurance + launching) • 2000 Cigarette 38 Top Gun • Twin Mercury 540CI Bulldogs • Full array of updated electronics & accessories • Custom trailer with 150CC scooter • Full time dry storage by FPC included in program • Poker Run event fees and launches included • Sportboat class- 60mph cruise/ 70mph+ top speed • Florida- Bahamas – occasional out of state events

CLASS A MOTORHOME: $ 40,000/quarter share / $ 250 S&M (storage + maintenance + insurance) • 2008 GulfStream Tourmaster – 63,000 mi.

• Freightliner Chassis/ 425HP Cummins Turbo Diesel (Pusher) • 43’ Long – triple slide • 3 HD TV’s in cabin including 50” ent. Outdoor ent .center • Sleeps (5) comfortably – 3 Rooftop A/C unites • Master bedroom Queen/ with walkin closet, washer dryer • 10,000 lb. tow capacity for boat and/or tow vehicle • Access to Matching tow fleet: 12’ Horton motorcycle trailer • 28’ enclosed car trailer, 2013 Kia Soul 6-Speed with rally graphics.

Also available to compliment RV use(rental program) 12' motorcycle trailer | 28' toy trailer | 2013 Kia Soul with towbar

POWERBOATING IN PARADISE | 97

2017-2018 NOV 7-13

EVENTS

FPC 25th ANNUAL KEY WEST OFFSHORE POKER RUN

Two departures Wed/Thurs from North Miami and Coconut Grove Celebrate FPC’s 25th Silver Anniversary for this Signature Poker Run Event! Plenty of entertainment at the Poker Run Village!

JAN

WINTER POKER RUN TO FLORIDA KEYS 2018

FEB

FPC 23RD ANNUAL MIAMI BOAT SHOW POKER RUN 2018

MAR

9TH ANNUAL TAMPA BAY POKER RUN 2018

APRL

FORT MYERS POKER RUN 2018

26-28 22-25 22-25

19-22

MAY 11-14

MAY

14-23

Destination TBA ( Irma damages forcing new venue selections) Destination TBA - (Key Largo or Marathon)

Downtown Tampa: "The Point" Marriott Waterside starting at $265/nt & Westin Tampa Waterside- Start at $220/night Dockage available at both hotel sights.

Pink Shell Resort & Marina- Fort Myers Beach Studio, 1 Bedroom and 2 bedroom luxury condos- Rates start at $179/night Enjoy first class accommodations and scenic cruising through the Gulf of Mexico and scenic protected waters of Pine Island Sound. We'll visit quaint waterfront destinations including Boca Grande, Cabbage Key and the very exclusive Useppa Island!

EUROPE POKER RUN EARLYBIRD PROGRAM: GRAND PRIX OF SPAIN, BARCELONA 3RD ANNUAL EUROPE POKER RUN

Germany to French Riviera Drive brand new Porsche's on the Autobahn and scenic European country roads, while enjoying 1st class accommodations and dining throughout the adventure!

NEW EVENTS MAYBE ADDED TO FPC CALENDAR AFTER THIS PUBLICATION IS PRINTED. ALWAYS CHECK FPC WEBSITE FLPOWERBOAT.COM FOR EVENT UPDATES

JUNE

BAHAMAS POKER RUN 2018

JULY

FPC SUMMER POKER RUN TOUR

AUG

FPC EMERALD COAST OFFSHORE POKER RUN 2018

SEP

FALL POKER RUN TBA, FLORIDA KEYS OR BAHAMAS

15-20

14-19

?-?

NOV 6-12

3-day event to Bimini- With 3-day extended trip to Abaco - Hope Town - Grand Bahama No Florida Events Planned. FPC touring with 38'Cigarette pace boat to out-of-state poker runs. Send us your agendas!

Headquartered at Emerald Grand/Harbourwalk Village- Dubbed "Powerboat Week" events begin Tuesday Aug 14 through Sunday 19th.

Additional Fort Walton Beach hotels offered

FPC inviting member input to select the ideal fall event venue!

26TH ANNUAL KEY WEST OFFSHORE POKER RUN 2018

Miami to Key West: Florida Powerboat Club's signature poker run with almost two hundreds poker run teams from around the globe!!!

Disclaimer: Please note the event planning is a constantly ongoing process, that will most certainly see changes to dates and events along the way. The above calendar includes some (tentative dates) along with new events that are currently in the planning stages with venue hosts and sponsoring organizations. It’s important that you do NOT purchase airplane tickets, book hotels, or make plans to attend, without first confirming with the Florida Powerboat Club office. Visit www.flpowerboat.com for updated information.

AD INDEX ACTIVE THUNDER........................................................... 77 AMERICAN CUSTOM MARINE......................................... 23 AO COOLERS................................................................... 63 APACHE 41 FOR SALE..................................................... 65 BLACK WATER.................................................................. 5 BIG THUNDER MARINE.................................................... 63 CUSTOM MARINE............................................................ 25 DEEP IMPACT...................................................................11 DOLLER OFFSHORE MARINE........................................... 27 EMERALD COAST POKER RUN 2018............................... 89 FAST LANE TRAVEL ........................................................ 39 FLORIDA FRACTIONAL CLUB ......................................... 96 FPC MEMBERSHIP.......................................................... 85 FPC PICTURE ORDER...................................................... 93 GROVE HARBOR MARINA................................................ 45 BOOSTPOWER MARINE..................................................IBC LIVORSI........................................................................... 25 MERCURY RACING......................................................... IFC MIAMI BOAT SHOW......................................................... 59 MIDNIGHT EXPRESS........................................................17 NOR-TECH.........................................................................19 NOR-TECH 527 FOR SALE................................................ 69 OCEAN LED..................................................................... 57 OFFLEASE ONLY................................................................ 9 OUTERLIMITS.................................................................. 31 PERFORMANCE BOAT CENTER.........................................13 SCI SUPERIOR COMMUNICATIONS.................................. 49 TEAGUE CUSTOM MARINE..........................................BACK TNT................................................................................. 79 TOTAL DOLLAR INSURANCE........................................... 41 WESTREC MARINAS....................................................... 43 WORLD POWERBOAT CLUB............................................. 94 WOZENCRAFT INSURANCE............................................. 79

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DECEMBER 15

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CONTACT US: 954.545.1414 | WWW.FLPOWERBOAT.COM | Stu@flpowerboat.com