Dinghy Poker Run

With the Kids arrival a couple of weeks away, we decided to head back to the BVI. Before we left the BVI to explore the USVI for the kids, we watched part of the around the Drake Passage poker run. It was a an event with 40 – 50’ cigarette boats speeding down Francis Drake Passage from one marina to another collecting a card at each place to make a poker hand. It is well attended as the purse is $10,000. We didn’t enter that event, but in the first week of July a similar event is held in North Sound up at the North end of Virgin Gorda. It is the same thing but with dinghies and is only held using north sound marinas. The entry fee is $50 a hand and the proceeds go to charity.

We become pirates!

Poker Run Scoreboard

 We entered not knowing all the intricacies of the event. The first detail was we were to be dressed as pirates-so Leslie scrounged around the various shops for something to make us pirates.

Getting Ready to go

Some contestants

Let the water fights begin!

There had to be 50 dinghies and if you wanted to enter, but had no dinghy, they had dinghies for you to use. As the event started and dinghies started heading to the Sand Box, a beach bar a mile away, we realized we were not fully prepared as a huge water fight erupted! Some boats had plunger water guns which could give you quite the dosing at long range and some enterprising groups combined these with coolers full of ice water to fill the guns.  Now those guys you tried to avoid! We fortunately had a small bucket we used to bail out the dinghy. It gave us good service at close range and also dewatered us after several encounters. We finally broke free of the fight and roared to the first stop. Once there we collected our card and hit the bar to steady our nerves.

First stop

the beach bar

With all cards dealt out, we repeated the scenario to the next stop at Saba Rock only a half mile away.

Off to the second stop

At Saba Rock

Here many also had lunch to replenish their energy levels.

Replenishing Energy

Then it was on to Bitter End Yacht Club, only a quarter mile away so there was huge water fight the whole way.

At Bitter End

The awsome plunger at work

The battle continues

At the Fat Virgin

We survive

Then off to the Fat Virgin and finally the home stretch back to Leverick Bay for the final card. This mile trip had us running many gauntlets of dinghies with water cascading over everything. Once back at Leverick Bay the party really began. It was definitely a fun time.

The party continues

Winners are declared and prizes given

Russ and Mary Kay on the trail

The next day, after recovering from the poker run, we took on fuel and water and stayed in the area to hike some unknown trails at Bitter End with friends we met at the poker run, Russ and Mary Kay.  Hiking these trails we got to see a lot of Bitter End and Bias Creek Resort and the new housing development being built at Oil Nut Bay. Now we are looking forward to the sail back to the USVI and the visit from our kids and grandkids.

DINNER!!