| Disappointment
was the order of the day as the club's first Poker Run failed to
materialize. More than a dozen skis flanked the slipway including a
team from the JAWS club at Hearne Bay who had turned up to participate in the event. Sunday
the 1st of May was supposed to be a clear, sunny day (and it was...just
one mile inshore!) but at Lee on Solent the mist just wouldn't lift.
"Great conditions then for a navigation exercise," I hear you
say!
It was deemed unsafe to
launch, let alone hold an event! Fortunately all the hard work and
planning Dunk & Gussie had put in wasn't to go to waste. It was May
Day bank holiday weekend after all, we had another day and what a day it
turned out to be!
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| So how does a
Poker Run work? The idea was to set off from Lee in teams of two
or more PWC (buddy up with the best, remember!), to visit 5
pre-determined check points around the Solent. At each check point
the teams would be issued a different coloured poker chip. After
visiting all five check points the teams then return to the slipway where
Penny would exchange the 5 tokens for a poker hand, highest hand wins the
prize of free entry to "The Wight Stuff", it couldn't be
simpler!
Each team would be briefed
on the rules and issued a laminated 'chart' with the check points clearly
marked. The 'chart' has useful way points and prominent landmarks to
aid navigation as well as the rules and additional info on the reverse.
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The Players, lets
meet the teams playing for free entry to "The Wight Stuff"!
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| Not
Bothered, well they clearly were bothered and they were the only
team who took up the offer of looking over the Imray chart (C15, The
Solent) and gleaning helpful tips and advice from Dunk & Gussie prior
to setting out.
Not Bothered
Don & his grandson Liam
on the Polaris MSX140 teamed up with Gary on his Yamaha FX Cruiser.
Poker hand: King high! |
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| Riva
B's sole purpose was to visit all 5 check points and get back to Lee
in record time! They actually took 1 hour 10 minutes which is not
bad going when you consider the tide was out at Ryde (one of the check
points) they had a long walk to shore to pick up the chip!
Riva B
Riva Bill on his modified
Yamaha GP12R and Riva Badger on his soon to be tricked up Yamaha GP13R.
Poker hand: Ace high! |
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| Whatever
next! After a poor start, getting separated before
reaching their first check point and a break down this team had all but
given up before they started. Limping back to Lee they were urged to
continue when Dunk donated his ski to the cause.
Whatever
Darren on his Yamaha GP760
along with camera shy Eddie riding his SeaDoo GTX 4tech and Glyn (and
Dunk, just along for the ride) on the Yamaha FX160.
Poker Hand: Two pair - 8's
& 6's
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| Getting
Lost were not so much getting lost but cruising round all the coffee
stops in the Solent, if they happened to pass a check point en-route it
was an added bonus!
Getting Lost
Graham on the SeaDoo GTX
and Neil on his SeaDoo GTX Limited.
Poker hand: Ace high! |
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| Kyle-Stu-Paul
had the girls riding pillion to make this 6 strong team the largest in
the field. Missing way points, this 'double back' gang got it
together and had a good cruise out and about.
Kyle-Stu-Paul
Paul's GTX, Kyle's apple
green SeaDoo RXT and Stu's RXT in candy apple red.
Poker hand: Two Pair - Aces
& 4's |
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