Fort Myers Offshore Goes Onshore For Season Finale
Technically speaking, yesterday’s planned Fort Myers Offshore fun run to the Naples Hyatt Regency was an add-on. It wasn’t on the Southwest Florida-based, scholarship fundraising group’s original 2021/2022 schedule. The event—the first overnight happening for nonprofit club in four years—came together just one month ago. Billed as an “invitational” happening but open to all Fort Myers Offshore members, the event had 30 boats registered and looked like a solid ending to another great season.
Though the official on-water portion of the Fort Myers Offshore fun run from the Sanibel Island Bridge to the Naples Hyatt was called off, approximately 10 club members took advantage of the better-than-predicted weather and made the trip. Photos by Pete Boden copyright Shoot 2 Thrill Pix.
And then came the weather forecast, which looked good when the week began but by Thursday saw a 92-percent chance of steady showers and wind for Saturday.
“Having to make a decision for safety and comfort, we decided to formally scrub the ‘run’ portion of our weekender to the Naples Hyatt House Naples,” said Tim Hill, the president of Fort Myers Offshore. “This allowed for our members to make alternate travel plans to Hyatt.”
Thanks to Fort Myers Offshore board member Amanda Gardner, travel alternatives even included a rented party bus.
But as they often do in the Sunshine State, the weather forecast turned out to be a bust. Clear skies and flat water graced the area on Saturday morning, though rain came later in the day.
“Of course, my phone started blowing up with ‘We could have run today’ texts,” Hill said, then laughed. “We did have about 10 boats make the trip down from the Sanibel Causeway starting point. Paul Perzyk lead the fleet in his 38-foot Renegade center console.”
Always game for an adventure, Trond Schou and Nils Johnsen of Nor-Tech Hi-Performance Boats—the event’s presenting sponsor—made the run with a full crew in a 450 Sport center console from the Westin Cape Coral, where they had just wrapped up their annual dealer meeting. (Worth noting: Rain doused them during the afternoon ride home.)
Check out the slideshow above to enjoy more images from yesterday’s Fort Myers Offshore event.
The event began with lunch shortly after the Fort Myers Offshore members arrived at the Naples Hyatt. Stand-up comedian R.C. Smith, who kept the group entertained during lunch, hosted the club’s charity auction during dinner last night.
“Our generous members raised just shy of $20,000 for our scholarship fund,” said Hill. “Peter Roberts of (Toronto, Canada-based Nor-Tech dealer) Double R Performance helped our cause by challenging our members to ‘snowball’ his one-time donation of $500. And snowball it did with other members and guests following suit.
“Given the ‘weather curveball,’ our members stepped up big to make the event successful,” he added.
Related stories
In The Lead Video Series Flashback: Trond Schou And Nils Johnsen Of Nor-Tech
First Nor-Tech 400 Super Sport In For Upcoming Fort Myers Offshore Naples Hyatt Run
Fort Myers Offshore Adds End-Of-April Overnight Event
Nor-Tech Unveils 400 Super Sport Center Console
.
