Second Annual Pirate Poker Run 2026
RESCHEDULED to September 26th at 4:30pm
Event Info
Set your sails…and your poker face! This year, we’re fusing two cruising event ideas into one epic adventure: The Pirate Poker Run is coming to Chatfield Lake on International Talk Like a Pirate Day. Whether ye be a hardened sailor or a landlubber with a knack for cards and costumes, this floating poker game is your chance to plunder prizes, show off your sea legs, and embrace the spirit of the high seas.
How it works:
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Radio the cruising director as you round each one of 5 assigned marks. The cruising director will draw a card and radio back the result. Build your poker hand as you sail from stop to stop. No poker skills? No problem…luck is the name of the game.
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Dinner is potluck. Bring some grub to feed your crew and some to share!
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Open to Everyone! We’re welcoming non-members and newcomers, both sailors and motorboaters, to experience the thrill of sailing with us.
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Pirate captains: have room on your boat? Invite new friends aboard!
First, get your pirate gear together.
Costumes and Pirate accents are encouraged. Metal swords and knives are not! We will have inflatable Pirate Swords for everyone.
There will actually be three awards: best Pirate accent, best individual costume and best crew costume (aka, “Saltiest Crew”). Oh, and remember this is a family friendly event. Jolly Rogers and boat decorations are also encouraged. Please use good judgment about costumes and boat decorations to be within safe limits.
And don’t forget your PPFD also known as your Pirate Personal Flotation Device!
Second, register by using the Calling All Pirate Captains webform.
You are on the webform! Scroll down and fill it out!
If you are a skipper, please also include your Pirate Captain name, the Pirate name of your crew and if you have space for more crew
If you have a crew, make sure they register individually so we have enough grub for all.
Third, assemble your band of scallywags
Have your crew register with the participant webform. It will be available next week.
Day of Event
We will assemble on the hamburger dock at 4:30pm for photos and to judge costumes and to listen to your best Pirate accents to award the prizes for those categories then celebrate with grub. At 5:00pm we will set sail for the poker run. At 7:00pm (sundown) we will return to the dock to inspect costumes, boat decorations and listen to your best.
Game Play
Each boat will need a VHF radio tuned to Channel 68.
We will assign 5 buoys on the day of the event, one for each card in a poker hand. At 5:00pm, we will head out and you will sail around each of the buoys in any order. When you round a mark, you will hail the Cruising Director on your radio on Channel 68. He will draw a card for you and report back to you what it was. We will then write your boat name on the back of the card and keep them in folders to organize each boat’s hand.
After all of the boats have complete hands, we will review the hands for who won the following categories: high hand, low hand, dead man’s hand (black aces and black eights). Awards will be handed out at the Commodore’s Ball.
May Lady Luck be with you!
Whether Host or Crew, Plunder and Glory Await