Jeff
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Registered: October 2002
Posts: 1,825
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Racing boats have to race; it’s in their blood, or oil. So on July 16, when Boyne Thunder enlisted 40 of Michigan’s fastest powerboats, for a Poker Run, they did not come to Beaver Island on cruise control. The idea of a Poker Run is to set out on a long loop–132 miles, in this case–and swing close enough to boats waiting in five specified places to be handed a card sealed in plastic at each. Then, back at the base, each player shows his hand. The best one wins. So what’s important is not speed, but just getting to the way-stations. Yet treat this as a race they did. The catamarans, by far the fastest on this calm day, got to Paradise Bay so quickly that those on board took a leisurely swim and considered their strategy while waiting for the other boats. After leaving Boyne City the other stops included Round Lake, Northport, Bay Harbor, and Horton Bay. Jeff Haylett from Coldwater had the first- place hand (three 6s) and won $5,000. Jim Klomp of East Jordan came in second and won $2,000 ($1,000 of which he donated to Camp Quality.) Scott Eaton of Petoskey came in third and won $1,000. After all the bills are paid, the event could net $50,000,with as much as $35,000 going to Camp Quality (which spends a weekend on Beaver each June) and $15,000 going to the Boyne City ‘Main Street’ program. Story appears in the August 2005 Beaver Beacon. Photos ©2005 Jeff Cashman.
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