June 14th rain date June 15th
Start Time: 9:45 PM
PYC Clubhouse, 100 Yacht Club Road, Staatsburg, NY 12580

Poker Run Regatta

Ahoy there! You're cordially invited to join us for a Poker Run Regatta at the Poughkeepsie Yacht Club.

The Poker Run, which supports the Hudson Athens Lighthouse, is a boating poker run where boats travel to various locations to collect playing cards. This is a controlled event, not a race. Participants proceed at their own pace, and there is no advantage to being "first" at any of the card stops.

A poker run is an enjoyable event for both participants and spectators. This poker run will promote camaraderie among yacht clubs, boaters, and maritime enthusiasts while raising funds for the Hudson Athens Lighthouse Association.

Instructions

A Start will occur at the Poughkeepsie Yacht Club at 9:45 with a message and a blessing of the fleet; card locations will officially open at 10:00 am and remain open until 3:00 pm. All registered Participants and others are invited to the after-party commencing at Poughkeepsie Yacht Club and are encouraged to spend the night socializing.

During the Poker Run, each boat will travel to 5 locations provided by your map card, during which the boat must circle the location/vessel stationed out and VHF call to that boat to receive a playing card. This will be noted by the vessel issuing the cards and the vessel registered in the poker run. The best 5 card poker hand will be made from these five stops. The best 5-card poker hand among registered Vessels will win the Poker Run Regatta.

Rules & Regulations

1. All registered boats must be paid before the Poker Run Reggatta; if not, there will be no entry.

2. Personal flotation devices and a/k/a life jackets are mandatory for everyone on board a participating vessel.

3. The areas around each participating stop shall be considered NO WAKE ZONES. All participating vessels shall keep their wake to a minimum and operate at idle speed when operating near a participating stop. All other official NO WAKE ZONES are clearly labeled and must be adhered to. The areas around each participating stop shall be considered NO WAKE ZONES. All participating vessels shall keep their wake to a minimum and operate at idle speed when operating near a participating stop. All other official NO WAKE ZONES are clearly labeled and must be adhered to.

4. Captains are prohibited from consuming alcohol during the Poker Run.

5. Each participating vessel should maintain a safety zone of at least a one hundred (100) hundred feet radius of other participating vessels when possible.

6. Your participating vessel must not "cut off" other boats, whether participating in the Poker Run or not, or be the cause of emergency reaction on the part of other boats.

7. The Poker Run is NOT a race. At no time during the Poker Run should racing occur between/among participating vessels.

8. Each vessel must carry a functional cellular telephone or a VHF radio in working condition.

9. All participating vessels must obey all federal, state, and local laws, e.g., possessing the required safety equipment on the vessel. It is the responsibility of the participating vessel's driver to familiarize themselves and the occupants of the participating ships with these laws. If law enforcement or the United States Coast Guard tickets a participating vessel for reckless driving, the participating boat shall be immediately disqualified and its entry fees forfeited.

10. Participants must have valid and sufficient liability insurance for the vessel, passengers, and crew. Drivers are to determine at their discretion if their vessel is seaworthy for current conditions and potential conditions that arise during the Poker Run.

11. The driver of each participating vessel is responsible for all occupants and their actions. Participants under 18 must be accompanied by a parent or legal guardian.

12. Each Captain is responsible for reading and understanding these rules before participating in the Poker Run. Except as provided above, any violation of the above rules and regulations may result in the immediate disqualification of the participating vessel or the forfeiture of poker hands for the violating party(ies). The Event Director will make a disqualification or forfeiture decision. The Event Director may also consult with local law enforcement and/or the United States Coast Guard to conclude. In the event of forfeiture of poker hands or disqualification of the participating vessel, no refunds will be given, all card hands aboard the participating vessel will be forfeited (in the event of a disqualification), and no occupants on the participating boat will be allowed.