Standing in front of last Saturday’s captains’ meeting, Roger Zuidema, president of the West Michigan Offshore powerboat group, was weighing a unique and critical decision as 40 performance boat owners waited on news regarding the annual Muskegon Powerboat Weekend. The light rain overnight had subsided and boats were in the water. The unusual cool and wet spring/early summer weather conditions made drivers eager as they awaited instructions for the 62-mile poker run from Muskegon to White Lake and Grand Haven.

West Michigan Offshore enjoyed another successful Muskegon Powerboat Weekend despite some not-so-ideal weather. All photos courtesy Brian Caswell/Speed Shoot Photography

On Friday and throughout that evening, the waves had peeked at 6 to 8 feet, but by Saturday morning they had diminished and the small craft advisory was scheduled to end around 11 a.m.

“The board met and we thought, this weekend is for the boaters so why not hear what they think and let them have input,” Zuidema said. “We updated drivers on the forecast and conditions and then had a show of hands who would consider running the whole route or who would rather use the six miles of Muskegon Lake for the run. Our number one consideration is boater safety, and they know the capabilities of their boats.”

With a show of hands, half choose to run the whole route and the other half voted to stay on Muskegon Lake among chuckles of laughter for the tie.

“Let’s run as planned,” Zuidema decided. “But feel comfortable to make your own decisions on when and where to stay on Muskegon Lake or to turn back and check in at the three Muskegon Lake checkpoints.”

The captains meeting was held at a special place—aboard the USS LST 393, one of two transport ships remaining that saw duty in Normandy for D-day. From June 1943 in the Solomons to August 1945, the LST was a key element in WWII. They participated in Sicily, Italy, Normandy, Southern France, the liberation of the Philippines, and the capture of Iwo Jima and Okinawa. A sense of honor and respect was felt as high-performance powerboat crews admired the memorabilia displayed on the ship.

Following the meeting, the fleet gathered on Muskegon Lake outside the Shoreline Inn, Muskegon’s waterside 12-story hotel. The warm-up run across Muskegon Lake was impressive with rooster tails flying high. The boats then cruised by the sightseeing ship, the Aquastar, which played host to the media crew while raising funds for the Make-A-Wish Foundation.

Check out the slideshow above for more images from the Muskegon Powerboat Weekend.

“It was great to see all the people lined up, watching the boats as we paraded the half-mile channel out to Lake Michigan,” Zuidema said, adding that the parade of power is a Muskegon Powerboat Weekend highlight. “I enjoy passing the USS Silversides, the World War II submarine. The Silversides is credited with sinking 23 ships, the third-most of any allied World War II submarine. It has the most prolific combat record of any still-extant American submarine.”

Once past the channel entrance, drivers headed to White Lake, a 15-mile trip north, for the first checkpoint at White Lake Yacht Club. A total of 31 boats made it to the checkpoint.

“The swells didn’t have that normal Michigan chop,” said Jamie Kosch, owner of a Cigarette Racing Team 39 Top Gun. “We held a good rhythm and a speed of 70 mph.”

The 2- to 5-foot swells made for a fun trip south toward Grand Haven and the Lynne Sherwood Waterfront Stadium for the second checkpoint. Roughly half the boats made it to Grand Haven, while the other half chose to enjoy the great food at Dockers Fish House in Muskegon then complete the poker run with checkpoints at the LST393, the USS Silversides submarine and Great Lakes Marina.

“We had so much fun on the big lake,” commented Justin Bultsma, the new owner of a beautiful repainted Outerlimits Stiletto who took advantage of the whole run. “The boat handled extremely well in the waves and was a great test of the boat’s capabilities.”

Zuidema said that on Friday night more than 7,000 people packed Hackley Park for the Taste of Muskegon, which featured the Powerboat Street Party along with great food, music and beverages.

“I love being a part of the street party, catching up with old friends and meeting new ones,” said Jeff Sypke, owner of a Cigarette Dominator. “We love the boating lifestyle in West Michigan and take every chance we can to create great memories.”

Saturday night finished with a great chicken dinner at Safe Harbor Great Lakes Marina as staff cleared an awesome boat hanger for the party. Music played in the relaxed atmosphere and awards were handed out. Don Clough took home the best poker run hand plaque along with WMO resort towels.

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