Labor Day weekend is the last gasp of the summer boating season and doesn’t offer much in the way of structured group events. Organizers know most people just want to relax on the water with friends and family. The kids have to go back to school the following week, if they aren’t already there.

Plus, last weekend’s ultimate speedfest on the water, the Lake of the Ozarks Shootout, is on the agenda. September is the perfect time to take a breather.

But for those of you not ready to call it a season, there are at least six event gems in September – three in the east, two in the west, and two in the center. Here’s a quick rundown.

Poker run at Lake Cumberland

For Stu and Jackie Jones of the Florida Powerboat Club, it was their first time competing in the Lake Cumberland Poker Run in their own boat last weekend. Photos by Pete Boden Copyright Shoot 2 Thrill Pix,

First up is the Lake Cumberland Poker Run in Kentucky next month, which celebrates its 18th anniversary this year on September 6 and 7. That the event has been held at the State Dock for nearly 20 years is a testament to its long-standing appeal. Even Florida Powerboat Club leader Stu Jones, who competed on Lake Cumberland for the first time last year with his wife Jackie, found it impressive. And Jones is hard to please when it comes to high-speed boat racing.

Pirates Of Lanier Charity Poker Run

The Pirates of Lanier Charity Poker Run was a huge success again this year, moving from July to September and raising hundreds of thousands of dollars for local charities. Photos courtesy of Dov Goldstein/DockBars.

Thanks to a revival by Georgia-based sports boating enthusiast Sheridan Bazemore, the 2023 Pirates of Lanier Charity Poker Run raised a record-breaking $450,000. Chances are, the September 12-15 event will up its impressive fundraising efforts this time around.

Waves And Wheels End of Summer Fun Run

The Waves And Wheels End-Of-Summer Fun Run is as casual as speedboat events on Lake of the Ozarks get. Photo by Jeff Helmkamp, ​​Copyright Helmkamp Photos.

The eighth annual Waves And Wheels End-Of-Summer Fun Run will take place Friday, September 13, starting from the company’s recently sold marina in Osage Beach, Missouri. Stops for the one-day event have yet to be announced, but Wagner always makes it a point to keep things casual. Weather reduced the field to six boats last year, but the Waves And Wheels event usually draws over 20 participants.

Lake Powell Challenge

The waters of the Colorado River are DCB Performance Marine’s waters and the Phoenix-based company will have a large catamaran count at the Lake Powell Challenge Mix. Photos by Pete Boden, copyright Shoot 2 Thrill Pix.

The Lake Powell Challenge has been absent from the September cycle for a few years, but returns September 19-22. Flanked by towering rock walls, the clear, cool and mostly empty waters of the Powell – the largest lake in the man-made chain of water fed by the Colorado River – impress anyone who enjoys it. Set in a houseboat village, the event takes place at Antelope Point Marina in Arizona. According to Jeff Johnston, president of DCB Performance Marine, the Phoenix-based event will have a “big presence” with catamarans like M37R. Crazy props And cowboy & Indian obliged to participate.

Emerald Coast Powerboat Week

As a base for boating events in the Sunshine State, Destin is hard to beat.

The bad news about Emerald Coast Powerboat Week – the penultimate event of each Florida Powerboat Club season – is that the dates clash with those of the Lake Powell Challenge. The good news is that the events are held on opposite ends of the country. That doesn’t mean that the dedicated road warriors of the fast boating world can’t How to attend both, but the distance between them is more than 1,800 miles. Like the Lake Powell affair, the event, headquartered in Destin, Florida, takes place on some of the most beautiful waters this country has to offer. Freshwater or saltwater, towering rock walls or beaches of fine sand – take your pick. Either way, you can’t go wrong in terms of setting.

Chicken wing racing at Oneida Lake

Although the Oneida Lake Chicken Wing Run is primarily a regional event, it typically draws over 100 participants. Photo courtesy/copyright Rodney Olson.

Despite longtime organizer Ron Forbus’ move to Southwest Florida, the Oneida Lake Chicken Wing Run in upstate New York will go ahead this year, according to posts on its Facebook page. The event is set for Saturday, Sept. 21, but because it has a more regional following than the events in Destin or Lake Powell, the date conflict is of less significance.

Catalina Fun Run

Participants of the Catalina Island Fun Run spend two nights in Avalon. Photo courtesy/copyright Daren Van Ryte.

What began as a lunchtime excursion from Long Beach to the town of Avalon on Catalina Island has evolved over the past eight years into a two-day excursion off the coast of Southern California. Now the Catalina Fun Run, held Sept. 27-29, draws a wide variety of mostly local speedboats. The event regularly sells out, and for good reason. It’s the only annual West Coast Pacific excursion for fans of speed on the water.

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