Through Fresh Eyes—Helmkamp Captures Southwest Florida Holiday Event Action
Most event organizers are content to have one strong photographer capturing their events. But for their Brian Connelly Memorial Holiday Fun Run from the Sanibel Island Bridge to Punta Gorda in Southwest Florida, the folks at Fort Myers Offshore had two. The official event photographer, Pete Boden was in the air thanks to a helicopter acquired at the zero hour when the initial aircraft got sidelined with a mechanical issue.
Minnesota’s Jeremy Tschida and his son, Tyler, dressed for the chilly Fort Myers Offshore occasion and enjoyed the day in their Outerlimits Offshore Powerboats SC 37 catamaran. Photos by Jeff Helmkamp copyright Helmkamp Photos.
And speedonthewater.com contributing photographer Jeff Helmkamp, who was shooting in the area for the first time, captured his images from a 34-foot Victory catamaran owned by Devin Wozencraft of Wozencraft Insurance Agency.
Not only does Wozencraft “sponsor” Helmkamp, as does Performance Boat Center’s Brett Manire and Mark Waddington in Osage Beach, Mo., he counts the photographer among his friends. So he invited Helmkamp to stay at his Cape Coral home and join him for the Fort Myers Offshore event, Boden’s New Year’s Eve Anna Marie Island/Longboat Key Photo Shoot followed by the Munyan lunch run to Tampa and the Joey Gratton Memorial New Year’s Day Fun Run.
Scenes from the 2023 Munyan lunch run.
Short version? The Missouri-based shooter got an adult portion of Southwest Florida boating starting with the Fort Myers Offshore happening.
And he found something to like about all three events.
Scenes from the Fort Myers Offshore Memorial Brian Connelly Holiday Fun Run.
“Fisherman’s Village on Punta Gorda was by far the best destination we visited,” he said. “The Gulf of Mexico ride for the Munyan lunch was by far the most fun. The 34 Victory is a really solid performer in rough water—it act larger than it is. And the New Year’s Day run was really nice.
“But the best part?” he continued. “I spoke with a bunch of current friends and made a bunch of new ones.”
For Blake and Brock Gratton, the Munyan lunch run was the first event of the holiday weekend in their new 38-foot Doug Wright catamaran.
Related stories
Gallery Of The Week: Friends And Family Converge
New Year Events Take Center Stage For Sunshine State Performance-Boat Fans
MTI To The Sea Turtle Rescue During New Year’s Fun Run
Fort Myers Offshore Holiday Fun Run Made In The Shade With 92 Boats
Gratton Memorial Fun Run Poised For Another Big Turnout
Gratton Brothers Building New 38-Foot Doug Wright Catamaran
.
