Some of the fastest boats in the world are in town this weekend — one of them is powered by twin aircraft engines.
For the second year in a row, Sault Ste. Marie is hosting the 2017 CAN/AM President’s Cup VIP Poker Run, featuring high-end powerboats from across North America, some of which are valued up to $5 million.
New this year is the Bill Tomlinson’s ultra-fast 50 foot Mystic Cat catamaran.
The boat is propelled by twin 3,000 horsepower Lycoming Turbine T-55 engines — the same kind that are in Chinook helicopters.
In 2013 it set a world speed record of 224 mph.
Forty to forty-five high performance boats are expected to participate this weekend, about double from last year's event.
Local boater Gord Milne covers his 42 foot Fountain Executioner 'Bad Company'. Rain delayed a ride-a-long event on Thursday. Jeff Klassen/SooTodayAmong those competing this year is local boater Gord Milne who just bought last year’s event winner, Bad Company, a 42-foot Fountain Executioner with two 850 horsepower Mercury racing super charged engines that can travel up to 102 mph.
Brand new the boat costs $459,000, said Milne, who paid considerably lower for it.
Last year, Milne found his 33-foot boat couldn't handle the waves quite as smoothly as he liked so, like many who get into the sport, he wanted to upgrade to something bigger.
‘We’re all a little crazy. I call it two-foot-itis — we all want an extra couple of feet,” said Milne.
When he’s not using his boat for a Poker Run, Milne will take Bad Company for trips out to Blind River where he’ll spend the night inside the boat.
A day out on the water can be expensive.
At the Poker Run, he expects to burn around 400 litres in gas and spend $400-$600, just in one day.
Event administer Pierre Savoie said, on average, the high performance boats burn fuel at a rate of around $300 per hour.
On Friday afternoon the public will be able to see the performance power boats as they arrive in the Sault and are launched from Roberta Bondar Marina from 1-5 p.m.
Friday afternoon will roll into evening with boat demonstrations, a ceremony, and live music.
Saturday’s Poker Run begins with a ceremony at 9:30 a.m.
It’s not a race.
Boaters will be travelling around the St. Marys waterway collecting playing cards at stops.
After stopping at St. Joseph Island and going as far as Thessalon, the boaters return to Roberta Bondar Marina where they receive their fifth and final card, completing a hand of poker.
Boater's cards are revealed at a ceremony on Saturday evening and the boat with the winning hand receives $10,000.
On Sunday the event will be offering $150 rides on power boats to the public with all proceeds going to Big Brothers Big Sisters of Sault Ste. Marie.
Everything is being put on by Tourism Sault Ste. Marie with event founder Bill Taylor and his magazines Power Boating Canada and Poker Runs America.
For a full schedule, visit the event website.