Three Marquee Events To Do Before You Die

In honor of the New Year, last week I wrote a story for Powerboat Nation touting three less-traveled—so to speak—events you might want to try in 2025. They were “firsts” for me last year with my brothers Kiran Pinisetti and Kelly O’Hara on their butt-kicking DCB M37R catamaran called Cowboy & Indian, and I loved every one of them. My hope is that you will, too.

But if you haven’t enjoyed the following three marquee events, you need to put those on your list as well.

Boyne Thunder Poker Run—July 11-12

Once upon a time I called Boyne Thunder “the world’s best poker-run” on speedonthewater.com. Despite that it still exasperates a few people—it’s just an opinion, folks, please breathe—I still stand by that because summer in Northern Michigan is my kind of heaven. Cool nights, mostly low-humidity are my jam, as are small towns full of friendly people and lots of dining options, as are the diverse waters of Lake Michigan, Round Lake and Lake Charlevoix. Plus, the powerboat hardware tends to be of the heavy-duty, jaw-dropping kinds as Lake Michigan can go from friendly to ferocious in seconds. Boyne Thunder fans swear by the event. And I swear by it unapologetically right along with them.

1,000 Islands Charity Poker Run—July 18-20

The St. Lawrence River between the United States and Canada is among the world’s most scenic waterways, so scenic it almost looks fake. The immaculate river is dotted with islands—more than 1,000 but that’s a nice, round number—from which the area and the 1,000 Islands Charity Poker Run based in charming Clayton, N.Y., takes their shared name. From the scenery to the finely detailed organizational efforts to the primary charity it supports—Make-A-Wish of Central New York—the event is a gem. And just a few steps from the 1,000 Islands Harbor Hotel, the dock set-up is by far the best I’ve seen in the poker-run world. Calling it my second-favorite poker run might seem like left-handed compliment, but what the heck? I’ll live dangerously and take that chance.

Key West Poker Run—November 5-11

Headed back to the real world on Monday after the 2024 Florida Powerboat Club Key West Poker Run in the first Statement 44 GTrs center console on the water, marine industry veteran Randy Sweers and I stopped at Gilbert’s Tiki Bar and Resort in Key Largo for lunch. Sitting at one of the tables were Georgia’s Chas and Candace Owens and friends, who I’d met at the Pirates of Lanier Poker Run a couple of months earlier. And as first-timers to the Key West event—they ran all the way down and back in the 28-foot V-bottom—they couldn’t get the smiles off their faces. They were exhausted, delirious and simply delighted with the experience. That’s the magic of the Key West Poker Run, and that is why you need to go this year if you haven’t been already.—Matt Trulio

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Source: https://www.powerboatnation.com/three-marquee-events-to-do-before-you-die/