Fort Myers Offshore Brian Connelly Memorial Run 12-30-2023

[Serious News]

Fort Myers Offshore's annual Holiday fun run this year is dedicated to long time club member and staunch Nor-Tech Supporter Brian Connelly who passed away November 26th. We will be returning to Fisherman’s Village in Punta Gorda and will raft up in the same location as years past. This is the second of two designated fundraising events for our student scholarship program. We are asking each captain to pay a minimum of $100 per boat (more at your discretion). Nor-Tech is graciously sponsoring this event in honor of Brian.

Our starting point will be the south side of the Sanibel Bridge. Boats should assemble around 10:45 am and we will leave at 11:00 am sharp. We will be running offshore around the outside of Sanibel / Captiva up to Boca Grande Pass where we will enter Charlotte Harbor and continue North East to Fisherman’s Village. (If unfavorable sea conditions are forecast, we will run the ICW and a notification will be sent out to confirm this change if necessary) Anyone wanting to run the ICW the entire way is welcome to do so. (See Following Map)

We will have a Helicopter with Pete Boden on board for the run. Please follow the flags on the pace boat and do not pass the pace boat until the green flag is flown. This will give us the opportunity to get some great group shots.

From the Sanibel bridge to Punta Gorda and back should be about 110 miles for those running offshore and 100 miles by way of the ICW. Fuel is available at Punta Gorda Marina and Fisherman’s Village. 93 octane is very difficult to find so please leave with a full tank if you require high octane fuel.

We will have the entire Turtle Bay restaurant located on the docks at Fisherman's Lunch will be a Taste of Mexico buffet that you will pay your individual table server for at the restaurant. If you attended this event in 2021 with over 100 boats you know the food and venue was great. PLUS, it's the only place that can accommodate us.

[Serious News]

Red, Approximate Outside Run Route
Blue, Approximate Intercoastal Run Route
Green, Both Routes

[Ratickle]

Saturday

Northwest winds 5 to 10 knots. Seas 2 to 4 feet, occasionally to 5 feet. Bay and inland waters light chop.

They may be running the intercoastal.

[Serious News]

CAPTAINS PLEASE READ THIS MESSAGE:

Unfortunately Mother Ocean is not cooperating with us and we have made the tough decision of running the protected waterways of the ICW to our FMO Brian Connelly Memorial Run to Fisherman's Village. We will also be starting in a new location on the North Side of the "C" Span of the Sanibel Causeway. (This is the span closest to Sanibel) We will meet on the ICW (North) side of the Causeway so that we will not have to come off plane to travel under the Causeway during our start.

We will have two starts, V-Bottoms and CAT's. V-Bottoms will depart behind the Nortech Hi-Performance Boats Mercury Racing 50th Anniversary CC at 11am. The CAT's or V-Bottoms over 90MPH will start at aprox 11:10 behind the Grey MTI of Bill Forenski.

Upon arrival at Fisherman's Village please be redy with lines and fender's and prepared to raft off. Village brew house has given us the majority of the restaurant so seating should not be much of an issue. You will purchase your lunch wristbands from your server at your table.

We will have new apparel, a huge 50/50 raffle and a SIGNED Kenny Chesney guitar to auction off, all benefiting the FMO Scholarship fund.

[Serious News]

[Ratickle]

I was told they ended up with 93 boats registered and 63 made the run to lunch.

Not bad considering the weather.

[Serious News]

Needed a wider angle lens to get all 63 in the shots.....

[Serious News]

[Serious News]

[Serious News]

[Serious News]

[Serious News]

[Serious News]

[Serious News]