The Tribune

THE Bahamas Powerboat Club’s Full Throttle Poker Run expanded into a three-day international event this year, drawing boaters from The Bahamas, the United States and as far away as Norway.

The event, held from May 1 to 3, marked a major expansion for the annual Poker Run, which organisers said has grown from a local boating initiative into an international marine tourism experience.

The Ministry of Tourism, Investments & Aviation sponsored the event for the fourth consecutive year and hosted a Captain Meet & Greet in Fort Lauderdale before participants departed for The Bahamas, according to a press release.

Boaters left Florida on May 1, travelling by a helicopter-guided route to Bimini, where they cleared customs at Bimini Big Game Club Resort & Marina, a partner of the event.

The fleet then moved through the islands on May 2, ending with a run to Eleuthera and a stop at the sandbar off Spanish Wells.

Organisers said the sandbar stop was one of the highlights of the weekend, with Sands Beer and Corona hosting a barge activation that featured a live DJ and dozens of high-performance vessels.

The Poker Run also attracted Bahamian boaters from New Providence, Exuma, Abaco, Eleuthera and Freeport, along with international participants from Florida, St Louis and the Lake of the Ozarks.

One crew shipped its boat from Norway to Florida to participate in the three-day event, according to the press release.

Atlantis Paradise Island supported the event with special room rates for visiting guests and discounted dockage at Atlantis Marina. Bay Street Marina hosted the Friday Captain’s Happy Hour and offered preferred dockage rates, while Blue Water Cay Resort & Marina joined as a new sponsor with dockage offers and benefits for Bahamas Powerboat Club members.

The event was covered by marine and lifestyle media outlets, including Tommy Gunn Images, Speedboat Magazine and Boats Daily.

Michelle Woodside, owner of the Bahamas Powerboat Club, said the event’s expansion represented a significant step for the club.

“The Club was created out of a simple idea, bringing people together to enjoy their boats while experiencing the incredible beauty of our islands,” she said. “Today, we’re not only attracting international visitors, but also creating opportunities for local boaters to explore and experience the beauty of The Bahamas in a unique and exciting way.”

Organisers said the Full Throttle Poker Run is intended to promote The Bahamas as a boating and marine tourism destination while bringing boating enthusiasts together through curated events.