Kingston Poker Run returns for 36th year – Kingston | 24CA News
People from as shut as down the highway and so far as California made their approach to Kingston this week to soak up the spectacle that’s the thirty sixth annual Kingston Poker Run.
The annual occasion sees among the world’s best offshore boats descend on the town for an opportunity at making a reasonably penny, whereas having some enjoyable alongside the best way.
“We invented the sport back in the late ’80s. We brought it from Kingston to the U.S.A., and since then, there are over 200 Poker Run events happening worldwide,” mentioned Bill Taylor, founding father of the Poker Run.
Despite the blazing-fast boats in attendance, the occasion shouldn’t be a race.
The recreation of likelihood sees boats journey to 5 totally different factors via the Thousand Islands channel, from Kingston so far as Brockville and round the best way, and at every level, the boaters accumulate a card.
Once the journey is finished, everybody places their playing cards on the desk, and whoever has the very best hand wins the pot, which is value 1000’s.
“It gives these high adrenaline junkies a chance to get out and run their Maseratis, run their Lamborghinis of the water, at high speeds,” Taylor mentioned.
While there are tons of boats in attendance for the occasion each 12 months, there’s one that individuals, together with Taylor himself, rave about 12 months after 12 months.
The boat, referred to as My Way, is actually a sight.
As crimson as an ideal apple and as quick as lightning, My Way attracts a crowd yearly, to the delight of its proprietor, Bill Tomlinson.
“This one has two turbine engines out of helicopters. They’re 6,000 horsepower, the two of them, 3,000 each,” Tomlinson mentioned.
Yes, you learn that accurately: the boat is powered by generators taken from helicopters. That sort of firepower is required with a purpose to obtain a document velocity like My Way did again in 2013, when it hit 360 km/h.
“That’s the fastest we’ve run it. It’ll run quicker than that, but I start running out of nerve up there,” Tomlinson mentioned with amusing.
Even at 80 years previous, and after having run this occasion for over 30 years, Taylor says he nonetheless loves the game, the spectacle, and the group.
“What do we feel? Excitement, adrenaline, rush, fun, activity, families getting together, running on the boats,” he mentioned.
© 2023 Global News, a division of Corus Entertainment Inc.
