Powerboating in Paradise vol 16#3 by STU JONES

VOL 16 #3

A MAGAZINE SHOWCASING THE FLORIDA POWERBOAT CLUB LIFESTYLE

AWESOME

ABACO ADVENTURES!

700 Miles Of Unspoiled Cruising Paradise!

NORTHERN

EXPOSURE! FPC Summer Tour Heads North To Canada!

24TH ANNUAL

EMERALD COAST

poker run

Generous Powerboaters Raise Big Bucks For Local Kids!

LAST CALL

FOR BIMINI! A Dozen Boat Crews Rally For A Fall Fling!

PLUS . . .

Highlights from the Magnificent Miss Boat Week Contest in Fort Walton Beach! WWW.FLPOWERBOAT.COM

RACE INSPIRED The Verado® 400R has fueled the resurgence of the outboard performance boat market. Verado 400Rs destined for go-fast duty on catamaran hulls are equipped with Mercury Racing’s customdesigned rear tie bar kits. This factory-installed kit includes custom rear engine mounts and a heavy-duty, stainless steel tie bar wing plate for attaching the tie bar. The engine mounts feature an addendum for mounting the wing plate. Also standard on Verado 400Rs destined for performance cats is the Sport Master gearcase. Designed for boats capable of speeds in excess of 85 mph, Sport Master 400Rs deliver fresh adrenaline-pumping excitement and unparalleled driveability to the go-fast “cat” world.

A Magazine Showcasing The Florida Powerboat Club Lifestyle FALL 2016 EDITION Vol. 16#3

EDITOR/PUBLISHER Stu Jones stu@flpowerboat.com

OFFICE MANAGER

Tracey Gutierrez admin@flpowerboat.com

ART DIRECTOR

Juan Carlos Grisales fpcmag@gmail.com

GRAPHIC DESIGNERS Lina Montes fpclina@gmail.com Juan Grisales

PHOTOGRAPHY

Stu Jones Jerry Wyszatycki

EVENT MANAGEMENT Jackie Jones jackie@flpowerboat.com

TV & VIDEO PRODUCTION Stu Jones David Steel Ryan McCoy Mike Frenden

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

CONTENTS

4 LETTER FROM THE PRESIDENT

The latest views and news from FPC president Stu Jones, who sheds the light on this roller coaster kind of year in powerboating community and outlook for the future necessary changes in our beloved sport.

6 BAHAMAS POKER RUN 2016

25th Annual Bahamas Poker Run - a six-day, seven hundred mile island hopping excursion, which combined the most popular destinations with exciting experiences, for an outcome that might be labeled as one of FPC’s more memorable encounters in recent years.

16 SUMMER TOUR 2016

6 16

Exciting summertime menu of poker runs across the Nation plus a motorhome & center console in tow, equals to an amazing 5,400 mile summer tour fun for the Jones family!

42 EMERALD COAST POKER RUN 2016

With over a 1000 attendees Emerald Coast Poker Run ranks high among the many who return year after year to explore hundreds of sandy beaches along a thirty mile stretch of paradise that spans from Sandestin to Fort Walton Beach

72 BIMINI FALL FUN RUN

When you have a tropical paradise like Bimini on your doorstep, it makes sense to go there as often as you possibly can. At just 57 miles from

42 72

Port Everglades, making the trek to Bimini is easier than heading for the Keys.

77 KEY WEST POKER RUN 2016 PROGRAM

See the entire participant list along with our fabulous lineup of feature sponsors, plus a complete visual diagram of our 2016 Key West Poker Run Village

ON THE COVER: Ed & Surey Garcia, FL 41’ Apache and Stu & Jackie Jones, FL 33’ Ocean Hawk on the way to Fall Fling in Bimini. FPC Pompano Beach Headquarters

COVER GIRLS: Miss Emerald Coast winners wowed the crowed at Al's Beach Club and Burger Bar.

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PRESIDENT LE T T E R FRO M T H E

recently attended a Florida tourism conference in Orlando, which included a private event for attendees at Orlando’s Seaworld theme park, home to the latest and greatest roller coaster, the Mako. Correction, it’s called a Hyper-coaster, and it delivered on SeaWorld’s promise to be the tallest, longest and fastest roller coaster in the Orlando Theme-park circuit. I’m no coward when it comes to adventure rides, so I quickly took the back row car, having heard from other riders that was the “wildest” seat of all. Indeed it was all that and more, at 73mph on the first 200 foot, face-first vertical drop, followed by frequent high speed humps that crate a zero gravity “ air time” feeling…a sensation that made me feel like I was about to be catapulted off the top of the ride, were it not for the firm safety bar locking us into place. I’m not so sure Tracey, our FPC office manager felt quite as enthusiastic about the whole experience, but I would say that after disembarking, and with our feet planted on the platform, we both agreed, it was “shock & awe” … something we would not likely forget for a very, very long time. For the many of us who are passionate about our powerboating lifestyles and the sport of performance boating, this past summer of 2016 may have been akin to riding the Mako, with one profound twist. Instead of stopping to offload the riders so we can catch our breath and get blood back in our heads, the ride merely slows down, the seats safety bars remain locked in place, and the 24-seat car passes through

Stu and Jackie Jones

the staging deck, only to make that big long climb back to the 200’ foot peak, followed by the eye-watering, gut wrenching twists and turns that almost make us faint. After the first tragic accident at Lake Lanier, which took the lives of four boaters that many refer to our closest friends, tragedy struck in a more northern latitude. A young couple on a poker run flipped over in a small cat on the Niagara River…with the husband critically injured and forced to spend several weeks in an ICU with an induced coma. Another week passed as we exhaled, and headed to the Emerald Coast Poker Run, where as organizer, I literally crossed my fingers and pleaded with our participants in the captains meetings…to just slow down and be safe. Somehow, 160 teams got through that weekend with no reported incidents, but barely five days later… LOTO. Hearing the tragic news of the horrific crash which claimed the lives of Richie Prince and Brad Dunphy, put many of us back on that emotional roller-coaster once again, with puzzling, unanswered questions and above all Numbness..to the bone. Still numb, as I sat down this Saturday afternoon in October to write this edition of “Letter from the President”, a text message and a horrific powerboat crash video arrived on my phone. In Virginia, two popular, experienced powerboats have lost their lives during a high-speed shoot-out run, in a 190 mph open-cockpit Skater. Yes indeed, it’s like the Mako ride is now on its fastest speed setting, loaded with horrified riders that just want it to end, and yet the ride’s conductor has left his post. Enough said. It’s time to make

some serious changes in our sport…or we will lose it for good. At FPC, the time for those changes…is Now! As we put the finishing touches on this issue of Powerboating in Paradise, you will see in this 100-page issue that we have been very busy over the last few months! To say it was a bitter-sweet summer is an understatement, but on the bright side, what an adventure it has been. You’ll see a lot of our FPC Ocean Hawk 33 in this issue, simply because it was just…Everywhere! From its maiden event at the April Tampa Bay Poker Run, to a historic Cuba run in May, a 700-mile Bahamas adventure in June, then towing to a series of poker runs far north as Canada and back to the Florida Panhandle, never before can I say that one boat can deliver so much enjoyment to our family! Take a closer look at the Ocean Hawk in the Key West Poker Run Village. It’s time for her new home, and thanks to Boatsdirectusa for sponsoring our 2016 Summer Boating Tour. Let’s have a safe 24th Annual Key West Poker Run.. hope to see you all there! Sincerely Stu Jones President- Florida Powerboat Club

BAHAMAS poker RUN TWENTY FIVE CONSECUTIVE YEARS OF STAGING ANY GIVEN BOATING EVENT CAN ADD UP TO A LOT OF EXPERIENCES, AND THAT CERTAINLY HOLDS TRUE FOR FLORIDA POWERBOAT CLUB’S ANNUAL SUMMER ESCAPE TO THE BAHAMAS, WHICH BEGAN IN MAY OF 1992. WITH THE MANY OBSTACLES FACED OVER THE YEARS IN SCHEDULING THIS LOGISTICALLY CHALLENGING EVENT ACTIVE ON THE CLUB’S ANNUAL EVENT CALENDAR, 2016 WAS THE PERFECT TIME TO CELEBRATE FPC’S COMMITMENT TO THIS KEEPING THIS ADVENTURE ALIVE.

WORDS BY STU JONES

wise person once coined the phrase, Go Big, or Go Home. Somehow, that expression has become sort of an unwritten subscript in the Florida Powerboat Club circles, and as it pertained to the planning for the 25th Annual Bahamas Poker Run, the result was a six-day, seven hundred mile island hopping excursion, which combined the most popular destinations with exciting experiences, for an outcome that might be labeled as one of FPC’s more memorable encounters in recent years. By comparison to the very first adventure in May ‘92, the total registered boat count of just ten teams was essentially the same. That’s about where the similarities ended, because the diverse

6 | POWERBOATING IN PARADISE

mix of modern-day high-performance center consoles, along with a trio of thundering offshore thoroughbreds from Cigarette , Fountain and Apache, plus a pair of outboard Cats, proved beyond any doubt that FPC members still have a torrid romance with speed and power. On the second Friday in early June, just one day after South Florida schools had unleashed their students for summer break, the Jones clan were on board the Ocean Hawk 33, and together the fleet emerged from Port Everglades, setting its course on the 57-mile gulfstream crossing to Bimini. Unfortunately for two of the teams, the statistical attrition rate of 15% was met early, as one outboard cat shattered a transom plate, nearly feeding a brand new Mercury Racing

PHOTOS BY STU JONES

400R to the sharks, while simultaneously an XR drive on the Fountain took the weekend off. Sadly, both crews had to make the 180 degree turn and idle back slowly to Port Everglades, illustrating the critical nature of pre-trip maintenance and the equipment baby-ing that is required to cross the bumpy gulfstream waters without incident. Arriving in Bimini gave attendees the experience of enjoying the rustic, more traditional vibe of the quaint charming island, as they docked and cleared customs at the landmark Bimini Big Game Club, a venue once frequented by the likes of Ernest Hemingway , Hollywood celebs and members of America’s elite. While still charming and a pleasure to visit, it’s far from luxurious, and perhaps suited well for the guys’

fishing weekend. By sharp contrast, our headquarters for the weekend was the new Resorts World Bimini, (formerly Bimini Bay Resort) where an outstanding new Hilton Resort had just opened. Surrounded by a yacht marina, luxurious homes and boasting amenities such as four pools, a vibrant casino, multiple restaurants, lounges, and nicely styled rooms, the new property was Bimini’s answer to a long-standing void, particularly for boaters that do not typically stay aboard their vessels. With plenty of activities on the agenda for the Bimini leg of the adventure, the group enjoyed cruising local waters, feeding stingrays at Honeymoon Harbour and visiting South Bimini for the signature seafood pizza at Mackey’s Sand Bar. continued on page 8

POWERBOATING IN PARADISE | 7

DEPARTING

FORT LAUDERDALE

Departure point - Port Everglades

This screen shot of the Garmin 7612 Chartplotter on the Ocean Hawk 33' illustrates most of the exursion which continued from Bimini accross the shallow Bahama Bank to Chubb Cay. Proceding north east, the chartplotter reveals a mountainess terrain on the sea bottom before arriving to the Abaco chain. The entire excursion with day trips amounted to over 700 miles of cruising through these pristine scenic waters.

Pat and Diane Haughey | FL Team ACTIVE THUNDER - 37' Active Thunder

Mark and Eileen Fischer | FL Team BOATS DIRECT USA - 39’ Deep Impact

Max Jones ready to capture all the fun.

8 | POWERBOATING IN PARADISE

David and Kacie Womack | TX Team INTIMIDATOR - 38’ Fountain

POWERBOATING IN PARADISE | 9

HELLO

BIMINI

Lynne Archambault

Jim and Lynne Archambault | GA Team STILL KEEPIN’ IT REAL

Skater Crew

Robert Lockyer | FL Team SKATER - 32’ Skater

Hal and Missy Johnson

Hal and Missy Johnson | TX Team SOMETHING ‘S BREWING - 39’ Nor-Tech

10 | POWERBOATING IN PARADISE

POWERBOATING IN PARADISE | 11

BIMINI FUN

Mark and Eileen Fischer

Tanner and Addilynn Curry

Chris Ribeiro, Rae Ford, Tanner and Addilynn Curry (TX) Team MAXIMUS - 45’ Cigarette

12 | POWERBOATING IN PARADISE

Chris Ribeiro &“MAXIMUS” Crew

POWERBOATING IN PARADISE | 13

ABACO ADVENTURE

With the bulk of the group returning to mainland on Sunday, it was down to four boats engaging in an aggressive travel day Sunday that included a long 85 mile run across the “Bahama bank” for lunch and fuel at Chubb Cay. While that first leg provided a comfortable, calm water ride, the following leg around the southern tip of Abaco dealt some challenging rough seas, forcing captains to get on their game face and finesse their way through the sloppy seas with the delicate mix of throttle, heading, trim, and tab! Fortunately, it was short-lived, as we dove into the protected waters of Little Harbour, for a well-deserved Bahama Mama at the area’s most nostalgic beach front watering hole, Pete’s Pub. Continuing north into the Sea of Abaco, our next two nights would be spent at the Abaco Beach Club & Resort, aka Boat Harbour Marina, which is a central location from which to launch boating day trips in virtually every direction. Highlights included beaching the boats at Treasure Cay, home to what is arguably the nicest of all Bahamian beaches, followed by a happy hour pool party at Hopetown Inn & Marina nestled in the picturesque harbor of Elbow Cay, which features the landmark red & white striped lighthouse at its entrance. Day five, we continued our journey westbound, making a quick stop at Green Turtle Cay for breakfast, then navigating through Mark and Eileen Fischer the protected Sea of Abaco to the Grand Lucayan waterway, arriving at Port Lucaya, where we caught up with old friends at the Grand Bahama Yacht Club. After a final westbound leg along the southern shore of Grand Bahama Island, we settled in for another night at Old Bahama Bay Resort in West End, a peaceful resort that is popular with boaters transiting to-and-from the Bahamas. So peaceful in fact, that “Maximus” and “Apache” Crews our fellow boaters decided to stay another night! “Well kids…we’ve got a big summer planned...Load up the Ocean Hawk…Let’s Go!”

Ed and Surey Garcia | FL Team APACHE PERFOMANCE - 41’APACHE

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Jason Parker

Jim and Lynne Archambault

David and Kacie Womack

Stu and Jackie Jones | FL Team POWERBOATING IN PARADISE 33’ Ocean Hawk

POWERBOATING IN PARADISE | 15

SUMMER

tour 2016

MANY FLORIDA BOATERS CLAIM THE BEST MARINE ADVENTURES OCCUR IN THE SUMMER MONTHS WHEN CALM SEAS PERMIT SAFE GULFSTREAM CROSSINGS TO THE BAHAMAS OR COASTAL ROMPS TO THE FLORIDA KEYS FOR DIVING & SNORKELING IN THE WARM SUMMER SURF. BUT POKER RUN ENTHUSIASTS BEAT A DIFFERENT DRUM, AND SUMMERTIME OFFERS AN EXCITING MENU OF POKER RUNS ACROSS THE NATION! WITH THE MOTORHOME & CENTER CONSOLE IN TOW, THE JONES FAMILY HIT THE ROAD FOR AN AMAZING 5,400 MILE SUMMER TOUR! WORDS BY STU JONES

y late June the FPC summer boating agenda had already racked up some amazing adventures, after heading to Bahamas with Florida Powerboat Club for a six day, 700 mile island-hopping excursion that took a small group of boats on a counter-clockwise rotation from Bimini to Chubb Cay, North to the Abacos, then returning via Grand Bahama Island, (see page 6 for full feature) And even after the return, the temptation to get one more weekend in Bimini on the log books, was satisfied with yet another short romp for a nonFPC getaway to celebrate July 4th weekend, but this time the fishing rods were loaded on board. ( Yes indeed,the Ocean Hawk 33 is equipped with rod holders and a removable back bench…converting it to a light-duty fishing machine) But even after catching a respectable 15 pound Tuna in middle

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of the Gulfstream during the return trip, there were far bigger fish to fry and we had about six weeks to complete the mission. Metaphoric fish that is….because we really had no intention of bringing the rods! The reference was more about “Poker Runs”, and the common tradition that I have adopted over many years to get out and enjoy as many-non FPC poker runs as I possibly can, in an effort to see more of the country, enjoy different types of boating in vastly different geographic regions, and above all, visit with our extended family of fellow FPC members to enjoy boating with them in their very own back yards. This tradition dates back to as far as the year 2000, when I hitched my Toyota 4Runner to my motorcycle trailer, loaded

• • • • • • • • • • • •

LAKE CUMBERLAND THUNDER RUN - KY LAKE CUMBERLAND THUNDER RUN - KY BOYNE THUNDER - MI BOYNE THUNDER - MI PIRATES OF LANIER - GA PIRATES OF LANIER - GA THUNDER IN THE CITY - MD THUNDER IN THE CITY - MD ONTARIO, CANADA TOUR ONTARIO, CANADA TOUR BUFFALO POKER RUN - NY BUFFALO POKER RUN - NY

The City Docks at Boyne Thunder The City Docks at Boyne Thunder PHOTOS BY: STU JONES & GUEST PHOTOGRAPHERS

up the Harley, boxes of our very first 48 page issue of Powerboating in Paradise Magazine, and headed out for a six week, 6,000 mile adventure road trip adventure that took me to Texas, Lake of the Ozarks, Michigan, Virginia and Ontario… to enjoy poker runs, make new boating friends, see more of world. From that experience, I learned that this was perhaps one of the most enjoyable ways to travel that I could have ever imagined, it the Summer poker run tour soon became a staple in my insatiable urge to devour pavement, cruise America’s amazing waterways, and enjoy the experience with boating friends from all walks of life! Turn the page forward to Summer 2016…and the course was mapped out for an 8,400 journey that would have commenced in early June with Lake Cumberland and continue west to Texas, were it not for

a near-mutiny by the Jones family against over-zealous Dad. We settled for a mid-July started, chopped 3,000 miles off the agenda, and by July 13th , we had the 43’ Gulfstream Tour Master stocked and loaded, with the 33’ Ocean Hawk in tow, as we hit the on ramp from Pompano Beach to I-95. (For those trying to do the math…the Ocean Hawk-on-trailer is actually about 45 feet in length, and measuring front bumper to prop, we’re at 89 feet. Look at the bright side…it’s just a lot of fiberglass and air….we scaled in at a mere 44,100 pounds! I hope you enjoy this 2016 Summer Boating Tour feature! It was by far the most amazing summer adventures we have ever logged…and I just can’t think of a better way to spend the summer with the family!

POWERBOATING IN PARADISE | 17

KENTUCKY | JUNE 17-19 | 2016

While Mother Nature certainly gets credited for many of the amazing waterways that we enjoy across North America, she certainly cannot take all the credit for dozens of popular Army Corp dams and the resulting lakes that have popped up throughout the U.S. within the last century. From Lake Havasu in the southwest, to Missouriâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Lake of the Ozarks and Lake Lanier in Georgia, recreational boating playgrounds have emerged and are fast becoming powerboating hotbeds with a busy circuit of poker runs that fill every weekend from late spring to fall! Lake Cumberland is among the frontrunners to set this course, having its early roots in the 90â&#x20AC;&#x2122;s with the September Lake Cumberland Poker Run, followed by the addition of a June event, the Lake Cumberland Thunder Run, which in its seventh year, drew a stellar crowd of weekend warriors, some traveling hundreds of miles to attend. continued on page 20

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Julie & Dan

POWERBOATING IN PARADISE | 19

KENTUCKY | JUNE 17-19 | 2016

Positioned in the third weekend of June timeslot, this event faces perhaps more poker run competition than most would realize, with Atlantic City Run, Texas Outlaw Challenge, and Lake Hartwell Poker Run all taking place simultaneously. That wasn’t a problem for co-organizers Justin Lucas and Dan Weiss, as over one hundred boats registered, reaching their event permit quota, and giving over five-hundred poker runners a festive weekend along this winding, scenic waterway. Unique to the Lake Cumberland backdrop, the poker run was hosted at Grider Hill Marina, a floating village of docks, buildings, covered slips and massive houseboats, where a spirited dock party carries on until the late hours every night! Special thanks to Justin & Erin Lucas for rolling out the welcome mat, and also to Dan Weiss and his first mate Julie, for welcoming me aboard their 47 Fountain for a fantastic day of fun! You ain’t seen nothin’ till you see a 76 Falls raft up party! SJ

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IN MEMORY OF : Anthony & Tammy Reece In our last issue of Powerboating in Paradise, we made a memorial tribute to Anthony and Tammy Reece, who perished in a tragic high-speed boating accident last July, along with the boatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s owners, Art and Melissa McMahan. We apologize that our art department staff did not accurately identify Tammy Reece in the group photo that was blurred using Photoshop software, but rather identified another woman wearing a cap with sunglasses. We hope that the family accepts our apology, as we continue to extend our deep sorrow and sympathy after this devastating loss.

POWERBOATING IN PARADISE | 21

MICHIGAN | JULY 8-10 | 2016

PHOTOS BY: PETE BODEN "SHOOT TO THRILL PIX"

L AKE CHARLE VOIX

Dave Scotto | ON - 52'Outerlimits

John Frohlich | MI - 47'Apache

Heath Peterson | MI - 46'Cigarette

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Michigan boaters hold their summers very dearly, and rightfully so. Countless inland lakes and hundreds of miles of Great Lakes shoreline provide a boating playground, yet the northern climate yields at best, a three-month summer! That might explain why the Boyne Thunder Poker Run, now in its twelfth year, sells out its 125 boat roster in a matter of a few hours, and boasts a roster of high-performance hardware that is beyond belief. Getting there isn’t exactly easy, and don’t think for a second it’s just a hop-skip-and-jump from Detroit. It’s actually a flight from Detroit, and when people arrive for their first time, most are surprised by the area’s natural beauty and the clarity of the water. The small town of Boyne City on Lake Charlevoix hosts the event, and ironically its five block village offers nothing more than a few small inns for visiting poker runners. A few miles away, most attendees stay at the Boyne Mountain Resort, which is host to the Thursday night kickoff party, high above the resort in a ski chalet that can be reached via chairlift. Friday offers a relatively informal agenda throughout the day, but by early evening a street party in downtown Boyne fills the streets with powerboat displays, antique and classic cars, amidst a variety of hip bars and restaurants.

continued on page 24

POWERBOATING IN PARADISE | 23

MICHIGAN | JULY 8-10 | 2016

Organizers throw a nice under-tent dinner party, while judging a Stereo Wars contest on the main poker run dock. With mild summer weather and long days (still daylight at 10pm) it all flows quite smoothly, as hundreds of spectators stroll the docks gazing at the amazing fleet! Saturday morning the captains and crews assemble under the event tent and I continue to be amazed at the near perfect attendance, as the roll-call is answered by every captain…”Here!” For the first time in years, sadly Lake Michigan did not provide a very welcome playground, as high winds and rough seas turned all but ten or so poker run teams around as they cleared the break-wall at Charlevoix. For those that did

PHOTOS BY: PETE BODEN "SHOOT TO THRILL PIX"

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brave the rough seas, thanks for the amazing show! This is a fabulous event, with a great charity for kids, but unfortunately it’s difficult to put on a newcomers poker run bucket list, due to the recurring registration of repeat participants and sell-out every year. If there is some way for organizers to acquire more docking facilities and expand their function & catering space, they could open their event to more boats, and might certainly hit 200 teams to become one of largest events on the national poker run circuit. Meanwhile, plan on seeing FPC as a sponsor every year…it’s just so cool at Boyne Thunder! SJ

POWERBOATING IN PARADISE | 25

GEORGIA | JULY 15-17 | 2016

Considering all poker run venues on the national circuit, most would agree that it’s hard to find a better venue than Lake Lanier to host a major poker run event. Lake Lanier Islands Resort is more of a full service resort community, rather than just a hotel with a lot of property, offering a family friendly environment with water parks, golf courses, horse riding stables, RV campgrounds, full service marinas and multiple access points to a vast recreational playground, Lake Lanier. At the heart of the venue is scenic Sunset Cove, which offers floating docks for all the poker run teams, with an adjacent poker run village where formal event activities and functions are staged on one side, and at the opposite side of Sunset Cove is full-scale water park that is a big hit for poker run families that have their kids in tow. Either way, Pirates of Lanier is about the most family-friendly poker run, and that’s certainly a good reason for the Jones clan to get there every summer over the last five years. Attendance at this year’s event, as with the recent few years, has been over the top, with close to 300 registered teams running boats of all descriptions. continued on page 28

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GEORGIA | JULY 15-17 | 2016

Whether itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s a pontoon boat, cruiser, center console, or high performance offshore machine, somehow it all comes together on this event, with charity proceeds that have skyrocketed to as high as $400,000 in recent years, making this event by far, one of the top fund raisers in the poker run world.

and discussed extensively over recent months, and out of respect for the close family and friends who may still be mourning, the editor has elected Not to report specifics about the 2016 Pirates of Lanier, except to say we will always remember this tragic accident, and will we dearly miss those who lost their lives.

Sadly, as everyone is well aware in the boating community, at the recent Lake Lanier event, a tragic boating accident Friday took the lives of two couples who were all very well known in our extended powerboating family. This tragedy has been reported, covered

We hope that this remote incident will not affect the decision of any prospective visitors to attend Pirates of Lanier in future years, as this a wonderful event has tremendous value to the community, and enriches the lives of so many less fortunate youths. SJ

28 | POWERBOATING IN PARADISE

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CHESAPEAKE CITY MARYLAND | JULY 22-24 | 2016

PHOTOS BY :RANDY NUZZO

POKER RUN Unless you are from that immediate area, I would guess that most people do not understand the true magnitude and the vast reaches of the Chesapeake Bay area from a boater’s standpoint. I am one of those people. In spite of my efforts to attend a few poker run events in that region through the 90’s and until about 2001, I find myself staring at maps of Maryland, Delaware, Eastern Pennsylvania and South Jersey… trying to figure out how it’s all connected. While planning our summer 2016 tour, I

stumbled upon the Thunder in the City Poker Run, which was entering its 10th year for 2016…and it fit our calendar perfectly! The city reference is the quaint Chesapeake City, Maryland, a small port town that somewhat off the beaten path, and few would ever know it existed, if not for some connection to recreational boating or commercial shipping. We arrived on Friday, where a kind elderly marina owner made us feel very welcome, helping us launch the Ocean Hawk with his F450 pickup. Soon we

were settled in at the Chesapeake Inn, where poker runners were already starting to arrive and we met organizer Vic DiMarco, who greeted us at the dock. . Of the 35 or 40 teams registered, the diverse fleet revealed some familiar boats, and it turned out that a handful of participants were active FPC members. Saturday’s course took us southbound to Kent Narrows, a popular cross-roads with multiple waterfront restaurants and bars…where we settled in for a hearty continued on page 32 lunch spread.

Frank Dziobczynski | PA - 30'Activator

John Petracci | NJ - 39'Cigarette 30 | POWERBOATING IN

Francis Markfyak | CT - 353 Formula Fast Tec

PARADISE

POWERBOATING IN PARADISE | 31

MARYLAND | JULY | 2016 Later that day, a severe storm threatened the area, so we pushed the throttles and returned to the marina with moments to spare. Unfortunately, some other teams were caught in the storm, but no serious incidents were reported, other than power lines that came down and wiped out electricity to Chesapeake Inn, where the poker run dinner party was planned. By some miracle, the restaurant owner managed to serve a hot meal to all of the guests, but the poker cards and awards were postponed by the organizer, much to the disappointment of a handful of poker run teams. As for the rest of us, we were there for the boating fun, not the poker cards. The real bonus is, I’m finally starting to get my bearings and I’m ready to share my conclusion! Wait for it…... The boating possibilities in the Chesapeake Bay area are virtually endless, and the Thunder in the City Poker Run is a great way to explore! SJ

Don Pinak | PA - 42'Cigarette

Tom Gourzis | PA - 38'Statement

Stu and Jackie Jones | FL Team FPC 33’Ocean Hawk

Timothy Good | PA - 27' Fountain

Andy Strobert | DE - 36'Skater

Charlie Stapf | MD - 36' Spectre 32 | POWERBOATING IN

Don McLellan | VA - 26'Donzi

PARADISE

POWERBOATING IN PARADISE | 33

ONTARIO, CANADA | AUG 1 -11 | 2016

Henry's Fish Restaurant is a landmark for boats in Georgian Bay

T R E N T C A N A L S Y S T E M T O G E O R G I A N B AY I left Canada in 1991 to pursue a Florida boating career, I would admit that one of the highlights of growing up in Ontario was the tremendous boating on the abundant lakes and rivers. One of the most popular recreational waterways in Ontario is the Trent Canal System, which connects Lake Ontario to Georgian Bay, through an intricate network of rivers, canals, and lakes â&#x20AC;Śconnected with man-made locks that manage steep changes in elevation. Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s a big system, that takes many days to transit, and few Canadians could find the time or manage the logistics of such an undertaking. With the Ocean Hawk still in tow, and a family re-union on the summer vacation agenda, I was determined to make it work.

The Joneses with Pierre and Meghan Brousseau 34 | POWERBOATING IN PARADISE

While I had traveled decades ago on the Trent, the completed journey had eluded me. This time, we were destined to run the boat from Lake Simcoe, about one hour north of Toronto, all the way to Georgian Bay, a massive body of water that is connected to Lake Huron, and considered by most Canadian boaters to be the Holy Grail of pleasure cruising. Raymond Roberts of Double R Performance serviced our Mercury Verados, and launched us in Lake Simcoe, about a mile from his shop near Barrie. We were off, stopping first in Orillia, then Big Chief on Lake Couchiching, passing my old home on the shoreline and making our way into the scenic continued on page 36 Severn River.

1 One of the many locks along the system. 2 Entering the Big Chute marine railway. 3 High and dry...Riding the rail car up a hill. 4 Don't look down, steep embankment! Rail car proceeds down 300' embankment 5 End of the line, as the car submerges and boats enter water.

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ONTARIO, CANADA | AUG 1 -11 | 2016

Cruising Neon Honey Harbour, Georgian Bay

The Jones cottage in Haliburton, ON

Lake after lake, lock after lock, we weaved and wandered the scenic northern waterways. But the unanimous highlight for all of us was Big Chute, a marine rail system with hydraulic slings that hauls about eight boats simultaneously down a steep, quarter mile long embankment! Afraid of heights? Don’t look over the side! After a relaxing overnight stay at Port Severn, we visited longtime Canadian friend Cope Smith, who once owned a popular Fountain ICBM named Rum N Cope. Later that day, we transited the final system lock at Port Severn and soon arrived at Central Marine in Midland, along the Georgian Bay’s south shoreline. Marina owners Meghan & Pierre Brousseau, who also manage events for the Performance Boat Club of Canada, rolled out a warm welcome mat, and even planned some adventurous Georgian Bay boating excursions to help us enjoy our weeklong stay. Among the highlights, was our daytrip to Henry’s Restaurant, led by FPC alumni Bob Barnhart, a modern-day Christopher Columbus who has done more cruising with his 50’ Nor-Tech than most would do in their lifetime!

Bob Barnhart - 50’Nor-Tech

Variety of performance boats at Henry's

It’s been twenty-five years since I left Canada to live in Florida, and these two weeks in Ontario were among the finest days I have ever enjoyed in my native land. SJ

36 | POWERBOATING IN PARADISE

Pierre and Meghan Brousseau- 40’Nor-Tech Roadster

POWERBOATING IN PARADISE | 37

NEW YORK | AUGUST 12-14 | 2016

The Canadian homecoming continued, as we passed through the small city of Welland Ontario where I grew up, a once prosperous steel-town along the banks of the Welland Canal, about twenty miles from Niagara Falls. But today weâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re headed further up the Niagara River to Buffalo, where in recent years the Buffalo Poker Run, staged by the Western New York Powerboat Association, had grown to a substantial roster that often exceeded more than a hundred teams. While I had this poker run in my sights for years, attending this event in the past was virtually impossible, as it ran headto-head with our FPC Emerald Coast Poker Run in the Florida Panhandle. Alas, the travel agenda and event dates

aligned favorably, and I was anxious to participate on the poker run that combined the Lake Erie shoreline with Niagara River cruising, visiting the most popular waterfront hot spots along the way. We rolled into Templeton Landing, a waterfront park with excellent facilities including plenty of truck and trailer parking and an enormous boat ramp, where I was able to easily line up our 90 foot rig and self-launch with the motorhome. With a helping hand Cruising Niagara River from the WNYPA president and event organizer Steve McKie, we launched the Ocean Hawk, and were ready for action. continued on page 40

Buffalo's vibrant downtown waterfront.

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Templeton Landing

POWERBOATING IN PARADISE | 39

NEW YORK | AUGUST 12-14 | 2016

But we still had plenty of time and daylight left on this sunny Friday afternoon, so off we cruised to scout the course, taking in the sights of Buffaloâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s amazing new waterfront and the scenic Niagara River. Saturday was poker run day, and the fleet swelled to over 80 boats overnight. With some concerns about the forecast for the day, the helicopter was called up and the course was shortened due to the expectation of late day rain. Things seemed to be going smoothly, until a late morning rollover in a 30 foot cat, injuring its operator seriously, who spent several weeks hospitalized but thankfully was released and sent home at the time of this writing. Overall, this was a fabulous charity poker run event, staged by a wonderful group of passionate boaters, and we are so glad we got to be a part of it. SJ

40 | POWERBOATING IN PARADISE

POWERBOATING IN PARADISE | 41

the EMERALD

COAST poker RUN 2016

IT’S NO SECRET THAT VOLATILE AUGUST WEATHER IN FLORIDA IS TYPICALLY HOT & HUMID WITH VIOLENT THUNDER STORMS AT ANY GIVEN MOMENT. IN SPITE OF THOSE ODDS, THE 24th RUNNING OF THE EMERALD COAST POKER RUN ENJOYED FAIR WEATHER & FOLLOWING SEAS…FOR DAYS ON END!

WORDS BY STU JONES

Most might argue that the miles of white sugary sand beaches of the Emerald Coast, that span from Sandestin to Fort Walton Beach, would be enough of a draw for any visitor who might want to overdose on sun and surf for the summer ends and its back to the Fall routine. But for the 1,000 or more attendees that return to the Emerald Coast Poker Run every year….it’s the waterways too. What all the tourism brochures and digital ads don’t often show prospective visitors, is that in the Florida Panhandle’s Emerald Coast, the beaches are not limited to the south facing shoreline along the Gulf of Mexico, but rather they’re actually woven through the entire inland waterways from Choctawhatchee bay to Navarre, a small beach town that is about 25 miles west of Fort Walton Beach. Boaters therefore, while enjoying the benefits of cruising in protected waters, can pretty much pull the boat

42 | POWERBOATING IN PARADISE

off plane, throw an anchor in a soft sandy cove, or beach the keel of the boat on any one of hundreds of sandy beaches along a thirty mile stretch of paradise. Clearly, this feature ranks high among the many who return year after year…. and with a 24 year track record of solid attendance, strong economic impact for the community, and a fabulous fundraising outcome for the event’s beneficiary The Emerald Coast Foundation, the desirable geography of the Emerald Coast can at least take a good amount of credit for the event’s continued success. Stretching the event into a full week of fun has become a norm for many participants, especially those with families that want to get in one last blast of summer fun before the kids return to school. For those earlybird attendees, the related

Juana's Pagodas at Navarre a popular checkpoint on the run PHOTOS BY JERRY WYSZATYCKI & STU JONES

activities that commence as early as Tuesday, and continue every day through the weekend. The Boat Week agenda got off to a great start at Harborwalk Village in Destin…where the annual Fat Tuesday a.k.a Poker Run Powerboat Parade was a big hit, with thousands in attendance as always. Participating poker run crews stage at Coyote Ugly adjacent to the Emerald Grande Resort, and the parade staff then equips each team with huge bags of Mardi Gras beads, to toss out to the thousands of eager kids that line the parade route. Chris Daggs from our Grand Prize sponsor Hub City Ford, volunteered to pull the FPC Ocean Hawk 33 through the parade course in a brand new Special Edition Ford F150…while another Baja and Eliminator joined in for the fun.

Wednesday evening saw a shift in the Boat Week agenda, with the introduction of a new sponsor location, AJ’s on the Bayou, a new waterfront restaurant located on the protected bay known a Cinco Bayou, where host Alan Laird rolled out the red carpet to poker run teams and sponsors. Along with great food and entertainment, the evening was capped off with an amazing fireworks show over the bayou. On Thursday, dozens of poker run teams rolled into town from all over the south…with the strongest showing as always from Texas and Louisiana. In Fort Walton Beach, new poker run trailer parking facilities were a big hit at the Emerald Coast Convention Center, which is conveniently located just steps away from the Marler Park boat ramp. continued on page 44

POWERBOATING IN PARADISE | 43

Fun Run

FRIDAY Later that evening, the always popular Miss Boat Week contest at Al’s Beach Club at the Boardwalk was a big hit, as twenty beautiful ladies competed for the coveted crown. But the big question for many who attended was…”Where

were all the boats?” In a controversial snub by the Boardwalk property management, Florida Powerboat Club and the visiting poker run teams were not permitted to park they boats & trailers at the massive county lot…a

move that may have somewhat backfired on the property as it failed to draw the usual crowds to the retail complex, resulting in a decreased level of retail business for its merchants on site.

“FOUNTAIN” Crew

Frankie Tubbs | AL Team FOUNTAIN - 38’ Fountain

Chet & Cindy Huffman | FL Team WAY NUTZ - 43’ Nor-Tech

“ADDICTIVE BEHAVIOR” Crew

Greg & Racquel Tolson | FL Team ADDICTIVE BEHAVIOR - 32’ Sunsation

“WAY NUTZ” Crew

“SLIPPERY WHEN WET” Crew

Scott & Monica James | FL Team SLIPPERY WHEN WET - 35’ Fountain

44 | POWERBOATING IN PARADISE

POWERBOATING IN PARADISE | 45

Fun Run

FRIDAY

By Friday, it was full speed ahead on the poker run format, as both the Emerald Grande in Destin, and the Ramada Beach Resort in Fort Walton Beach

hosted poker run check-in locations and captains’ safety meetings. The goal by organizers, was to get as many teams registered and signed off on safety, so

that we could all get out on the water by early afternoon and enjoy the Friday Fun Run.

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

Tony Canale - 42’Sonic

Doug Dixon | GA - 32’Sonic

Scott Favre | LA Team NEVER ENOUGH - 42’Cigarette

Jeff & Marilyn Whitlock | LA Team DO IT - 42’MTI

Brian Manning | SC Team CONTROLLED CHAOS - 42’Outerlimits

46 POWERBOATING IN PARADISE |

MiSS MISS

Boat Week

POWERBOATING IN PARADISE | 47

Fun Run

FRIDAY

Hub City Ford sponsor Chris Daggs joined Stu at FPC Ocean Hawk

Bryan & Danyel Marquardt | TX Team FASTBOATS.COM of TX 35’ Statement

Weston Harlow | FL Team FEELING KNOTTY - 31’ Formula

“ERIE-SPONSIBLE”Crew

Gary & Lisa Drellishak | OH Team ERIE-SPONSIBLE - 38’ Powerquest

48 POWERBOATING IN PARADISE |

Chris Domino | SC Team HIGH RISK - 32’Skater

“BAJA”Crew

Clay Gardenhire | LA Team BAJA - 27’ Baja

William & Angela Friedrichs Jr | TX Team OTHER PEOPLES MONEY - 34’Nor-Tech

Don & Alice Lightfoot | TX Team FOOTLOOSE TOO - 52’Nor-Tech

Bobby Tampa | FL Team WIP - 25’ Talon

Larry Dugger | KY Team CIN SATION - 31’Formula

POWERBOATING IN PARADISE | 49

Fun Run

FRIDAY Glen Hibbard | TX Team ALL CAT NOT HATTLE - 36’Nor-Tech

Jerry Swanson | TX Team TERRIBLE TWO - 50’Skater

“DOWNTOWN1”Crew

Matt Garland & Kenny Schom | KY Team DOWNTOWN1 - 40’Skater

50 | POWERBOATING IN PARADISE

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David Burg | TX Team MIDNIGHT EXPRESS - 43’Midnight Express

Kim & Michael Henderson | TX Team SPECIAL K - 35’Formula

Ken Milstead | TX Team SIMPLY SATISFIED - 40’Skater

“BROKE DOWN BITCH” Crew Mike & Christy Fuqua | TN Team BROKE DOWN BITCH - 32’Sunsation 52 | POWERBOATING IN PARADISE

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Juana's Pagodas "BEST CHECK POINT" Award

Fun Run

FRIDAY With the helicopter crew flying to gather photo and video of the event, about seventy poker run teams loaded the boats and headed west to Juana’s Pagodas in Navarre, which is arguably the most popular boating destination in all of the Florida Panhandle. One of Florida’s true “boating beach bars”, Juana’s offers great food, live entertainment, customer’s choice of casual open-air feetin-the-sand, or air-conditioned dining with a sports-bar vibe. And the real bonus, more than a thousand feet of soft sandy beach to park the boats!

' GOLDBAUGH CREW

LANCE PANEPINTO CREW

STINSON CREW

BARRY CHILDERS CREW

54 POWERBOATING IN PARADISE |

DARYL TURNER CREW

Dawn Weems & friends

POWERBOATING IN PARADISE | 55

party at

Aj’s

destin, Fl

The poker run festivities continued later at AJ’s in Destin for the Captain’s Kick Off Party, where once again, party host and Emerald Coast Poker Run co-founder Alan Laird, provided food, fun and live entertainment for hundreds of guests. With an amazing display of

56 | POWERBOATING IN PARADISE

high-performance boats at AJ’s docks, few guests may have realized that AJ’s had undergone major renovations a few months earlier, after a spectacular topfloor roof fire almost destroyed the Destin Harbor icon earlier in the year.

Alex Egan, Stu And Jackie Jones, Tracey Gutierrez FLORIDA POWERBOAT CLUB

Tony Canale & Friends

Chris Dags(L) Hub City Ford

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SATURDAY Saturday’s poker run was a tremendous success on all fronts. First and most notable, zero incidents reported on the water, with a fleet of over 150 teams. After a string of tragic summer accidents all poker runs all over the United States, we as organizers are proud of this statistic, and we thank all of our participants for slowing down, wearing their pfd’s and making safety a top priority.

Corey Pitre | FL Team COMMON CENTZ - 31’1”Formula

Vance Goble | PA Team JUST CHILLIN- 38”Scarab

Hugh Patrioni Sr | FL Team STAY-N-COOL - 35’ Fountain

Lonnie Huff | PA Team AMERICAN GREED- 35”Cigarette 58 | POWERBOATING IN PARADISE

Brandon Batey | TX Team RAYNE STORM - 38’Donzi

Randy Scism | MO Team MTI CMS - 52’ MTI

Mike & Angela Goldbaugh | AL Team LATE FEE$ - 36’MTI

Ionel Ficut | AR - 33’Wellcraft

Scott & Allison Stinson | GA Team STILL BILLIEVING - 43’Nordic

Lonnie Huff | TX Team AMERICAN GREED - 35’ Cigarette

POWERBOATING IN PARADISE | 59

SATURDAY Jorge & Ann Arellano | FL Team SUPER BEAST - 39’MTI

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

John Livingston | VA Team OUTLAW - 32’Baja

“CENTER OF ATTENTION” Crew Bill Robbins | TX Team CENTER OF ATTENTION - 39’Cigarette

60 POWERBOATING IN PARADISE |

“NAUTI VICE” Crew

Eric Shaw | TX Team NAUTI VICE - 43’Donzi

Jack & Ashley Oddo | TX Team HEAVY ARTILLERY - 38’Cigarette

“LOADED GUN” Crew

Rachael & Vince Oddo | TX Team LOADED GUN - 38’Cigarette

“SUPER BEAST” Crew

Wayne Wilkerson | TN Team SUPER BEAST - 40’Nor-Tech

POWERBOATING IN PARADISE | 61

SATURDAY

Dr. Jason Parker | FL Team DOCS KREWE - 35’ Fountain

Mike Hoffman | AL Team PUMPIT - 35’ Fountain

Derek Wachob | OK Team BLACK DIAMOND - 52’ MTI

62 | POWERBOATING IN PARADISE

Brad Hancock | OH Team NO FILTER - 50’Hustler

“THOR” Crew

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

W Carroll Smith | TX Team DEALERSHIP - 42’ Fountain

POWERBOATING IN PARADISE | 63

Lance Panepinto | FL Team FLYING HIGH - 30’Baja

MEMBER

SPOTLIGHT M

ost poker run attendees from Louisiana and Texas can easily recall the severe rain and flooding that occurred just a week before Emerald Coast Poker Run. In fact many of our repeat poker run teams couldn’t even make it to the event due to floods and road closures, which forced several last minute cancellations. Lance Panepinto, an avid poker runner who attends with the family every year in their 30' Baja "Flying High", owns a helicopter company in Denham Springs, LA, and was engaged in a week long ordeal of multiple search and rescue missions.

In one such account, on August 13th, Lance was called to fly his Bell Jet Ranger to rescue a terrified woman and her pet Labrador retriever, from their flooded home. It was such a tricky rescue with water too deep to land, that Lance had to hover the aircraft steadily over the water, as the stranded victims climbed into the chopper. The woman’s account of the story, was quick to credit Lance … for rescuing her from the most terrifying incident of her lifetime. We are proud to have Lance and the Panepinto family on our event, year after year! SJ

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Fun Run

SATURDAY

Jim Stockton | TX Team CHICS DIGIT - 42’Fountain

Ron Sporl | AL Team SPORLED ROTTEN - 38’Fountain

Terry Sobo | AL Team NOR-TECH - 39’Nor-Tech 66 | POWERBOATING IN PARADISE

EMER ALD GR A NDE AT H A R B ORWA LK VILLAGE, DESTIN The Emerald Grande Resort has become an icon on the Destin skyline, and has played a big role in hosting the Emerald Coast Poker Run in more recent years. Large spacious suites range from two to four bedrooms, and whether you’re in the East Tower or the West Tower, chances are you’ll have incredible water views, that might include Destin Harbor, the scenic East Pass, the Gulf of Mexico…or even the bay area, where hundreds of boats congregate every weekend at Crab Island. On your doorstep, is Harborwalk Village, a waterfront entertainment complex that features a wide variety of restaurants, lounges, shops & boutiques, rides for the kids, boat rentals, fishing charters and live entertainment daily!

POWERBOATING IN PARADISE | 67

Shawn & Christin Lather | SC Team DANGER ZONE - 44’Nor-Tech

Cass Shewbart | TX Team LIQUID PROZAC - 38’ Cigarette

Alex Nomer | FL Team TIGHT LINES - 30’ Spectre

William Vogel | TX Team GOTCHA - 39’Cigarette

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

Dennis Schmid | LA Team BENT MARINE - 39’ Nor-Tech

Barry Hurt | FL Team SCREAMING EAGLE SPORTS - 34’Sea Rocker

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SAT URDAY NIGHT

AWARDS The other noteworthy success at this yearâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Emerald Coast Poker Run, is this eventâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s continued success at raising charity funds for very credible youth organizations. Among the recipients is the Eleanor Johnson Youth Center where less fortunate children of all ages, can find shelter, education, friendship and leadership, under one roof. Through

the generosity of our sponsors and Sexiest Crew won by Kacey and friends (TN) participants, and the dedication of the Emerald Coast Foundation and its volunteers, the 24th Emerald Coast Poker Run raised an amazing $ 130,000 in charity funds! With a big 25th Anniversary planned for August 2017... we invite you to start planning now! SJ

AWARDS Tony Canale from Sonic "Best V-Bottom" Award

Stu Jones and Chris Daggs(bottom right)-HUB CITY FORD - sponsor of the FORD F150 Grand Prize won by David Shelton(center)

Emerald Coast Harley Davidson 750 Street won by "Lucky" from TX

Mark Headley "Furthest Towed" Award

David Burg "Best Center Concole" Award

70 | POWERBOATING IN PARADISE

Chet Huffman "Farthest Traveled" Award

IN MEMORY OF : Richie Prince & Brad Dunphy

e will sadly miss Richie Prince from Louisiana, who attended the Emerald Coast Poker Run with his wife Melissa and friend Billy Ruddy from New Orleans. Just one week after the Emerald Coast Poker Run, Richie and friend Brad Dunphy were involved in a terrible boating accident at Lake of the Ozarks, which tragically took their lives. Richie was not only an avid veteran of the Emerald Coast Poker Run, he and his wife Melissa had been attending Florida Powerboat Club poker runs as far back as the year 2000, when they ran their bright yellow

Eliminator Daytona with FPC all the way to Paradise Island, Bahamas. In the years that followed, Richie and Melissa would go on to become avid poker runners, owning many boats along the way. There was even a short stint in offshore racing, where Richie raced Supercat class in a bright green 39 MTI. This is a tremendous loss for our Florida Powerboat Club family and the extended powerboating community. Our thoughts and prayers go out to the family, including Melissa and their two children. SJ

POWERBOATING IN PARADISE | 71

BIMINI fall FUN

RUN

WHEN YOU HAVE A TROPICAL PARADISE LIKE BIMINI ON YOUR DOORSTEP, IT MAKES SENSE TO GO THERE AS OFTEN AS YOU POSSIBLY CAN. YET, IN RECENT YEARS MANY FLORIDA BOATERS HAVE AGREED THAT CHALLENGES IN SECURING FIRST CLASS ACCOMMODATIONS IN BIMINI HAS KEPT THEM FROM EXPLORING MORE FREQUENTLY…UNTIL NOW.

STORY BY STU JONES

When you have a tropical paradise like Bimini on your doorstep, it makes sense to go there as often as you possibly can. Yet, in recent years many Florida boaters have agreed that challenges in securing first class accommodations in Bimini has kept them from exploring more frequently…until now. In early 2016 the new ResortsWorld Hilton opened on North Bimini, the very first national hotel franchise that this small island has ever seen. Surrounded by a massive marina and waterfront community, the property, formerly known as Bimini Bay Resort, has received a major infusion of capital, and great things are happening, faster than ever before. FPC had managed to visited Bimini on two occasions in 2016, the first during the club’s June Bahamas Poker Run, and then again in July, the Jones family took the Ocean Hawk 33 to Bimini for July 4th weekend. At just 57 miles from Port Everglades, making the trek to Bimini is easier than heading for the Keys.

72 | POWERBOATING IN PARADISE

The Fall Fun Run gathered at Hyatt Pier 66 on Thursday before departure, and the boat count was at about ten teams. This was an ideal sized group for the late September escape, and the weather report seemed very favorable, calling for light winds and 2-3 foot seas. We stuck to the plan for an early morning crossing and were treated to a helicopter accompaniment, thanks to member Ed Garcia and his Miami Gardens Tag Agency, for their heli-sponsor offering. Heading out of Port Everglades, the boats were quickly up to speed, as the 41’ Apache and 38’ Cigarette pushed to the front of the pack. Naturally the four-engine Deep Impacts responded with equal amounts of throttle input, and the frontrunners’ cruise speeds soon exceeded 60 mph, leaving the rest of the pack to lock in at a comfortable 40-something cruise. Within two hours the entire fleet was settled in at the Bimini Big Club, as the crew members scurried around the docks to get Bahamas customs and immigration papers completed so they could get down to the important business

Foreground David & Jenny Landsman | MD Team 4PLAY the new Deep Impact 399 Sport Background Mark & Eileen Fischer | FL Team DEEP IMPACT 39’ Deep Impact PHOTOS BY JERRY WYSZATYCKI & STU JONES

of finding a cold rumrunner. Wait a minute…its 9:30am who’s drinking this early? Nonetheless, with little more than a dozen boats at Big Game Club due to the off-season, it was like clockwork getting cleared, and we pretty much took over the upstairs dining room for a hearty Bahamian breakfast! By 11:30am we were off the docks and in search of adventure! The plan was to first visit the concrete shipwreck Sapona, for some snorkeling, followed by stingray feeding at Honeymoon Harbour, which turned out to be an amazing session, as it appeared those friendly fellows hadn’t had a good feast in a while. David Landsman had acquired more than five pounds of frozen squid, which we chopped up and handed to the anxious crews in solo cups, and everyone was shocked at how friendly and docile these beautiful marine creatures are. By late Friday we were arriving at ResortsWorld Bimini, where we were provided with front row floating docks, just steps from the Hilton Lobby. The evening was full of fun and

surprises, as most guests wandered between the restaurants, lounges and casino on property, not to mention a lively patio party at the Jernigan suite…aka Club 119. Saturday brought clouds, wind and threatening rain, so Plan B went into effect! Plan B for BIMINI, as we all rented golf carts and went on a village-to-village road-trip, stopping a fun bars, checking out the scenic beaches and wandering off the beaten path on the village backroads of Alicetown and Baileytown. A wonderful dinner at Sabor Restaurant rounded out the perfect day, and the only worry was…. how was the weather going to be on Sunday? In Bimini, the winds change frequently, as do the seas. If it’s windy today, it may likely be calm tomorrow…so we crossed our fingers and hoped for the best. Alas, Sunday came and the winds were out of the east, giving us a following sea home, and a cameo appearance by a huge whale. This last blast to Bimini proved to be a great way to finish of the summer boating season..! SJ

POWERBOATING IN PARADISE | 73

Jackie Jones

Jimmy & Gina Smith |CA Team CRESCENDO

Stu and Jackie Jones | FL Chris Ribeiro | FL Team POWERBOATING IN PARADISE 33’ Ocean Hawk Team LOW MAINTENANCE 38’ Donzi

Ed & Surey Garcia | FL Team APACHE PERFORMANCE 41’ Apache

74 | POWERBOATING IN PARADISE

Justin & Erin Lucas and the Crew

Justin & Erin Lucas | TN 30'Concept

Tom & Carissa Polski | CT Team EFFICIENT LIGHTING 38’ Cigarette

LIMITED SPACE!

Florida Powerboat Club’s 2nd Annual

Europe Poker Run Friday, June 9 – Thursday, June 16, 2017 $9,918 per person, double occupancy

We’re doing it again! Join Stu & Jackie in 2017 for another fun PORSCHE tour and Poker Run in Germany, Switzerland & Italy. • All-inclusive – luxury accommodations, meals, drinks, PORSCHE rental, taxes and gratuities • Six days of PORSCHE driving: no-speed-limit Autobahns, Alpine passes, scenic Dolomites, Italian Lakes • Fun daily poker drawings and prizes • Luxurious European spas, cuisine and fine wine

OPTIONAL 24 Hours of Le Mans Race Extension Friday June 16 – Monday, June 19, 2017 $12,468 per person, double occupancy

SPONSORS

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Boatsdirect USA is your connection to new and used boats, and is the factory-direct outlet for Blackwater, Deep Impact Boats and Ocean Hawk. Between these three lines of performance center consoles any buyer on any budget can find the right boat to suit his boating lifestyle.See our display at the Key West Poker Run Village and Sponsor dock. WWW.BOATSDIRECTUSA.COM

KW 7

FAST LANE TRAVEL: Clearwater, FL For forty years, Fast Lane Travel has specialized in European motorsports touring, with a variety of turn-key travel adventures that feature high speed Autobahn motoring in late model Porsches, combined with five-star accommodations, dining and attractions. Visit company representatives at the Key West Poker Run Village, and ask about Florida Powerboat Clubâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s exclusive 2nd-annual 2017 Europe Poker Run event. WWW.FASTLANETRAVEL.COM

GROVE HARBOUR MARINA: Coconut Grove, FL Grove Harbour Marina is a full-service facility operated by marine experts, with indoor & outdoor rack storage, plus inwater dockage for yachts up to 120 feet. GHM is an official launching and staging marina for the 2016 Key West Poker Run.

HAULOVER MARINE CENTER: North Miami, FL WWW.GROVEHARBOURMARINA.COM

Haulover Marine Center is located within the 180-acre Haulover Park, in North Miami Beach just one mile from Haulover Inlet. This modern state-of-the-art marine facility is the largest and best equipped marina is South Florida, with all new Wiggins forklifts and direct access to the Haulover boat ramp. Visit Haulover Marine Center Staff at the Key West Poker Run Village.

HARDIN MARINE: Palm Coast, FL Hardin Marine remains at the forefront of marine product innovation after over 31 years. Weâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ve developed the most complete product lines in the performance marine industry, used extensively around the world. Visit Hardin Marine at their fifty foot mobile transport display, in the Key West Poker Run Village. WWW.HARDIN-MARINE.COM

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WWW.HAULOVERMARINECENTER.NET

MERCURY RACING: Fond-du-Lac, WI For us, innovation isn’t optional. The minute we finish an engine is the minute we start engineering its replacement. It’s more than tweaking the drive or increasing the horses. It’s about starting a revolution. We don’t just aim to outperform our competitors – we aim to outperform ourselves. Rome wasn’t built in a day. Neither were our numerous world championships. We’ve learned that the formula for success requires as much patience as it does genius. And because we don’t have to answer to anyone but the finish line, we take our time to perfect everything we make. Visit the Mercury Racing mobile display at the Key West Poker Run Village WWW.MERCURYRACING.COM

MIDNIGHT EXPRESS: Miami, Fl

LIBERTY COACH OF FLORIDA: Stuart, FL

After a recent relocation to a larger manufacturing facility in Miami, Midnight Express has expanded it's popular 43'center console to include new engineering features and outstanding power choices including Mercury Verados and 7 Marine V8 Outboards. Look for a new 60' Midnight Express in the near future which will be a game-changer in the luxury center console world.

We are a forward thinking company with an eye to the future always in search of the latest and greatest new equipment and designs. Much of our attention is devoted to the engineering of our luxury coaches to maximize the full potential of every component. See a Liberty Coach on display at the Key West Poker Run Village, and experience the Liberty Coach difference.

WWW.MIDNIGHTBOATS.COM

WWW.LIBERTYCOACH.COM

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MYSTIC POWERBOATS: Deland, FL Mystic Powerboats was founded in 1996, creating some of the most impressive high performance catamarans in the racing and poker run circles. More recently founder John Cosker has teamed up with Scott Sjogren to develop and market a full line of luxury center consoles. See the new Mystic 42' hard top on display at the Key West Poker Run Village.

MYSTICPOWERBOATS.COM

WAKE EFFECTS: Osage Beach, FL

NEXTERA ENERGY POWER MARKETING: N Palm Beach, FL NextEra Energy Power Marketing is one of the nationâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s leading electricity and natural gas marketers and a key player in energy markets in the United States and Canada. Team NextEra Energy is the largest Key West Poker Run sponsor team in attendance, so be sure to wave to their 45 participants aboard the motoryacht MIA, which returns as a poker run card checkpoint boat on the Thursday run.

WWW.NEXTERAENERGYRESOURCES.COM

NOR-TECH HI PERFORMANCE BOATS: N Fort Myers, FL

Wake Effects is Lake of the Ozarksâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; premier wake board and watersports retail dealer, offering a full line of wake boats, boards, accessories and professional instruction from staff pro-riders. More recently, owner Rusty Rahm ventured towards his true passion for high-performance powerboats, becoming an official dealer for MTI. See the Wake Effects MTI on display at the Key West Poker Run Village.

Since inception Nor-Tech set out to build exclusive products that were not available from the existing production or custom boat builders. In the early days the company was focused on delivering a handful of high-end custom machines. Along with a constantly evolving line of new center consoles and the stylish Monte Carlo Series, Nor-Tech remains true to its performance heritage, by still offering custom built 52 foot v-bottom and catamaran models. Visit Nor-Tech at the Key West Poker Run Village.

WWW.WAKEEFFECTS.COM

WWW.NOR-TECHBOATS.COM

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OffleaseOnly returns as the Key West Poker Run Grand Prize Sponsor, providing a $20,000 voucher towards the purchase any of their 4000-plus quality pre-owned vehicles. They will also display a Porsche 911 at the Fast Lane Travel display, in the Key West Poker Run Village.

OFFLEASEONLY.COM: Orlando to Miami, FL With three major Florida locations in Orlando, Lake Worth and Miami, and two more new stores on the way in Fort Lauderdale and Tampa, OffleaseOnly has risen to become one of the countryâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s leading used car dealers, featuring quality,

pre-owned and off-lease, late model cars and trucks that fit every budget! Even high-line cars including Mercedes, Bmw, Porsche, Jaguar, Ferrari, Audi, Rolls Royce and Bentley, can be found in the nearly 4,000 car inventory!

WWW.OFFLEASEONLY.COM

MTI

MTI: St. Louis, Missouri MTI After nearly a decade of record-breaking performances, race wins, World Championships, and design awards, we at MTI continue to focus on bringing radical new ideas to the world of performance powerboating. We are a privately held corporation; so we are able to concentrate our efforts on building boats of the highest caliber and have only our clients and race teams to answer to, not share holders.

WWW.MARINETECHNOLOGYINC.COM

PREDATOR POWERBOATS: Arendal, Norway Our success at Predator hasn't been overnight and it hasn't been by accident either. It's the product of many years of hard work, devotion, and innovative thinking. The driving force behind this is our passion for powerboats. Our strategy is to design and develop high quality products in consulting with: all of our vendors and customers to give our products the best possible result.

WWW.PREDATORBOATS.NO

OUTERLIMITS POWERBOATS: Bristol, RL

From the creative mind of the late Mike Fiore, Outerlimits unique design, exclusive technology, perfect craftsmanship and luxurious amenities redefined offshore power boating. As the most desirable high performance boats in the industry, Outerlimits fills a unique niche for those clients who want the best in offshore performance and want it their way. Without compromise, without limits, the extraordinary awaits you.

WWW.OUTERLIMITSPOWERBOATS.COM

SCI-SUPERIOR COMMUNICATIONS INC: Annapolis, MD Since 1973, SCI has served the Washington D.C. area, developing a national reputation for quality. SCI has engineered, programmed, installed, inspected, and maintained various projects including inbuilding wireless solutions, paging systems, and web solutions for over 40 years. SCI distributes a full line of Garmin and Icom marine electronics and continues to offer FPC members with attractive discounts as a member benefit. Substantial prizes have been donated by SCI to the 2016 Key West Poker Run.

WWW.SCICOMMO.COM

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SUNSATION POWERBOATS: Algonac, MI PERFORMANCE BOAT CENTER: Osage Beach, MO Performance Boat Center prides itself in being your one stop shop for all your boating needs. Our knowledgeable sales staff is here to offer any assistance as well as the most competitive pricing available on new Cigarette, Sunsation, Skater, Princess Yachts and pre-owned performance and pleasure boats.

Building performance boats “worth owning” is the driving force behind every custom hand built powerboat Sunsation creates. Delivering ride, style, innovation, performance and value not easily achieved in the industry today. Our unsurpassed quality and attention to detail earn us what we can’t buy; customers we’re proud to have join our family.

WWW.SUNSATIONBOATS.COM WWW.PERFORMANCEBOATCENTER.COM

SONIC POWERBOATS: Fort Pierce, FL

WCM WILSON CUSTOM MARINE: Stuart, FL Performance boating enthusiasts and racers from around the globe rely on WCM to provide expert propulsion tuning and set-up to achieve the maximum performance and speed for their craft. From blueprinting propellers and lower units, to applying high-tech coatings, Mark Wilson and his staff are the best in the business. Visit WCM owners & staff at the Key West Poker Run Village.

With overwhelming style, design and engineering, Sonic continues with its commitment to excellence pinnacle of performance. Building on the greatness of the past, and the new technology of today, Sonic defines the ultimate in luxury and performance boating.

WWW.WILSONCUSTOMMARINE.COM WWW.SONICBOATS.NET

OCEAN HAWK, FL Boats Direct USA revived the 80's styled Ocean Hawk which features a forward cabin, rugged offshore V-bottom design that performs amazingly with twin Mercury 300 Verados. Since April 2016 Stu & Jackie Jones have campaigned this model as an FPC paceboat and family adventure machine! See this Ocean Hawk offered for sale at the Key West Poker Run Village.

TOTAL DOLLAR MANAGEMENT: Fort Lauderdale,FL For decades, poker runners have relied on Total Dollar for High Performance insurance covering their V-bottom or catamaran high performance boats. Total Dollar offers competitive rates up to 130mph for v-bottoms, and to 160 mph for cats. Plus, FPC Gold and Platinum members receive attractive discounts. Meet company rep, Buzz Fyhrie at the Key West Poker Run Village, and get a quote!

WWW.BOATSDIRECTUSA.COM

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WWW.TOTALDOLLARFLORIDA.COM

2016 KEY WEST POKER RUN T-SHIRT V I S I T K E Y W ES T P O K E R R U N V I L L AG E TO PI C K U P YO U R S O U V E N I R

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POWERBOATING IN PARADISE | 93

Join the club. Join the fun. Six 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 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. $479.00/year*

GOLD MEMBERSHIP

Membership Includes all of the Standard Membership benefits, PLUS: • 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* VIDEO MEMBERSHIP Membership Includes all of the Social Membership benefits, plus: DVDs as they are released. (10-12 per year.)

Key West Poker Run, Emerald Coast Poker Run, Bahamas Poker Run, Sportboat Poker Run, Jacksonville Poker Run, Tampa Bay Poker Run, Fort Myers Poker Run, Miami Boat Show Poker Run. Events may vary.

$179.00/year*

COMMERCIAL MEMBERSHIP

Membership Includes: • Business card ad in our magazine • 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. $299.00/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.

94 | POWERBOATING IN PARADISE

MAKE THE HOLIDAYS...

PICTURE PERFECT! 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 8x10" to 24x36 In -house! • Larger sizes..no problem! • Variety of frames to choose from, shatterproof Lucite

PRINT SIZE

PRICE PER PRINT

CUSTOM FRAME

16x24 20x24 20x30 24x30 24x36

$ 85.00 $ 95.00 $ 100.00 $ 125.00 $ 150.00

$ 150.00 $ 160.00 $ 175.00

• 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!

$ 225.00

$ 250.00

Custom sizes to 4’x 8’ now available! Call for pricing

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

MOTHER

SHIP AFFORDING THE PLEASURE OF LUXURY HAS NEVER BEEN EASIER THAN WITH FPCâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;S NEW FRACTIONAL OWNERSHIP CLUB.

oating in Florida creates endless opportunities for those who enjoy being on and around the water. The all-new Florida Fractional Ownership Club offers a unique and creative way for powerboating enthusiasts to own the yacht of their dreams for just a fraction of the cost. Fractional owners will increase the enjoyment of their Florida boating lifestyle without having to sacrifice the ownership and pleasures of operating their existing powerboat. The Florida Fractional Club offers an affordable program for those wishing to own a luxury yacht that is professionally managed and ready for cruising with family, friends and business clientele.

With exciting cruising agendas that include the East and West coasts of Florida, the Florida Keys and the Bahamas, this unique concept in yacht ownership provides a turn-key approach to pleasure cruising. Florida Powerboat Club members who choose to participate in fractional ownership may find themselves enjoying the use of their own yacht during FPC poker runs in addition to weeks of additional use in some of the most exotic boating destinations around the tropics. For about the cost of owning and maintaining an average powerboat, a fractional owner can enhance their boating lifestyle without having the investment that come with sole ownership.

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FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS HOW IS OWNERSHIP CONVEYED? Owners purchase shares in the Florida Fractional Club LLC. This is one of the safest ways to share ownership. HOW MUCH TIME DO I GET? You get a guaranteed number of weeks on a rotating annual schedule. You can also trade, increase or sell time aboard your yacht as needed. IS FINANCING AVAILABLE? Yes. We assist new owners with financing if they meet our requirements. We offer a great program at low interest rates. WHAT SERVICES DO I GET? The Florida Fractional Club provides all management and concierge services related to maintenance and operation of the boat. CAN I RESELL? Yes, most definitely. We love to assist our owners with re-sale.

"Own the yacht of your dreams for just a fraction of the cost".

Fractional ownership allows buyers to invest in a luxury yacht in proportion to the time that they will actually spend in the vessel. The main salon of the Sunseeker Predator is spacious and well designed with an open and functional layout. Editorâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Note: Images are for concept only and are not the actual boat placed in this program.

POWERBOATING IN PARADISE | 97

2017 EVENTS

JAN

WINTER POKER RUN TO FL KEYS

FEB

MIAMI INTERNATIONAL BOAT SHOW

27-29 16-20

FEB 17

FEB

23-26

MAR

Winter Poker Run to Hawks Cay Resort, Duck Key - Limited number of spacious marina view villas available! Miami Boat Show returns to its new venue at Virginia Key. Visit FPC and our new booth location at booth F-620 in the main tent.

25th ANNUAL FPC MIAMI BOAT SHOW BASH

Monty’s Miami Beach Marina. Food - Fun - Live Entertainment!

23rd ANNUAL MIAMI BOAT SHOW POKER RUN

This exciting event takes on a new direction as we visit Faro Blanco Resort and Marina - Marathon, FL, which features Hyatt Place rooms and marine facilities.

TAMPA BAY POKER RUN

16-19

The Tampa Bay Poker Run returns to the highly acclaimed Renaissance Vinoy Resort & Marina plus historic Birchwood Hotel on the vibrant St. Pete waterfront.

APR

FPC FORT MYERS POKER RUN

MAY

4th ANNUAL KEY WEST AIR LAND SEA POKER RUN

21-23 5-7

MAY 8-12

MAY

25-28

After a three year absence, FPC returns to the luxurious landmark Pink Shell Resort and Marina, Fort Myers, FL. Miami to Key West...In addition to powerboats, this event welcomes cars, motorcycles and even recreational aircraft!

2nd ANNUAL FLORIDA-HAVANA POWERBOAT RALLY

Key West to Havana Cuba. 38’ Hull requirement due to gulf stream seas. Registration due 90 days prior event. Depart Key West Monday 8th-4 nights in Cuba - Return to Key West, Friday 12th.

16th ANNUAL LEVERICK BAY BVI POKER RUN Puerto Rico to Virgin Gorda, BVI. Round 1 of 3-Event Caribbean Triple Crown Series. (FPC Coordinating all logistics & boat shipping with ro/ro vessels via Port of Jacksonville to Puerto Rico.)

JUN

2nd ANNUAL EUROPEAN POKER RUN

JUN-JUL

26th ANNUAL BAHAMAS POKER RUN

9-16

29-2

Stuttgart Germany to Italy with optional 24Hr LeMans Extended trip. Drive brand new Porsches across the European countryside and join the Autobahn 150mph club! Bimini (Thurs - Sun) and extended trip to Abacos (through Wed July 5) Resorts World Bimini Hilton + luxurious villas available. Two Abaco destinations planned!

JUL

ST MAARTEN SXM POKER RUN

AUG

25th ANNUAL EMERALD COAST POKER RUN

20-23 8-13

SEP-OCT

29-1

NOV 7-13

(Event #3- Triple Crown Series) St. Thomas USVI to St Marten (one day run) Three days in SXM. Poker run Sunday July 23rd. Destin & Fort Walton Beach FL - Boat Week activities begin Tues Aug 8th! This is FPC’s top Charity fund-raising event, partnering with Emerald Coast Foundation to raise almost $150K annually!

FPC FALL BIMINI BLAST

Fort Lauderdale to Resorts World Bimini Hilton( Friday dep- return Sunday)

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!

AD INDEX

ACTIVE THUNDER........................................................... 33 AMERICAN CUSTOM MARINE......................................... 29 AO COOLERS................................................................... 53 BOATS DIRECT USA........................................................ 69 BOOST POWER ENGINES ...............................................IBC BROWARD TRAILER........................................................ 41 COMPLETE MARINE........................................................ 45 CUSTOM MARINE............................................................ 23 DEEP IMPACT.................................................................... 9 DOLLER OFFSHORE MARINE............................................19 DANIA BEACH OFFSHORE.............................................. 53 FAST LANE TRAVEL ........................................................ 75 FLORIDA FRACTIONAL CLUB ......................................... 96 FPC MEMBERSHIP ........................................................ 94 FPC PICTURE ORDER .................................................... 95 GEICO RACE TEAM.......................................................... 31 GROVE HARBOR MARINA.................................................11 JET DOCK........................................................................ 51 LIVORSI............................................................................15 MERCURY RACING......................................................... IFC OCEAN HAWK.................................................................. 93 OCEAN LED..................................................................... 65 OFFLEASE ONLY................................................................ 5 OUTERLIMITS.................................................................. 27 PERFORMANCE BOAT CENTER........................................ 25 SCI SUPERIOR COMMUNICATIONS...................................13 PMT................................................................................ 67 SONIC POWERBOATS...................................................... 39 SPEEDWEAR................................................................... 53 TEAGUE CUSTOM MARINE..........................................BACK TOTAL DOLLAR INSURANCE........................................... 37 WESTREC MARINAS....................................................... 35 WOZENCRAFTINSURANCE.............................................. 57

ADVERTISING DEADLINED: NEXT ISSUE VOL 16#4 AD MATERIALS: JANUARY 15TH Disclaimer: Please note the 2017 event planning is a constantly ongoing process, that will most certainly see changes to dates and events along the way. The following 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.

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