Check out the article, below, by Speed on the Water, featuring a recap of the notorious FPC Miami Boat Show Poker Run!
The Florida Powerboat Club’s Miami Boat Show Poker Run fleet powered right on past its longtime Post Card Inn/Holiday Isle destination in Islamorada to the Hyatt Faro Blanco Resort and Yacht Club in Marathon, Fla., for the first time this year. And while the famed Tiki Bar there always will hold a special place, albeit blurry at times, in the memories of longtime participants, the new venue was a big hit.
“I love the Faro Blanco, other than that it brings back memories of our Super Boat International Race last summer when I had a fire on board my raceboat,” said FB Marine Group’s Randy Sweers, who made the run in a 38-foot Statement Marine center console powered by triple Mercury Verado 300 outboard engines. “The quote of the weekend was ‘slow and steady,’ as we cruised down at 50 to 55 mph. I had a great time with some old friends, and made some new ones.”
Running his brand-new Cigarette 39 GTS center console with four Mercury Marine Verado 350 engines, Miami Boat Show Poker Run veteran Bob Christie said the venue could not have been better. He also praised the staff members for their service.
“Hyatt did a great job with the hotel and the marina is first class,” he said. “The large staff at the dock was always looking to help out all the boaters. There were lots of great destinations for lunch runs. And Key West was only an hour away.”
According to Florida Powerboat Club president and founder Stu Jones, 65 boats registered for the event. Of those, 40 boats departed from various points on Biscayne Bay on Thursday. The remainder of the fleet departed for Marathon on Friday. The venue, Jones said, enabled him and his crew to create and maintain an intimate, yet casual good-time atmosphere throughout the weekend.
“Faro Blanco was set up with special attention to keeping our group together with a 40-by-60-foot event tent erected on the event lawn and another event tent under the lighthouse for the perfect ‘dockside bar’ that become the hangout for everyone near the boats,” he said. “Friday night was our dinner party, where we dined inside-and-out, then presented awards at 9:30 p.m. in several categories before awarding the top three hands. The party culminated with a fast and furious ‘night club’ vibe featuring acclaimed club DJ Stash from California.”
Saturday’s action included a fun run—complete with a photographer in a helicopter—to Bahia Honda State Park, under the Seven Mile Bridge and then returning to Marathon for lunch at the Island Fish Company. According to Jones, approximately 20 captains and their crews made even more of a day out of it and “took advantage of the calm seas and blasted to Key West for lunch.”
This article was originally posted on Speedonthewater.com.