Boyne Thunder Kicking Off In Style

As this story went live, the “unofficial” cocktail party for the 11th annual Boyne Thunder Poker Run, which will happen this Saturday, was just getting rolling. This evening’s festivities on the Boyne Mountain ski hill above Boyne City, Mich., caps the day’s equally unofficial fun/lunch run. That event was limited to the first 80 participants who signed up via an email that went out to all participants registered for Saturday’s sold-out, 100-boat poker run.

lowaltitude1

Low Altitude, a turbine-powered 50-foot Mystic catamaran, was part of today’s lunch/fun run fleet. Photos courtesy Pete Boden/Shoot 2 Thrill Pix.

Today’s fun run fleet started on Lake Charlevoix, moved out to Lake Michigan and headed north for a luncheon at the Bay Harbor Yacht Club hosted by Merrill Lynch and Lynn Wolgast. Approximately 25 boats, from a 22-foot Avanti to a 50-foot turbine-powered Mystic catamaran, participated.

“It was about 65 degrees out, a little cool for this time of year, but pure sun and gorgeous,” said Tracy Nemecek, one of the volunteer organizers for the poker run, who ran with the fleet to Bay Harbor in his 47-foot Nor-Tech V-bottom. “Lake Michigan was near glass.”

checkmate43punisher1
checkmate43punisher1

A one-of-a-kind 43-foot Checkmate also participated in today’s run to Bay Harbor.

Sponsored by American Custom Marine, tonight’s cocktail party will afford guests a panoramic view of Boyne City, Lake Charlevoix and the surrounding area—participants actually have to ride a chairlift to reach the Eagle’s Nest, the venue for the event. Nemecek said the organizers are expecting a big turnout this evening.

“Based on the success of the party last year, I expect it be nuts,” he said.

Check-in for the poker run begins tomorrow. It will be followed by a street party in Boyne City including exotic high-performance powerboat and automobile exhibits. Stay tuned for complete coverage from speedonthewater.com, which will be in attendance for the event.

Related Stories

Boyne Thunder Sold Out—Waiting List Open
Boyne Thunder Booming
Boyne Thunder Fleet Breaks Record