ENGLEWOOD — Pirates are traditionally known for loving treasure and drinking.
Maybe that's why 300 pirates charted a course to Englewood over the weekend.
The Pirate Poker Run raises money for Englewood Beach Waterfest powerboat races.
The Waterfest is a three-day event held Nov. 17-19 on Dearborn Street and Englewood Beach, hosting the OPA World Championships. It brings in around 40,000 people from all over the country to race or watch the competition.
"This is our only fundraiser that we basically have for Englewood Beach Waterfest," said Jay Henderson, the Waterfest President. "Every year we have been doing this, Pirate Poker Run has been — as you can see — a lot of fun."
Henderson said the poker run also brings awareness to Waterfest.
"It's amazing how many people that attend Waterfest because of the run," he said. "When they come to the poker run, and they see what we're about and how much fun it is, then they come to Waterfest, too."
Englewood Beach Waterfest volunteers help with the Pirate Poker Run. A total of 450 volunteers, along with the help of sponsors like Charlotte County Tourism and North Myrtle Beach RV Resort, work the event.
On Saturday, pirates-of-the-day dressed in rapscallion garb decked out their watercraft and motorcycles and set sail to grab poker chips around Englewood.
"I think seeing the smiles on everybody's face and the way they decorate their boats and themselves is pretty amazing," Henderson said. "They really go all out."
Marie Grant and her husband, Rob, joined up with the Moose Riders 1933. She and the group have been participating in the Pirate Poker Run for four years as motorcyclists.
They were grabbing poker chips at the End Zone Sports Grille.
"It's great being able to have fun with friends while visiting all the different spots," Grant said.
Grant said doing the poker run on the motorcycle allows the group to meet other motorcyclists, many of whom become good long-time friends.
"The first year my husband and I went, we met a couple on their first blind date on a motorcycle," she said. "We ended up making friends with them, and they're still together like four years later."
As the pirates gathered all of their loot in the form of poker chips, they travel back to the Lighthouse Grill and Tiki Bar to play a round of poker. Kelly Durrett, of Venice, finished with the best hand, winning first place.
It wasn't her first poker run.
"Always love coming to the Pirate Poker Run, and spending the day in Englewood," she said. "We'll have to check out Waterfest in November."
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