good, I’ll know where to come for a ride. 😁😁

Never been , sounds like a good time.
That first pic is like 4 3600`s .. where was that at ?

Go Once, and you will never want to miss a year!! The first pic was at the first stop of the FPC run down, Gilberts in Key Largo

https://gilbertsresort.com/

Jack nailed it. I can’t believe you guys haven’t gone Dan. This is the year GTF DOWN THERE!!

by the way, that’s not all 36 NTs the turbines a 43.

that was also the run we ran down on Buddy Chet’s old 43 Way Nutz.

this was right after we left that tie up at Gilbert’s.



and from
the other direction running through the mangroves

its epic dude. You have to do it.

Gilberts

Something that has not been discussed here or elsewhere is the question of the US government shutdown. The wet pits, cranes and boat ramp used by the sanctioning body is on US Navy property and as of today the gates are closed I have been told. This is not a political post but I’m curious does anyone here have a reliable answer to this situation?

The outer mole is a huge spectator viewing area and where the VIP tents/parties are held. Also the food and beer vendors as well.

Always wanted to go. Looking at heading over from UK next year 2026.
any tips on hotels travel etc ? Or just stay awake drinking ?

book early. If you can swing the cash to get a waterfront room at ocean key, opal, Hyatt or galleon condos. If you’re water front you can watch races from your room and you’re steps away from all the action and Duvall Street Just as beautiful but on the other side of the island are the Reach Hotel (used to be the Waldorf), Hilton, etc. quiter over there. Theres also the concha on duval right in the middle of duval. You can also look at VRBO’s anywhere around Duvall st. Or in the annex. Cool little refurbished funky 1920’s small places that are clean and nice and chill.

if you’re coming from UK, fly into Miami or lauderdale and either 1) find someone on here willing to give you a ride down on their boat (epic) or 2) rent a car and drive down the 1. Absolutely beautiful drive. If you time it right and are driving down on a Thursday, you can stop at the tiki bar at key largo and have lunch while the largest fleet of offshore powerboats from FPC tie up on the poker run. It’s just as cool as when they come into bite marina in key west, maybe even better because it’s so tight, so it’s where the huge side ties happen and everyone is at the bar or on the docks.

once you’re on key west I’d recommend checking out wet pits and the pier area where all the crews watch the races from. The speed on the water / OSO party has turned into a highlight of the weekend. Everyone is there on Thursday night. Friday night is street parade / party which is insane with thousands of people out on Duvall st. Checking out the race boats and partying.
Saturday poker run boats usually out boating around and heading to the raft up out on the sand bar.

besides that enjoy key west culture. Get some stone crab and half shell raw bar. Have a key lime martini at Alonzo raw bar / A&B Lobster house. Hang out at the tree bar. See the durt bags band at durty Harry’s. Get a sloppy Joe from sloppy joes (they claim to have invented them), watch an acoustic guitarist at Irish Kevin’s. Grab a lobster roll from the crab shack. Have a drink and watch the sunset at Louie’s backyard grill. Snap a pick at southern most point bouy and mile marker zero. That’s a good start at least. 😁👍

Thank you for this post, great information and I value your first hand knowledge.

No boat this year. The new one is too big to move, and my fuel budget won't allow me to run down from Massachusetts.
Hope to see you guys