Playing tour-guide today for a reporter on Kentucky’s Barkley Lake in his 38-foot Outerlimits Offshore Powerboats center console, Stephen Miles paused to consider big news from fellow Kuttawa Cannonball Run organizers Jeff Hoefling and Terry Martin. Registration for tomorrow’s 120-plus-mph roundtrip outing on Barkley Lake and Lake Kentucky has officially reached 180 boats—with more day-of registrations on tap tomorrow.

Donnie and Cara MacLeod keep their recently acquired the Team Gotta Go Outerlimits IV next to the houseboat they co-own with Stephen and Heather Miles in Kuttawa Marina. Photos by Pete Boden copyright Shoot 2 Thrill Pix.

“Back when we first did this run six years ago, we were amazed we got 70 boats,” he said. “Now, we already have 180 boats and there’s more coming for sure.”

Between the incredible turnout—some 40 boats ahead of last year’s then-record-setting total—and the incredible weather, the Kuttawa organizers have plenty to celebrate.

In fact, they could not have dreamed up better conditions for lunch run to Prizer Point Marina and the 100-plus-boat raft-up that followed. Temperatures hovered in the low 80s with uncommonly low humidity made even more comfortable by a light afternoon breeze.

Enjoy more images from today’s Kuttawa Cannonball Run lunch run in the slideshow above.

“On the Friday before the run last year, the humidity was so bad that as soon as you walked outside you were soaked,” said Miles. “This year it’s incredible.

Most of the raft-up boats have returned to Kuttawa Marina, the sixth annual event’s host venue and the home of HU-B’s At Kuttawa, a good-time waterfront restaurant that serves as the central gathering spot for the Kuttawa Cannonball Run participants. Happy hour has begun in earnest at the restaurant and on the docks, and today’s conditions are predicted to stay put through Sunday morning.

“We simply could not do this event without Wayne and Lisa Breedlove, the owners of HU-B’S and the marina,” said Miles. “They’re just good people.”

The Kuttawa Marina and HU-B’s waterfront restaurant our ground-zero for the event.

Look for another report/photo essay from the Kuttawa Cannonball Run weekend tomorrow on speedonthwater.com.

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