Tragedy And Rough Weather Overshadow The 32nd Annual Key West Poker Run

The immediate days after the annual Key West Poker Run typically find Stu Jones worn out but happy at his Pompano Beach, Fla., home. His outfit’s signature event is complete. He can relax for the rest of the year. But this time around, the Florida Powerboat Club leader is simply worn out.

Florida Powerboat Club president Stu Jones ran his new center console in the event. Photos by Pete Boden copyright Shoot 2 Thrill Pix.

Happiness is not among his current emotions with last week’s Key West event complete. Sadness and frustration are.

“I wish I could say that the 2024 Key West Poker Run was a successful event, but nothing could be further from the truth,” Jones said. “Underlying the outwardly festive vibe of poker run activities in and around Key West, a dark shadow was cast over this entire event among all participants after a Thursday boating accident near Key West that claimed the precious life of a young woman who was just invited for a fun weekend of boating.

“We at FPC and across our extended family of boating members, pray for the family of this young woman, and for those who sustained injuries from this tragic accident,” he added.

Georgia’s Chas and Candice Owens experienced the Key West Poker Run for the first time in their Eliminator Boats V-bottom.

Jones was referring to the incident in the Saddlebunch Keys area, approximately 10 miles from Key West.

The week leading up to Thursday’s tragedy had not been an easy one. Tropical Storm Rafael forced Jones to cancel the Wednesday departure. A dozen boats headed down to Key West on Tuesday, and approximately 120 boats departed Thursday. Jones added a Friday departure wave that attracted roughly 40 takers. That still left the club significantly shy of the 254 boats registered for the event.

The Thursday fleet attracted roughly 120 boats.

“Named-storm status kept many participants from running their boats due to insurance restrictions,” Jones explained. “By the time all the registered teams had arrived by Friday afternoon, it became apparent that no less than 50 of them had opted to leave their boats back at home and travel by car or plane.”

For good reason, the Key West Poker Run has been the Florida Powerboat Club’s signature event for the past 32 years.

The Poker Run Village was packed for the weekend. Like the club’s Saturday fun run to Woman Key, its Saturday night celebration at the Conch Republic Seafood Company went off smoothly. But the Thursday incident was never far from Jones’ heart or mind.

And it still isn’t.

“These accidents should simply not be happening,” he said. “Every performance-boating enthusiast across the country needs to take a big step back and take inventory of their very own boating safety management practices—every time they step into their boat.

“These accidents must stop or we will lose the freedom to enjoy this lifestyle we so much enjoy,” he added.