With a total of 34 go-fast powerboats and center consoles, one pontoon boat and two Harley-Davidson motorcycles in the fleet for Fort Myers Offshore’s annual post-Thanksgiving luch run to Harpoon Harry’s on Punta Gorda, it’s safe to say that the Florida-based club’s members flocked to first day-run of the nonprofit organization’s season. New FMO chairman Eric Belisle, who ran his 40-foot Marine Technology, Inc., catamaran in the event, said he couldn’t have been happier with last Saturday’s turnout, as well as the generosity displayed by the club’s members in the first of two scholarship fund-raising events it will host this season.

A healthy fleet flocked to Fort Myers Offshore’s first day-run of the 2015/2016 season. Photos courtesy/copyright Jay Nichols/Naples Image.

“We ask for $100 a boat, and several members donated above and beyond that,” he said. “It’s always amazing to see how generous our members are.”

Five new boating members joined the club for the 100-mile-plus round-trip run. In additioni to members who live either year-round or seasonally in the Fort Myers area, members traveled from as far as Michigan, New York and Canada to participate.

“We had five new boating members and a great overall turnout—I think we had 23 boats last year,” said Belisle. “The new members commented on how friendly everyone was and how they had such a good time. It was a great day.”

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For action from last Saturday’s FMO Thanksgiving Fun Run, check out the Jay Nichols slideshow above.

Next up on the FMO club’s schedule is its Jan. 2 New Years Fun Run—another designated fundraiser—to C.J.s on the Bay on Marco Island.

“Our run is on a Saturday so it won’t interfere with Ryan Beckley’s New Year’s Day Fun Run in Sarasota,” said Belisle. “So our members can do both runs if they like.”

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