If registration for the sixth annual Cigarette Owners Rendezvous, June 16-18, at the Lake of the Ozarks in Central Missouri, continues as its current pace, it is sure to surpass the 101-boat record in set in 2019. Performance Boat Center, the Osage Beach, Mo., multi-brand dealership that hosts the event every year already has more than 85 Cigarette sportboats and V-bottoms signed up for the weekend-long happening.

Hosted by Performance Boat Center, the sixth annual Cigarette Owners Rendezvous is on track for another record-setting turnout. Photos by Pete Boden copyright Shoot 2 Thrill Pix/speedonthewater.com.

“I know a ton of guys who haven’t registered,” said Brett Manire, who co-owns Performance Boat Center with Mark Waddington. “There are going to be a ton of boats. I imagine it goes well over 100.”

Erik Christiansen, the president of the Opa-Locka, Fla., company will be on scene to represent Cigarette. Though he wanted to be there to support the event, Cigarette chief executive officer Skip Braver said he has to hang back in Florida that weekend for a series of meetings on Cigarette’s marketing plans/reinvention for 2021.

“Sometimes we have to divide and conquer,” said Braver. “I  really really wanted to be there this year but I really need to be here, and (key Cigarette staffer) Bud Lorow has to be here, too, because he’s in the middle of a big project, too. But Erik Christiansen will be there to represent Cigarette—and Erik is more than up to the job.

The annual Cigarette only event attracts passionate participants from around the country as well as locals in the Lake of the Ozarks area.  

“The registration numbers so far are just amazing, especially with everything going on in the world,” he continued. “But you know, the event is in a great location that’s easier to get than a lot of other places and supported Performance Boat Center, our great partner. What they’ve been able to do with our owners rendezvous in the past six years is just incredible.”

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