Powerboating In Paradise: Issue 11 #1

Miami Boat Show SpecialEdition A M agazine Showc asing the Florida Powerboat Club Lifest yle VOL 11 #1

$CJCOCU 2QMGT 4WP &KUEQXGTKPI VJG 0'9 $KOKPK &KUEQXGTKPI VJG 0'9 &KUEQXGTKPI VJG 0'9 $KOKPK 0'9 $KOKPK VJ #PPWCN

'OGTCNF %QCUV 2QMGT 4WP 2CTCFKUG KP VJG 2CPJCPFNG CU 6JG $KI 1PG TCKUGU DKI EJCTKV[ DWEMU

-G[ 9GUV 2QMGT 4WP (2% 5KIPCVWTG GXGPV GCTPU KVU RNCEG CV VJG VQR

6JG DQCVKPI OCI VJCV RTQOKUGU GXGT[ KUUWG KU C

5YKOUWKV KUUWG

WWW.FLPOWERBOAT.COM

YOU CAN PURCHASE ANY PHOTO IN THIS MAGAZINE BY VISITING www.flpowerboat.com/gallery

POWERBOATING IN PARADISE MAGAZINE Miami Boat Show Special Edition

EDITOR/PUBLISHER Stu Jones stu.fpc@gmail.com

4

Birds of feather flock together, and the Sportboat Poker Run was created for sporfish and center console boats.

Here’s a final glimpse of this fun weekend in Key Largo.

10

Juan C Grisales fpcmag@gmail.com Stu Jones Jim Wenger

EVENT COORDINATORS Jackie Jones Laura Schrader fpcevents@gmail.com

MEMBER SERVICES

Laura Schrader fpcservices@gmail.com

Monday - Friday 10 AM - 5 PM

All copyright laws apply.

No part of this publication may be reproduced without the expressed written permission of the publisher

BAHAMAS POKER RUN 2010:

Boating adventures in the Bahamas are limitless…you just have to get there! In this feature we’ll join a dozen poker run teams as they head Bimini Bound, for a mid-summer escape to paradise.

From sandy beaches to friendly stingrays, most of our fun loving participants will agree, it was an experience of a lifetime!

Join members of the Florida Powerboat Club for this annual summer festival called Boat Week, which draws hundreds of boats from across the country. The Sandestin to Pensacola, the waterways came alive with thousands of fun-loving, sun worshipping boaters that make the BIG ONE their final stand, before summer fades away to fall.

30

FLORIDA POWERBOAT CLUB

POMPANO OFFICE HOURS

6

18TH ANNUAL EMERALD COAST POKER RUN 2010:

Direct all inquiries to

1214 S.W. 6 st Pompano Beach, FL 33069 Tel: 954.545-1414 Fax: 954.782-2452 www.FLPOWERBOAT.com

News and Views from FPC Founder & President.

SPORTBOAT POKER RUN 2010:

GRAPHIC DESIGNER PHOTOGRAPHY

LETTER FROM THE PRESIDENT

COLUMBUS REGATTA 2010:

With all the hype and bad publicity from the BP Gulf Oil Crisis, some boaters may have steered away from this festive event…boy were they mistaken!

Clean waters, pristine Beaches and boat week parties kept this event at Blockbuster status it deserves.

18TH ANNUAL KEY WEST POKER RUN PART I:

Our signature FPC poker run event, no matter how you slice it.

The week-long format, the multiple departures, the scenic ride through the keys, the text-book weather, the incredible powerboats, the 360 degree eye candy, the 24-7 partying and the spirited participants that travel thousands of miles to attend!

66

20

40

Florida Powerboat Club 2011 Event Calendar

Its not entirely complete, but the BIG ONES are there and its time to mark you calendars.. 2011 Promises new Adventures in Paradise!

On the Cover: Blasting across tropical bay waters, the Sanibel Poker Run provided ideal conditions in the Gulf of Mexico for the scenic ride from Fort Myers Beach to Everglades City. For full coverage of this poker run, see Powerboating in Paradise Vol 10#2.

The Ladies? What did you expect? It’s the Florida Powerboat Club! While some magazines have their annual Swimsuit Issue, we’re pleased to report that every issue of Powerboating in Paradise is a Swimsuit issue!

T

Letter from the

February 2011

President

he ink in this issue of Powerboating in Paradise may very well still be drying as you rifle through the pages of our first 2011 issue. It was a mad dash to the printer, and while we tried to pull 80+ pages together, we settled for a 68-page book and we hope you like it. But for the opening words, I’d like to reserve this Letter from the President for a special message about Florida Powerboat Club.

At this 2011 edition of the Miami Boat Show, I am proud to celebrate my 20th anniversary of working every consecutive year of this world famous Miami International Boat Show…. since February 1991! (if you do the math, that’s 21 years in a row!) With the exception of that very first year, I have extended my hand in thousands of greetings and introductions, as Stu Jones, President of the Florida Powerboat Club. So what’s that say? Well first the obvious, that I guess by now I’m really screwed on potential career changes because who’d hire a middle-aged dude with a onejob resume?? Ok, seriously, the significance is that through thick and thin, over rough seas and through every figurative storm, some powerful forces have kept me here, doing what I truly love.

What started as a passion for boating and a longing for fun in the sun, is what got me here from the cold Canadian winters. But that is not necessarily what has kept me here.

What kept me here, at the helm of Florida Powerboat Club, is the thousands of incredible people I’ve met in this twenty year journey. People who are passionate about life, relentless in their pursuit of adventures afloat, and intoxicated by the camaraderie of the “group setting”, that magically makes it a better experience for all of us.

Stu & Jackie Jones

But who are these “people” that make up the Florida Powerboat Club? It may have been an easy answer in the early 90’s, but the range and diversity of people and the worldwide reach is now staggering. From the cultural mosaic of unique individuals spanning the globe that make up the core of our active membership roster, to the incredible engineering feats of our performance marine trade associates who now build some of the most outrageously over-the-top recreational toys known to man….the very essence of “what is” the Florida Powerboat Club has evolved to a very powerful force, that has a rapid and continuous pulse. Florida Powerboat Club is now a very tangible, measurable entity.

But it may not be very easy for some folks to gain a true appreciation of the magnitude of “what is FPC” or how far we’ve come, unless you’ve been around this performance boating scene for a while. So I would say…just look at some of the obvious facts: 1. We now have our own bona fide sport…call it performance boating, which barely existed two decades ago. 2. we operate our own industrial sector within a very enormous global marine industry, and in spite of recent economic woes, performance boating as a recreation, is very much rising up out of infancy, and maturing. Sure we’ve had a few hiccups…sure we all have to continually address challenges with the state of the economy, environmental constraints, government intervention and opposition in the public arena, but we are still very much surviving. If we all remain passionate about our sport, and focused on doing whatever “we” can to project a positive public image of our sport, we will have many great years ahead.

To this day I often get comical introductions by many of my peers, that go something like this. “Meet Stu Jones…he’s got the best job in the world!”

You know, I may bitch a little and be a bit of a hard ass at times, but with all the great experiences and incredible people that support this organization, I’d have to agree 100%.

It’s just incredible!

Stu Jones President & Founder Florida Powerboat Club

Got a comment for me?

E-mail me at stu.fpc@gmail.com

速 39 Center Console

4000 Roadster

5000 Roadster

427 Supervee

5000 Supervee

All new 80 Roadster

Editorial & Photos by Stu Jones Aerial Photography by Jim Wenger

We presented a few editorial pages of the 2010 Sportboat Poker Run in our last issue of Powerboating in Paradise Magazine, but at the time of publication, we did not have the aerial photos at our fingertips. So with all due respect and in the spirit of fairness to our dedicated participants, we’re happy to release this short but sweet photo collage from the May 2010 Sportboat Poker Run to Key Largo, an event that unfortunately, will not make it back on the 2011 agenda.

Hey we tried! The sad reality is that after two consecutive years of having less than fifteen participant boats, we just feel it’s time to focus our event planning efforts on other FPC events that represent a broader interest group within the

FPC membership roster. Now for those of you with open or center console sportboats, rest assured…you’re welcome on any FPC poker run event, and we still promote the “Sport Cruising” class, with cruising speeds of 50 mph on all poker run events! SJ

t

Derek Wachob (OK) and compay were joined by Skip Braver (Cigarette) and David Woods (Pier 57) for the leisurely ride to the Keys. It was a relaxed departure for all three, who might normally be speeding around with much faster company.

Mark Fischer from Repoboatsdirect.com provided a 35 Renegade as Official Paceboat, giving Stu , Jackie and the kids their first ride in this Miami-built cen-

q

6

ter console. Ironically, just a few months later, the boat mysteriously appeared beside the Jones residence on a neighbor’s boat lift… apparently it had a new owner!

POWERBOATING IN PARADISE

Rick Link from South Carolina snuck in a poker run on his new Cigarette Top Fish, which he had taken delivery of just one day earlier. Now that’s how to celebrate with your new boat!

q

t

Midnight Express arrived with not one, but two of their popular models…a classic 39 and the new 34 model. But it wasn’t just the boats that got attention… their attractive crew members on both boats won them the Sexiest Crew award!

u

Mike Sanz Jr, put the family Fountain BLUE LABEL through the paces, a boat that has made many FPC poker runs, and open many eyes at the same time, with speeds close to 70 mph!!

q

Carl Hansen and Team DEEP IMPACT made no compromises with their poker run entry, a colorful 36 Deep Impact with triple Yamaha 350HP outboards.

Even Ed Reiskamp’s 47 Lightning BLOWN INVESTMENT was excused from meeting the Sportboat format for the event….because after all, everyone is welcome on a Florida Powerboat Club event!

q

POWERBOATING IN PARADISE

7

E

ven for most performance boat owners, there comes a time when your offshore powerboat just doesn’t provide the right platform for dinner cruising in South Florida along the Intracoastal waterways or entertaining your friends and family when the crew grows to eight or ten guests. That’s one of the reasons that Florida Powerboat Club created a unique, specialized charter business designed exclusively for our FPC members. Starting with an entry level forty foot express cruiser to the incredible Nortech 80 Performance Yacht, Florida Powerboat Adventures can provide anything from a short four hour dinner or sight-seeing cruise, to a weeklong excursion to paradise in the Florida Keys or Bahamas. The FPC staff works closely with boat and yacht owners who, in some cases, have been longtime Florida Powerboat Club members as well. We can promise the best rates, fantastic service and a fabulous experience for you and your guests!

GOOD KNIGHTS Nor-Tech Super 80 Performance Yacht 80’ Foot – Twin Caterpillar Diesel Cruise Speed 35-40 mph. Top Speed 60 mph.

Three cabins, spacious cockpit and aft deck.

12’ Tender & watertoys.

Rates from: $ 3000 half day to $ 6000/full day.

New Homeport: Now in Nassau Bahamas.

48 FOUNTAIN EXPRESS Triple Cummins Diesel Cruise speed- 40-50 mph. Top Speed 60 mph Two Cabins, large open cockpit.

Ideal for dinner cruises and will do Bahamas in no time!

Rates from: $ 2500/half day to $ 4,000 full day.

Homeport: Fort Lauderdale

CLUBHOUSE 40 Cruisers Yachts 43’ Overall- Wide 13’9 Beam. Twin Yanmar Diesel Cruise Speed: 32 mph Top Speed: 39 mph.

Two Cabins, large salon and comfortable cockpit.

Walk through windshield for to forward deck cushions.

Rates from: $1250/half day to $ 2,500 full day.

MORE AVAILABLE BOATS & YACHTS COMING SOON! CALL STU: 954-545-1414 OR CELL 954-684-9333 Florida Powerboat Adventures, Inc. 1214 SW 6th St. Pompano Beach, FL 33069

Editorial & Photos by Stu Jones Aerial Photography by Jim Wenger

In May of 1992, a small group of powerboats headed out from Haulover Inlet for a short romp to Bimini, just 50 miles from Miami. While participants may not have realized they were making history, this small event has been archived as Florida Powerboat Club’s first official organized Bahamas Cruise. In the nearly two decades that have followed, hundreds of Florida Powerboat Club boats and thousands of FPC participants have crossed the gulf stream to a variety of islands in the Bahamas, spanning the Abacos , Grand

Bahama Island, and the distant Paradise Island near the nation’s capital, Nassau.

Six sunny days of powerboating fun kept sixty five participants from the United States, Canada and Europe on an exciting excursion from Fort Lauderdale to the Florida Keys, which continued to Bimini in the Bahamas. The annual Bahamas Poker Run had been slated to kick-off at Old Bahama Bay and Port Lucaya on Grand Bahama Island, however an unseasonal high pressure weather system created

HONEYMOON HARBOUR, BIMINI There are not many places quite as beautiful as this sandy cove, about five miles south of Bimini. In a word, it is simply, Sublime.

Marta from Germany traded the sunpad of the 38 Donzi for her red inflatable raft, to cool off in the refreshing waters.

10

POWERBOATING IN PARADISE

strong winds and big seas, forcing the group to head south and spend their first two days in Islamorada, where guests enjoyed accommodations at the Cheeca Lodge.

By Saturday, the weather improved and the colorful fleet was able to cross the gulf stream safely where the group settled in for three nights at the Bimini Bay Resort. Weekend highlights included feeding the stingrays at Honeymoon Harbour and golf-cart cruising through the small villages of Alicetown,

Baileytown and Porgytown on North Bimini. We hope this collection of photos tells a better story, and we invite all of our members to start planning ahead for our next adventure to the Bahamas, slated in the FPC calendar for July 21-26, 2011. Some special prep is required and certain documents are necessary for your vessel, so be sure to call the FPC office at least two months in advance, if you wish to attend. See you then! SJ

Dual 38’s! Donzi made a splash on the run, with not one but two Donzi 38 ZR’s It was the second Bahamas trip for boat boats.

POWERBOATING IN PARADISE

11

Morechell & Bonita Pryer (VA) enjoyed their first Bahamas excursion on their 47 Fountain, Team NO LIMITS.

Dolph & Kim Williams (LA) returned for their third Bahamas Poker Run in their 38 Donzi, VIPERS & VIXENS powered

by ILMOR V10’s

It wasn’t their first rodeo, as Larry & Amy Luna (TX) made the trip in their 36 NorTech Suipercat, GUNSLINGER. David & Kelli York (TX) have become seasoned veterans of the Bahamas, attending the Bahamas Poker Run at least four times in recent years, in their 39 Cigarette, SHOCKING BEHAVIOR.

12

POWERBOATING IN PARADISE

If you swear this is the Keys, not the Bahamas, you’re absolutely correct. The first lunch stop on Thursday was at Alabama Jacks in Key Largo, as the fleet diverted southbound to avoid the rough gulf stream waters.

Josh & Shellie Divin from Texas were joined by two other couples on their Fountain 38 Sportfish ALL OUT. They made it to the Keys and back to Miami, but were unable to continue to the Bahamas. Maybe next time!

Richard & Brigette Roberts ( Quebec) enjoyed their first Bahamas adventure aboard their Nor-Tech 4300 Supervee, KILIMAN.

Paul Bertucci (MS) and gal Elizabeth (inset) offered BEER MONEY as our official paceboat for the run. The triple engine Nor-Tech 4300 Supervee ran and looked as good as it did when it was new, in 2004! Now that’s good maintenance‌. Thanks Paul!

Harald Bertsch came a long way from Germany, with first made Marta, to take part in the annual escape to paradise. The Mercury 525efi powered Donzi ZR performed well on all counts, with the only hiccup being a thrown prop blade in the last five miles of the trip back to homeport, Grove Harbour Marina.

14

POWERBOATING IN PARADISE

Above & Right: It’s all Thumbs Up for Cass Shewbert, who returned from Texas, making the run in his 38 Cigarette Top Gun, LIQUID PROZAC.

Rooster tails make for artistic photos.

The sites of Bimini: Lunch and a Kalik at Stewart’s Conch Salad bar.

The golf cart adventure to the beachs of North Bimini.

Kenny Armstrong (TX) in his 44 MTI, HELL RAZOR. And raise hell he did! Why? Because he works hard, so he plays even harder!!

The Campbell Clan (TX) made the Bahamas Poker Run a family affair, on their new 37 Active Thunder, RIDIN DIRTY. Below: Jeff & Tassie Campbell with kids Kaycee and Colton who each brought along friend along.

16

POWERBOATING IN PARADISE

17

POWERBOATING IN PARADISE

Harald and Marta.

Bonita & Richard Pryer Elizabeth and Paul on Beer Money

Jackie celebrated her 40th!

Lisa, Robbie, Kelli & Diamond Dave.

q

The Girls of ALL-IN.

Robbie takes the plunge!

Elizabeth, Jackie & Gretchen.

Beach Bash- North Bimini Pool Party Cheeca Lodge

u

Amy & her noodle.

18

POWERBOATING IN PARADISE

Up close with the Stingrays, at Honeymoon Harbour.

POWERBOATS TO THE RESCUE! The Big One saves a slumbering summer economy in the Panhandle.

Editorial & Photography by Stu Jones

The 18th Annual Emerald Coast Poker Run fought the challenges of the BP gulf coast oil crisis and the lingering economic resession, pulling together a modest poker roster of 130 registered teams. Powerboaters from Texas to New York, and as far away as Norway invaded the playful resort towns of Fort Walton Beach and Destin, which hosted the annual event. Poker run parties and fund raising activities began as early as Wednesday, and included Thursday evening Miss Boat Week Contest, a Friday night Rock the Docks Party at AJ’s Seafood & Oyster Bar in Destin Harbor.

Intermittent thunder showers, which are typical of the August gulf coast climate, interupted some of the poker run activities throughout the weekend, but never dampened the spirits of over six hundred participants and hundreds of checkpoint volunteers that assisted with poker run logistics and fundraising efforts. Helicopters flew three consecutive days, as FPC member John Woodruff offered his flying time 20

POWERBOATING IN PARADISE

Friday in his Bell Longer Ranger, and Panhandle helicopters from Panama City Beach, flew Saturday and Sunday to photograph the awesome poker run fleet. A “no-fly” restriction due to President Obama’s Panama City Beach visit, forced Panhandle to “trailer” their Robinson R44 to Destin to cover the event! Among the showstoppers on the course, were the Turbine Marine powered Statement! Passion Cat, and the colorful Outerlimits 46 Limited, owned by new member Jim Moore from Kentucky. The two teams took home Best Catamaran and Best Vee-Bottom respectively, while the coveted Sexiest Crew award went home with the ladies aboard Mike Fulgham’s 38 Formula “Yea Baby” from Texas.

z

The big Saturday night bash at the Emerald Coast Conference Center brought poker runners together for a festive evening, where participants played out their poker hands, placed bids on dozens of silent auction items, and enjoyed the ceremonies that included sponsor introductions and FPC Peoples Choice awards, with plenty of comical moments along the way. I had the pleasure of sharing the stage with Emerald Coast Foundation president Chris Sehman, who aptly recognized key players in the event, notably Elaine Stevens from title Sponsor IP Casino Resort & Spa. Along with the generous contributions of sponsors and poker run participants, the 2010 Emerald Coast Poker Run pulled out of the shadows of the BP Oil Spill, raising in excess of $ 100,000 for a variety of youth charities that fall under the benefit umbrella of the Emerald Coast Foundation.

Tor Staubo- Norway Team GASSE. 48 MTI, Twin Mercury Racing HP1200Sci. Making the trans-Atlantic crossing all the way from Norway, FPC member Tor Staubo made his first visit to the Emerald Coast Poker Run, after hearing from other boaters how much fun he was missing. As he left the Saturday party with his daughter he commented to Stu..”What an awesome poker run! I’m glad we came!”

The Island of many names…a popular stopover for poker runners and spectator boats

q

Clark Beecher (TX) 37’ Active Thunder Team STEALIN’ THUNDER

Noriega Point- Destin Harbor – The big hangout on Friday afternoon But also a popular hangout for boaters on any given weekend.

Bob Blandford (FL) 36’ Nor-Tech Supercat Team NOR-TECH

Sam Jirik (AZ) 28’ Skater Team CARBON CREDIT

Bill Robbins (TX) 40’ Nor-Tech Roadster Team ALL IN

Steve Britton (FL) 30’ Cigarette Team SHAKE N BAKE Clay Tiller (TX) 33’ Powerplay Team ON THE EDGE

Tommy Lee Derouen (LA) 36’ Eliminator Team CHAT FOU Nick Buis (FL) 50’ Statement Passion Cat Team STATEMENT! Greg & Brenda McCauley (MO) 42’ Marine Technology Inc. Team MTI

22

POWERBOATING IN PARADISE

mercruiserparts.com

Jim & Susan Moore- KY 46 Outerlimits Limited Team EXTREME INSANITY

Jauna’s Pagodas- Navarre Checkpoint at west end of the course.

Cody & Veronica Lovins (TX) 38’ Donzi ZR Team DREAM WARRIOR

Dave & Jan Newman (FL) 28’ Sunsation Team JAN-SATION

AJ’s Oyster Bar –Destin Poker Run sponsor and major poker run hangout.

Allen & Starla Bruce(SC) 33’ Eliminator Team ELIMINATOR

Jason Bergstrom (GA) 34’ Nordic Team FOOLISH

24

POWERBOATING IN PARADISE

Leo Mediamolle (LA) 38’ Donzi ZR Comp Team DONZI GIRL

Randy Martin( TN) 39’ Donzi ZR Comp Team THUNDERSTRUCK Jim & Lynn Archambault(GA) 42’ Nordic Team KEEPIN’ IT REEL

Amos & Deb Lisenby (FL) 42’ Fountain Team KNOTY KNOTY

Helen Back Party Central at Crab Island every Sunday!

Free pizza and chicken fights? It’s all good!

Aldo Waters-OK 39’ MTI Team 1N110

Thomas Roper (TX) 40’ Baja Outlaw Team 40 SOMETHING

POWERBOATING IN PARADISE

25

No better way to wrap up a poker run than with a free beach concert featuring legendary rockers Lynyrd Skynyrd. Special thanks to Emerald Coast CVB and the Boardwalk for putting it all together!

Miss Boat Week Contest At The Swamp

We Wouldn’t Dare…close

out this Emerald Coast Poker Run feature without a few snapshots of the sexy ladies from the Miss Boat Week Contest. If you want to see more, you’ll just have to join us on the next Big One! Aug 11-14, 2011! See you there!

SJ

AJ’s at night: A floating boat show of gleaming fiberglass and horsepower. Indeed Pier 57 played a big part staging the colorful display!

Winner: Miss Boat Week 2010

www.legendmarinegroup.com

The landmark EMERALD GRANDE, a Legendary property that Hundreds of poker runners call home for their visit to Destin.

Don & Alice Lightfoot(TX) 43’ Nor-Tech Supercat Team FOOTLOOSE

Stephen & Kelly Marino (AL) 38’ Fountain Lightning Team HAIR TRIGGER Barry Shumake (GA) 42’ Fountain Executioner Team MISMANAGEMENT

Hall Bohlinger (FL) 58’ SeaRay Sedan Bridge Team MS. MARSEA

Vu Nguyen (LA) 38’ Donzi ZR Team SEE VU PLAY

Peter Bos (FL) 73’ Donzi Roscioli Sporfish Team EMERALD GRANDE Dolph & Kim Williams (LA) 38’ Donzi ZR Team VIPERS & VIXENS

28

POWERBOATING IN PARADISE

John Lomant (GA) 28’ Nordic Cat Team FASTLANE Craig Harrell (AL) 35’ Fountain Lightning Team HARRELL RACING

Ron Paul (FL) 46’ Outerlimits Limited The PAUL TEAM AJ’s in Destin hosted the Friday night Poker Run Kickoff party…which rocked til the wee hours!

Gerry Swanson (MS) 47’ Fountain Lightning Team LUNA SEA

Brian Cole (TX) 42’ Fountain Executioner Team POKHER FACE

David Alvis ( LA) 30’ Baja Outlaw Team DOUBLE DOWN

POWERBOATING IN PARADISE

29

Columbus Day Regatta: !

Boats, babes, beads and big speakers!

It was a beautiful sunny weekend at Elliott Key, just south of Miami, as a small group of FPC members rafted up to Jackie and Stu’s 40 foot express cruiser, Clubhouse, for some fun in the sun.

If you haven’t experienced the annual Columbus Day Regatta, it’s worth at least putting in on your boating bucket list.

Why? Well, let’s just say it’s a sight to behold. It’s certainly not the most sophisticated event in the world, but you have plenty of time Monday to Friday to use your brain at work or in your normal re-

I ' m on a b oat!

sponsible routine. This weekend, if you can get your boat safely on anchor in a fairly central location amidst a sea of festive weekend partyers, that’s about the biggest challenge you’ll have all weekend. The rest will just seem to fall into place. Trust me on that.. And BTW, if you plan to spend the night, take some ear plugs!

SJ

Miss Key West Poker Run 2010 LAUREN KELLY Crowned at the Fort Lauderdale Boat Show

Special thanks to our Judges!

Marc Berman, Terry Sobo, Gary Jones, Joe Schaldenbrand and Mike Flanigan

38

POWERBOATING IN PARADISE

Editorial & Photos by Stu Jones Aerial Photography by Jim Wenger

T

he 2010 Edition of the Key West Poker Run might well go into the FPC record books as having the best boating weather in the last decade. The Fall conditions were superb, with clear, sunny skies and daily temperatures in the low 80’s. But it was the continuous days of light winds, making for calm seas and fair-weather boating, not only in protected bay areas, but also in the offshore waters, where the “final leg” from Marathon to Key West can make or break an otherwise pleasant day for poker runners.

Kicking off on Tuesday Nov 9th at SeaIsle Marina, the weeklong poker run format featured four continuous days of departures, giving over seven hundred participants from

around the globe the powerboat ride of their lives. As they enjoyed the 165 mile scenic journey from Miami, through Key Largo, Tavernier, Islamorada and Marathon, participants plucked poker cards along the way for a chance to win a 2010 Ford Mustang Convertible provided by title sponsor Offleaseonly.com.

Sponsorship participation from the performance marine trade elevated to new heights for this signature Florida Powerboat Club poker run, as powerboaters from more than two dozen states and ten countries began to emerge from the depths of the global economic downturn. There was a presence of marine manufacturers, boat and auto dealers, even

Red Reynolds (WI) 80’ Nor-Tech Roadster Team LADY LISA

Ray Aquit (FL) 36’ Nor-Tech Supercat Team BLUE PRINT

Key West 2010 Manufacturers’ Cup

recreational vehicle retailers, who arrived in full force to fill every available square foot of the Key West Poker Run Village at the FPC poker run headquarters alongside the Conch Republic Seafood Company.

The event headquarters in the heart of the Historic Seaport provided the ideal location, as poker run activities included a Friday night Sponsor Appreciation Party with a sexy swimwear fashion show, followed by a Saturday fun run to the popular Boca Grande beach island, where close to one hundred boats gathered for a perfect day. The Saturday night bash featured a fantastic spread of prime rib and the

Ozzie Castelnou (NY) 43’ Nor-Tech Supervee Team WIZARD OF OZ

famous Key West Pink shrimp, as hundreds of poker hands were played out. Congratulations to Greg & Brenda McCauley from Missouri, owners of a 42 MTI, for winning their first FPC poker run, taking home the Grand Prize Ford Mustang Convertible.

Many other prizes were awarded in several categories, with special mention to Nor-Tech High Performance Boats for winning the Manufacturers Cup, with 22 registered NorTech owners on the run, and to Pier 57 for their fantastic new hospitality trailer, which won them Best Poker Run Village Display.

Henrik Margard (FL) Nor-Tech Super 80’ Team: GOOD KNIGHTS

q

Gilberts on Wednesday: For seven straight days, Gilberts Key Largo hosted a continuous flow of the most impressive offshore powerboats on the waters, as poker runners stopped in for a hardy lunch, a squirt of fuel, and that a little taste of that cozy rustic atmosphere that says…”You’ve arrived in the Keys!”

q

Tim & Sally Poynter (OH) 35’ Fountain Team MUSTANG SALLY

George Campbell (OH) 38’ Fountain Lightning Team DREWS ON THE RIVER Joe Calvanese (CT) 40’ Skater Team DE CAL

Official Paceboat- Tuesday Run

Jim Moore (KY) 46 Outerlimits

42

POWERBOATING IN PARADISE

Bill Beischel (OH) 36’ Spectre Team SHORT CIRCUIT

Anton Holstrum (SC) 35’ Fountain Lighning Team HAMMER DOWN

Ray Aquit (FL) 36 Nor-Tech Supercat Team BLUE PRINT

Pat Santa Maria-MA 36’ Skater Team PAYBACK

Frank Lindaberry (NJ) 42 MTI Team VAPOR TRAIL Kerry Leong-CANADA 44’ Outerlimits GTX Team HOLY SMOKE 1st Place Winner: Key West Poker Run Mike Lattomus 42’ Outerlimits Legacy Team OUT OF DENARO

Greg & Brenda McCauley (MO) 42’ MTI Team MTI

Joe Castellana (NY) 46’ Skater Team AWESOME MOTORSPORTS John O’Loughlin (NY) 48’ Outerlimits Cat Team JUSTICE

Dennis Linehan (DE) 36’ Sonic 358 Team DON’T PANIC

44

POWERBOATING IN PARADISE

There are several FPC members that own multiple boats, but it’s a real art when they manage to bring two boats on the same poker run. Joe Cain from Fort Lauderdale figured it out for the Key West Run, taking his Donzi 38 ZX on the poker run, and having his Nordhaven Trawler ready to use in Key West for cruising to Boca Grande and watching the boat races.

Derek Wachob/ John Teague (OK) 39’ Cigarette Topfish Team TOPFISH

Mark Tuck (VA) 47’ Fountain Lightning Team TAZ

Winner: Best Catamaran

Frank & Milli Ricciardelli (NJ) 50’ Nor-Tech Roaster Team GOLD RUSH

Mike Fiore (RI) 48’ Outerlimits Cat Team OUTERLIMITS

Nasser Syed (CAN) 35’ Cigarette Team CIGARETTE Gabe Jasper (NJ) 42’ Outerlimits Legacy Team SOLLIEVO

Kenny Jensen (CAN) 50’ Nor-Tech Supercat Team AQUA-DOLL Zack & Lucy Taylor (MI) 42’ Outerlimits Legacy Team NO LIMITS

Patrick Bedard (Canada) 43’ Outerlimits Team GO FAST Jim Wiley (FL) 39’ Outerlimits GT Team XXX

Kenny Armstrong (TX) 44’ MTI Team HELL RAZOR

Tom Abraham (NY) 36’ Marine Technology Inc. (Suggested name on transom- My other boat’s a Cigarette)

Derek Wachob (OK) 44’ MTI Team Z044

48

POWERBOATING IN PARADISE

Dr. Ino Halegua 38’ Cigarette Top Gun Team GREECED LIGHT-

Gilberts on Thursday: The show continued,

the food kept coming, the gas kept pumping…

It was a busy busy little place, in an otherwise quiet resort town in the upper Keys.

Richard & Brigette Robert (CAN) 43’ Nor-tech Supervee Team KILIMAN

David Tievy (MD) 48’ Fountain Team Spec-Ops IV

Scott Struthers (CA) 45 Outerlimits Team MISS SONANCE

Buddy Thomas (MA) 47’ Outerlimits GTX Team OVA KILL

Jeff Jacobs (MD) 38’ Fountain Team FOUNTAIN Jim Lee (KS) 46’ Skater Team FREEDOM US1

Glen Salyer (KY) 47’ Outerlimits GTX Team RED RIVER RANCH Carmine Sciandra (NY) 36 Skater Team TOP CAT

POWERBOATING IN PARADISE

49

BridgeCAM Photo Gallery Bird’s Eye View provides Cockpit Close-Ups!

We tried something new this year for the start of the Key West run, placing our guest photographer on the Venetian Causeway Bridge, where he could catch some great shots as poker run boats headed out to Biscayne Bay. Special thanks to Greg Paull from Miami for getting these great shots of our teams!

50

POWERBOATING IN PARADISE

Amanda , Carrie, Missy & Lauren kept the guys entertained all weekend.

52

POWERBOATING IN PARADISE

Mark Fischer; Jackie Jones; Brad Schoenwald; Bill Robbins Jeff & Sue Wannamaker and crew at Conch Republic.

Are we having fun yet?

Jackie Jones with Scott and Kelly Shogren

54

POWERBOATING IN PARADISE

Missy, Lauren and Samantha with the Spec Ops guys!

Laura and Lauren Fred from Outlimits accepts sponsor award.

Skip Braver from Cigarette had good reason to be smiling!

The big lineup at the Conch Republic sponsor dock.

Stu with David Woods and Marsha from Pier 57, receiving sponsor award. Pier 57 also took Best Poker Run Village display, for new poker run display trailer.

Buzz Fyhrie, Total Doller Insurance accepts sponsor award.

Double R performance claims the unofficial Most Outrageous Toy Award, with turbine motorcycle!

Jackie Jones with the sexy FPC staff.

Kim Sweers and Jackie Jones.

Loriblu sponsored the Friday night

56

Crytal and Amy take the sexiest crew award on Team Gunslinger.

POWERBOATING IN PARADISE

Samantha from Keys Faces presents Terry Sobo with Nor-Tech sponsor award.

Samantha and Missy present Tom Hoffstetter with Chief Engines sponsor award.

t This German partici-

pant sponsored by NorTech dealer Andy Groeber , took home the award for the Best Poker Run Boat, His new Nor-Tech 427 Roadster, featured a unique new cockpit layout, generator, a/c, and plenty of power from a pair of Mercury Racing HP700SCi, with NXT1

Look out guys‌Six Ladies in Red!! That’s planning ahead!

Brittani and Lauren present Nick, Chad and Peter from Statement Marine with Most Outrageous Boat Award, for the turbine powered 50 foot Passion Cat.

Kerry Leong (right) was presented with Farthest Trailered Award, for having his 44 Outerlimits trailered nearly 5,000 miles from British Columbia

Team Donzilla from California won Most Enthusiastic Team!

Denny Hejja accepted Best Catamaran on behalf of Frank Ricciardelli, for the 50 foot Nor-Tech Cat, GOLD RUSH, powered by four 1100HP Nortech engines.

Brian Cooper from Kentucky won Best Dressed Crew, in SANDMAN.

58

POWERBOATING IN PARADISE

Best Paint and Graphics presentation. ( Editors apology, name of recipient not available)

Joe Sabo and the Morning Smoke crew play out their poker cards.

Your FPC Card Staff: Missy, Jackie, Stu, Lauren, Carrie.

Carl Hansen from Repoboatsdirect.com receives sponsor award.

Participants from Germany shared the “ Farthest Travelled” Award.

Joe Sabo (2nd from left) with this crew from Mornin’ Smoke, hoping to win the new Mustang!

Stu gets help from Brittani, presenting Peter Roberts from Double R Performance.

AND THE WINNERS ARE….

FPC girls took a Duval St. ride with Eileen Fischer on the Offleaseonly.com Ford Mustang Grand Prize, before giving it away Saturday night.

60

POWERBOATING IN PARADISE

Greg and Brenda McCauley from Missouri, who attended their first Key West Poker Run! Of course Brenda got the honors of driving the 2010 Mustang away!

More to come...

We’ll continue our coverage of The Key West Poker Run in the next issue.

The Saturday fun run to Boca Grande provided the perfect playground for hundreds of participants

2011 CALENDAR February 18

19th Miami Boat Show Bash Raleigh South Beach

February 24-27

Miami Boat Show Poker Run -Two Departure Dates.

-Three host resorts!

April 1-3

Tampa Bay Poker Run Featuring “Festivals of Speed” Vinoy Resort - St Petersburg

April 29-May 1

Naples Poker Run/SW Florida Hosted by Naples Bay Resort & Marina Friday Fun Run to Fort Myers, Saturday poker run to Everglades City

May 20-22

Panama City Poker Run Hosted by the Bay Point Marriott Resort Panama City to Destin

June 10-12

Jacksonville Poker Run Hosted by Hyatt Jacksonville & The Jacksonville Landing

June 18

Sunny Isles Poker Run Celebrating the 20th Anniversary of the poker run that started it all in 1991!

Miami - Key Biscayne Fort Laudedale

July 21-26

Bahamas Poker Run Bimini & Grand Bahama Island

August 11-14

Emerald Coast Poker Run Destin / Ft Walton Beach The Big One!

November 7-14

19th Key West Poker Run Four departure days - Big fun!

Ad Index ALL MARINE INSURANCE AQUAMARINA BAM MARINE CIGARETTE RACING TEAM COBRAPOWER ENGINE COMPLETE MARINE DAVES CUSTOM BOATS DEEP IMPACT FESTIVALS OF SPEED FL POWERBOAT ADVENTURES FRISINI MOTORSPORTS/Aronali GROVE HARBOUR MARINA HARBOURTOWNE MARINA HIDEAWAY MARINA ILMOR HIGH PERFORMANCE LEGEND MARINE GROUP MERCURY RACING MIAMI INT BOAT SHOW MIAMI BOAT SHOW POKER RUN NORTECH HI PERFORMANCE OCEAN LED OFFLEASEONLY/REPOBOATS PALM BEACH BOAT SHOW PIER 57 MARINE PERFORMANCE MARINE TRADING PIER 57 SHOGREN PERFORMANCE MARINE STATEMENT SUPERIOR COMMUNICATIONS (SCI) SUNCOAST MARINE TEAGUE PERFORMANCE MARINE TOTAL DOLLAR INSURANCE

65 61 23 09 47 64 19 59 36 08 63 45 65 51 17 27 13 35 68 05 64 43 39 02 45 13 55 11 53 31 67 57

Cigarette 42X For Sale

2005 Cigarette 42X with Trip Merc 525’s/XR Drives Approx 255 hrs AM-FM/CD. 90mph one owner.

Stored in boat house with lift.

Jacksonville, FL - Well Maintained.

Call David: 904-591-0171

Date: Feb 24-27, 2011 Call 954-545-1414 to Register or Visit Florida Powerboat Club in the C-Lobby at the Miami Boat Show www.flpowerboat.com