Image of the Week: Full Boat Poker Run Joy

Go on enough poker runs and it’s easy to get that “been there, done that” attitude when it comes to card stops, prizes and parties. But the popularity of poker runs has never been about poker hands—it’s been about raised hands, the kind of thing that happens when you’re flying along in a boat filled with good friends having a fine old time.

Good times on the water with friends at Rock the Bay. Photo courtesy/copyright Tim Sharkey/Sharkey Images.

This image of a 38-foot Formula—occupants unknown—from last weekend’s Rock the Bay event in Maryland perfectly captures that joyful moment. Count the passengers and you’ll find six, all wearing PFDs and big smiles. Count the hands in the air—a frequent happening when a camera comes out—and you’ll find three. Sometimes it’s better just to hang on and grin.

Photographer Tim Sharkey captured this image from a 34-foot Phantom V-bottom running 85 mph on the Chesapeake Bay, not an easy thing to do.

“I can’t believe I got these shots,” said Sharkey.

Sharkey was referring to the challenge of holding a camera steady in a running boat. As for the content of the image itself, it’s hardly a rare find at poker run. But it is a classic.