The second to the last event in the Fort Myers Offshore season, the Florida powerboating club’s annual run to Cayo Costa Beach is more about enjoying a beach day with grilling and socializing than running hard offshore. Last Saturday’s event, which attracted 26 boats including V-bottoms, catamarans and center consoles, proved to be no exception, according to Bob Barnhart, one of the club’s founders.

The pentultimate event of the Fort Myers Offshore 2014/2015 season last Saturday was a beauty. All photos courtesy Bob Barnhart

Cayo Costa Beach is located on the Intra Coastal Waterway just 30 miles north of Fort Myers, Fla., the city from which the non-profit organization takes its name. (Throughout each season, FMO raises college scholarship funds through several of its event). The run began under the Sanibel Bridge, as do all of the club’s events.

“This casual run has become an FMO favorite, and by popular demand we returned to Cayo Costa, having visited the beach at the beginning of our season in October,” said Barnhart. “One of the nice things about FMO is that there is a place for everyone. We had the usual fast cats, several V-bottoms, a full range of center consoles and even a few boats that were less than 30 feet long. When we got underway and the pace boat flag came down everyone settled into smaller groups that ran at a speed that they were comfortable with—and, thankfully, no one broke down.

For a look at the action from the Cayo Costa Beach Fun Run, check out the slideshow above.

“Our club continues to grow,” he added. “Four new members, two who own 28-foot LaveyCraft sportboats that are being shipped to Germany for the summer, enjoyed the run.”

The final event of the FMO season, the Sarasota Hyatt Weekend Run (April 17-19) sold out months ago. This year, Sarasota-based businessman and well-known offshore racer Ryan Beckley will lead a mix of FMO members and Sarasota-area powerboat owners and their guests on a Saturday lunch run.

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