A Poker Run is not a race. It's a game of chance and an assembly of some of the hottest, fastest and most exotic boats in North America, from the Atlantic to the Pacific. Even before the actual event begins, you can sense the burning fever of anticipation. Like all true blue boaters, Poker Runners are itching to head out on the open water. Sure they love the attentions of wide-eyed performance fans fawning like love-struck children over their sleek, super-fast water warriors. Sure, they listen carefully to important details outlining proper conduct, safety and rules of the road at the driver's meeting. But, like a pride of lions ready to prowl, Poker Runners are rarin' to unleash raw horsepower.

A Poker Run is fun on the water with power to burn. It's a few glorious days of performance boating at its finest, a chance to renew old acquaintances and make new friends. Each participating boat navigates a carefully charted course, stopping at five checkpoints along the route to pick up a sealed envelope containing a single playing card. At the final checkpoint, the envelopes are opened and the crew holding the best poker hand is declared the winner!

There's an unquantifiable joy in feeling the wind whip your face at 75+ mph speeds on the open water and experiencing a roller-coaster-like ride over wakes and waves.

But signing on for a Poker Run also means being part of a well-organized, activity-oriented, fun-filled safe event. Naturally, it helps to have a great body of water, but equally as important are the card stops and special hosts that cater to Poker Runners throughout the run.

Poker Runs are events for the entire family. At each of the five checkpoints, host communities provide unique and entertaining activities, sometimes linked with waterfront festivals.

So mark your calendars today, and be sure to capture the spine-tingling thrills of taking part in a Poker Run in your area.