Photo Essay—Third Annual MTI New Year’s Run To Paradise

Southwest Florida wasn’t the only hub of causal go-fast boating fun last week, as across the state MTI owners gathered for a four-day New Year’s rendezvous in the Upper and Middle Florida Keys. It was the third such New Year’s event organized by the Wentzville, Mo., high-performance center console and catamaran builder. The fleet departed Haulover Marine Center in North Miami—where the company operates its concierge service business under the watchful eyes of Milton Calafel—a week ago today and returned Thursday.

Taylor Scism and Shaun Peters piloted MTI 482 No. 1 in last week’s owner-specific event. Photos courtesy Karson Madole copyright MTI.

Limited in size, the sold-out event attracted 20 MTI owners mostly of the catamaran kind, according to company vice-president Taylor Scism, and their guests. The fleet stopped for lunch at Gilbert’s Resort and Tiki Bar before heading to its final destination for the week, Hawk’s Cay Resort on Duck Key.

“We had the best weather and water conditions ever,” said Scism. “Biscayne Bay was glass. I’ve never seen it like that.”

The MTI owners on hand dressed for the occasion in high style.

The group split up for New Year’s Eve lunch runs but came together for a raft-up at the Islamorada Sandbar. On New Year’s Day, the entire group traveled to Bird Island for lunch, then returned to Hawks Cay for an evening celebration.

“Our party had a ‘Roaring ’40s, Gatsby theme,” and everyone dressed up,” said Scism. “We had a great time.”

Enjoy more images from the third annual MTI Owners New Year’s Fun Run to the Florida Keys.

Scism is now back at MTI headquarters, where “maybe 30 out of 120” employees made it to work today thanks to the current winter weather.

“We got back just in time for ‘Snow-Mageddon,’” she said, then laughed. “I think there are 13 inches of fresh snow on the ground.”