On Sunday, the 13th annual Leverick Bay Poker Run set a new record with 220 boats and donated $13,000 to charity.
All told, 185 poker hands were played. Coincidentally, the top four winning hands were variations of full houses.
The top prize of $8,000 was awarded to Alcindor Baa, who had a full house with aces and kings.
This year’s route had a couple of new stops, but competitors didn’t seem to mind the changes.
Garfield Faulkner, of Anegada, was competing in the poker run with about a half dozen friends and family.
“The course was little bit longer, but it was fine,” Mr. Faulkner said. “The weather was good; a little choppy, but my boat can take it.”
Mr. Faulkner has never missed a poker run in the past 10 years, but has also never won the event. By the fourth stop his chances weren’t looking too good. He had a king and queen along with a couple of “smaller cards.”
His 32-foot boat, Ruff Ryder, with twin 250-horsepower engines had no problem staying in front of the pack during Sunday’s event.
The stops included Leverick Bay, Harbour View Marina, Fish ’n Lime, Pirates at Norman Island, Virgin Gorda Yacht Harbour and the finish back at Leverick Bay Resort and Marina.
At the start of the poker run, an accident between two boats left seven people injured.
“Aside from the accident, the event was a success,” said Mr. López.
Before the award ceremony, which was held on a wooden platform and catwalk above Leverick Bay Resort’s swimming pool, a fashion show was held by Mr. Nice Guy of Virgin Gorda.
Several high-profile participants took part in the poker run, including CBS Caribbean weatherman Joey Stevens and Bob the Parrot.
It was Mr. Stevens’ first time competing in the Leverick Bay Poker Run, but his third time visiting the territory.
“It is going really fast,” Mr. Stevens said. “I am really having a lot fun. I didn’t know what to expect. I am familiar with poker runs on motorcycles and stuff, but never on boats.”
He added that he enjoyed seeing all the high-performance boats.
“They are really phenomenal,” Mr. Stevens said.
The weatherman’s sidekick Bob the Parrot, a macaw puppet, was the event’s ambassador and helped promote the poker run.
“Bob was actually driving the boat for awhile,” Mr. Stevens joked. “That is why it took us so long to get here.”
Sir Richard Branson, of Necker Island, also competed in the event, who showed up at registration dressed as a lemur.
In the past, Mr. Faulkner has enjoyed stopping at Pirates, but this year it was a “little crowded,” so they left early to get some lunch at Virgin Gorda Yacht Harbour.
Mr. Faulkner’s daughter, Stephanie, was on board and was planning to stay the night on VG before returning to Anegada the next day. She said she likes the “rush” of the poker run.
“It is fun being out here with the other boats, rushing to get the cards and playing,” Ms. Faulkner said. “It is a really great experience.”
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