Key West Poker Run Show Goes On Despite Wednesday Departure Cancelation

With Tropical Storm Rafael bearing down on the Florida Keys and the worst of predicted to arrive tomorrow, Stu Jones of the Florida Powerboat Club wisely called off the Wednesday departure wave for the outfit’s Key West Poker Run. In an email sent to the 250-ish registered participants, he outlined the Tuesday, Thursday and Friday departure engines. So plans have become fluid.

Stu Jones is a master at calling audibles and Key West Poker Run has been loaded with them so far. Photos by Matt Trulio

Today’s fleet, which has approximately 14 takers in boats from the likes of Deep Impact, Mystic Powerboats and Sunsation Powerboats, departed Grove Harbour Marina in Coconut Grove and should arrive in Key West by the mid- to late-afternoon. But first, there is lunch a Gilbert’s Resort and Tiki Bar in Key Largo to consume. And then we’re off again with the worst of it, meaning frothy one- to three-footers that gave a free and deep saltwater facial every few minutes when the spray blew over the deck of Jones’ 38-foot Cigarette Racing Team Top Gun V-bottom dubbed Top Gun Flight 1130.

I got so much salt in my face that I don’t think I’ll need to season my food for a month.

We hadn’t even planned to ride in the 38-footer—we were supposed to come down in Jones’ new Nor-Tech 390 Sport Poker Run Edition center console, 39-foot hull No. 500 for the Cape Coral, headquartered builder. But delays getting the new boat, which has an actual windshield that would have come in handy today, out of last week’s Fort Lauderdale International Boat Show forced a change of plans.

The Rock The River Fun Run group soaked in the Key Largo scenery at the lunch stop.

On that subject—plans—I don’t think I’ve ever changed more of them in less than 24 hours. In addition to the boat swap, I was supposed to stay in Coconut Grove another night and come down with Kiran Pinisetti and Kelly O’Hara in Cowboy & Indian, the 37-foot DCB Performance Marine catamaran they own. The Key West Poker Run was supposed to be the final roundup for the Cowboy & Article Summer Tour article series.

So much for that plan. Now the boys are coming down to Key West tomorrow by car and I’m heading there today in Jones’ Cigarette. There’s a small matter of securing a hotel room tonight without getting a small-business loan but I’ll figure it out.

Scenes from the Tuesday wave.

Now it’s time to head for Key West with Jones and company. We have a quick stop to make in Marathon at the Faro Blanco Yacht Club and Resort, then we’ll be off again. That’s the plan, at least.

But I won’t be surprised if it changes.