Speed On The Water Key West Bash Raises $80,000-Plus For Samuel’s House

What is it with you high-performance powerboat people? You throw money at worthy charities—and, of course, your boats—like you’re angry at them. And for that Yvonne Alemán, Greg Harris, Jason Johnson and I are forever grateful.

Because without your generosity, we couldn’t have raised a dime of the $80,000-plus for Samuel’s House during our eighth annual Speed On The Water Key West Bash last Thursday night at the Sandbar Sports Grill in the famed Florida city. For that matter, without the generosity of the high-performance marine industry we would not have had anything for bon vivant Nolan Ferris to auction.

With more than $80,000 raised for Samuel’s House last week, the eighth annual Speed On The Water Key West Bash nearly doubled its fundraising total from 2019.

Need an example? Southern California-based DCB Performance Boats built a carbon-fiber skateboard for us to hawk to the highest bidder. In town with the Florida Powerboat Club Key West Poker Run, Washington’s Laurie and Jason Moe dropped more than $10,000 on it. Now Colton Moe, their unfailingly polite and charming 16-year-old son (this lad will have no trouble attracting romantic interest, if he hasn’t already), has something else to ride when he’s not winning races on his dirt bike.

And one more example? Another item that fetched more than $10,000 was an incredible display put together by the team at MTI featuring an engine hatch with propeller marks through it that the Wentzville, Mo., company saved from the 2017 Key West Offshore World Championships when the CMS team of Bob Bull and MTI founder Randy Scism was run over during a Superboat Unlimited race.

A few thousand thanks are in order, but by the time I got through all of them we’d be in the thick of next year’s party. Plus, I’d surely leave out someone. The image below helps recognize most companies involved in making The Bash happen.

So thank you everyone for showing up last Thursday night. Whether you came to bid thousands on things you don’t need, ogle MTI’s beautiful 390X 450R Factory Stock-class raceboat on Greene Street, chow down on free Sandbar Sports Grill grub courtesy of Devin Wozencraft of Wozencraft Insurance Agency or just drink free for an hour on Alex Pratt of Good Boy Vodka, thank you for being there.

Or maybe you just came to watch Nikki Sorenson and her Lake of the Ozarks-based Horsepower Hottie crew drink tequila from a Stephen Miles Design shot-ski that fetched another $10,000 from offshore powerboat racer Billy Mauff of WHM Motorsports.

Or did you come for the free, commemorative Speed On The Water “Back In The Saddle” T-shirt sponsored by Waves and Waves and Maryland Offshore?

Regardless, what began as small get-together in a burger joint eight years ago has grown to become a major Key West happening that requires a street closure and raises game-changing funds for a shelter serving women and children. You made that happen.

Thank you.

On a personal note—and I’ll keep this self-indulgence brief—thank you Yvonne Alemán, Greg Harris and Jason Johnson for all the work you put into this celebration every year. I could not ask for a better team of organizers to work with. I could not ask for better friends. No one on this planet is more blessed than I am.

See you next year.

Speed On The Water Key West Bash Raises $80,000-Plus For Samuel’s House

Address

Quick Links