Between the Offshore Powerboat Association’s race and the Performance Boat Club of Canada’s Sarnia Summer Splash Charity Poker Run, last weekend was particularly busy with go-fast boats on the St. Clair River in the Detroit area. A combination of high-performance boats from the United States and Canada joined in the nonprofit club’s third event of the season.

Last weekend’s Performance Boat Club Of Canada event on the St. Clair River attracted an international fleet. Photos courtesy/copyright Pete Boden/Shoot 2 Thrill Pix.

The run started at the Blue Water Bridge that connects Canada and the U.S. and made its way to the Windsor Yacht Club at the mouth of the Detroit River. On their return leg, the participants got a view of the OPA raceboats practicing and testing for the following day’s contest. The night before, title sponsor Dave Scotto of Concord Hardware and Team Gotta Go, which runs an SL 50 Outerlimits V-bottom, hosted a seafood dinner featuring fresh lobster, muscles and scallops flown in that day from Prince Edward Island.

Proceeds from the event—$20,000—went St. Joseph’s Hospice.

For more action for the Sarnia Summer Splash Poker Run, check out the slideshow above.

Sarnia Bay Marina hosted the awards dinner and auction. New this year were cash prizes for best hands: Ken Jensen of team Disturbing Behaviour won $500 for third-best hand, Kevin Primmer and his new 42-foot Invitation Only Statement won $1,000 for second-best hand; and Ryan McClay in his new 48 fountain express cruiser won $1,500 for the best hand. Jon Maddocks in Team Diabolo even earned $250 for the worst hand. Although he didn’t get a cash price, Tony Joseph of Team Frantastic received the hard luck award for breaking down on his way from his home in Michigan to the venue.

All captains donated their winnings to the charity.

‘We love this venue and this region,” says Meghan Brousseau, club president. “The staff at the Sarnia Bay Marina and the Windsor Yacht Club go out of their way to make sure that all of our needs are attended to.

“We also love the fact that so many of her American friends can quickly run across the river and join us for this run,” she added. “Everyone had a great time and said they would be back next year, so I hope the word spreads.”

The next Performance Boat Club of Canada charity poker run is scheduled for Aug. 27 in Orillia, Ontario, Canada.

Related stories
Performance Boat Club of Canada Shooting for ‘United Nations’ Turnout in Sarnia
Performance Boat Club of Canada Goes Big On Georgian Bay
Performance Boat Club of Canada Back In Action