Florida Powerboat Club Retooling Event Around Columbus Day Regatta

While both the Columbus Day Regatta and the Columbus Day Weekend at Elliott Key “are not connected” according to the Florida by Water website, both have formed a centerpiece of the Florida Powerboat Club’s fun run to the Keys during the second weekend in October. Stu Jones, the owner and founder the FPC, said this year the club will offer an “expanded version” of the run.

Said Jones: “The FPC version is to get rooms in Key Largo, schedule some activities and throw a good party—sort of an expanded version of the Columbus Regatta, which has become a little worn out for our members.” Photo courtesy/copyright Florida Powerboat Club.

“It’s time to give our members another option to the standard raft-up party,” said Jones. “So our plan is to stop at the Regatta on Friday, then head to Key Largo for the weekend and stop there again Monday on the way home.”

Jones said he is in the process of arranging lodging and planning FPC-specific activities in Key Largo. “The FPC version is to get rooms in Key Largo, schedule some activities and throw a good party—sort of an expanded version of the Columbus Regatta, which has become a little worn out for our members.”

Jones added that the club’s biggest event of the year, the annual Key West Poker Run, is already “shaping up nicely.” He is expecting 150 boats to participate in the November event, which coincides with the annual Super Boat International Key West Offshore World Championships.

“Key West is looking good—we have a lot of good sign-ups already,” he said. “Having 150 boats is perfect for us. We really don’t have room for any more than that without people having to dock on the other side of the island, and nobody wants to do that.”

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