Northbound and loud out of Virgin Gorda’s Leverick Bay Sunday morning, more than 80 speedboats with names such as Diamond, BackShot and D’Menace roared around Mosquito Island before turning west towards Trellis Bay — the first stop on the 21st annual Leverick Bay Poker Run.

Throughout the day, they skipped across the waves at full tilt, criss-crossing the territory’s waters throughout the five-stop circuit around the Virgin Islands.

Participants said conditions were rough, but those who braved the choppy waters leading up to the event were rewarded with an intimate-feeling run that ended with a Virgin Islander-filled podium.

Businessman Alliston Blyden took the $8,000 pot, with three kings and a pair of fives making a full house, also known as a “boat” in poker.

With fewer vessels registered than the 100-plus in previous years, organiser Joel Brillert told the Beacon that the weather conditions leading up to the run were to blame for a drop in attendance.

“It was very rough out there,” Mr. Brillert, who also organised last year’s poker run, said on Tuesday. “I took our boat and did the course on Friday to go and visit all of our stops, and it felt like I was in a cement mixer. I was in rough shape by the time I got back.”

Despite the circumstances, Mr. Brillert said that Sunday was a success.

“We judge our success based on how much we’re able to donate to charity at the end of the day,” he said Tuesday. “So despite the fact that we have slightly less participation — I’m thinking about 10 to 15 percent less people attended — the people that did attend spent more money, and at the end of the day we should have a pretty sizable donation for charity that we’ll announce at the end of the week.”

Just under 100 hands were played, according to Mr. Brillert, who estimated the number at about 20 fewer than last year.

Capsized

During in-person registration Sunday morning, the schedule was delayed by 90 minutes when the speedboat Anadanto capsized just metres from the dock at Leverick Bay before its captain was able to register for the event.

“The rollover — or capsize, I guess it’s called on the water — took place as they were coming towards the dock to come and register and hopefully attend the captain’s briefing,” Mr. Brillert said. “So, yeah, they hadn’t actually come to Leverick yet.”

Within the hour, Police Information Officer Akia Thomas-Nero notified the media about the incident.

“Police can confirm that a boat has capsized in Leverick Bay, Virgin Gorda, after 11 a.m. today,” she stated in a message. “The crew and passengers have been rescued. One male has been reported injured and is receiving medical treatment. More details will be provided as necessary.”

The following day, the Marine Safety Investigation and Reporting Authority in the Premier’s Office provided more information.

“The single-vessel incident happened when a centre console powerboat, Anadanto, capsized, injuring all six individuals onboard the vessel,” the agency stated in a press release.

Chief Marine Safety Accident Investigator Jerome Padmore said a “comprehensive safety investigation” was already under way.

“Following established protocols, the investigation will gather and analyse information to clarify the circumstances of the accident,” the press release noted. “Following the investigation, a safety accident report will be available to the public at an appropriate time.”

The findings of the report, however, will not assign blame or determine liability, according to the agency.

“The MSIRA emphasises that the primary goal of this investigation is to enhance maritime safety and to prevent future incidents,” the press release stated.

Police did not say if they are investigating the wreck.

Delays

Despite a 90-minute delay, this year’s event ran only about half an hour shorter than usual, according to Mr. Brillert.

“We gave [boats] an extra hour to get back to Leverick, so it was really only a 30-minute delay as it were,” he said. “We don’t want to create a sense of urgency. We don’t want this to become a race.”

Even if the territory had the infrastructure to host offshore racing, Mr. Brillert said, Leverick Bay would still opt for poker runs.

“We wouldn’t promote this event as a race even if we could,” he said. “The reason is it allows everyone to participate equally. You can have a million-dollar offshore-racing boat or you can borrow a fishing boat from your friend, and you can still be as competitive as the next guy.”

Founders award

The poker run was founded in 2001 by Nick and Monica Willis, former managers of the Leverick Bay Resort and Marina.

The first year, 12 boats showed up, and the event grew steadily in subsequent years before being stalled by the 2017 hurricanes and then the Covid-19 pandemic.

Last year, a new “Founders Award” was introduced in honour of the Willises, and this year it went to James Cammilleri.

“[Mr. Cammilleri] brought a very large team” Mr. Brillert told the Beacon. “They had custom shirts: poker run shirts that they had made themselves. They were first to respond as well when the accident took place before the poker run started.”

Mr. Cammilleri also podiumed after drawing three of a kind, but Mr. Brillert said that his hand was not related to the criteria for the Founders Award.

“We felt like [Mr. Cammilleri’s team] really captured the spirit of poker run,” Mr. Brillert said. “That’s what that award is intended to represent.”

‘Save the date’

Anyone interested in attending next year’s poker run need simply mark their calendars one year from Sunday, according to Mr. Brillert.

“It’s always the same weekend every year,” he said. “So, you know, ‘Hey, save the date for next year. Put it in your books.’”

For residents of the United States, Leverick Bay’s poker run consistently falls on the Memorial Day weekend, Mr. Brillert said.

“It’s funny how it works out,” he said. “It’s always Memorial Day weekend. So yeah, it’ll be Sunday, May 24th, 2026, next year.”

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