In general, a Poker Run is a great excuse to meet lots of other folks who share your love (affliction?) for high performance boating whilst possibly winning neat stuff and donating to a worthy charity. The Rochester Offshore Battleship Run starts out with almost everybody arriving Friday night and getting settled in to their hotel rooms, getting their boats launched and into a slip, then enjoying some entertainment while meeting the rest of the participants. At some point during the evening, a lie or two may be shared.

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Saturday morning starts out with all of the OCD types (like me) wiping their boats down and making final preparations for a full day on the water. Then there’s breakfast followed by the Drivers’ Meeting where everybody gets to hear how the day will go and what the important rules are. (Having safe fun, being respectful of other boaters, no passing the Pace Boats, PFD’s while on plane and no alcohol until the run is finished are the biggies.)

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Next, you pick a “fleet” that you’re comfortable running with based on pace speed. (50-55 MPH, 65-70 MPH and 100+ MPH are the usual choices.) Then it’s out to the boats where everybody mills with the Pace Boat for their chosen fleet and leaves for the first stop. On this run, that means about a 16-mile trip south to Watkins Glen and the Glen Harbor Marina where you will pick up your first “cards” by pulling up next to a dock and reaching into a fishing net extended to you. Then it’s off to stop #2 back at the hotels, then another 9 miles to stop #3 at the Seneca Lake Resorts in Sampson State Park.  Ten miles up the lake is the next stop at the Barrett Marine gas dock where you will get your fourth token. Most of the fleet will anchor/raft up in the shallows for a bring-your-own picnic.  

Finally, there’s an “un-paced” (on your own) run back to the hotels in time for dinner (and more lies). After dinner, it’s time for prizes, awards, the big donation to a local charity, funny stories, more lies, then a live band for entertainment. Oh, and you can now drink too.

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On Sunday morning, some folks pack up and leave, but a surprising number stick around for more boating and telling of lies. It’s all up to you.

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Sound like fun? You bet! Hope to see you there!

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Tom
 

Still not sure if you want to sign up?  Go see what other people have to say about the Battleship Run on Offshore Only or Facebook.