Once a landmark in the high-performance boating world, especially for its famed but long-closed waterfront bar dubbed The Boathouse, the Sarasota Hyatt Resort is no longer. The hotel is being demolished to make space for the Hyatt Centric Harborside Hotel and condominiums. So the site is staying in the Hyatt family, so to speak, but it’s gone for now.
Ron Muller and Chris LaMorte, the organizers of the annual Invitational Outboard Skater Fun Run for the past five years, knew their host venue was going away while the 2025 event was still happening. So they pivoted and begin looking elsewhere a year ago.
Just an hour-and-a-half down I-75 and few surface streets, they found what they were looking for in form of the Westin Cape Coral Resort. The Westin property will host their March 12-14 happening. Fort Myers Offshore leaders Tim and Cyndee, who know the area best than folks and producing an event of their own this weekend, helped with the planning.
Some 20 Skater catamaran owners have committed to participating. Though the weekend-long brand-celebration remains invitational and is small by design, it is no longer limited to outboard-engine-powered cats. As he did last year for the first time, LaMorte will campaign his 36-footer powered by Mercury Racing 700 SCi inboard engines during the lunch outings. Muller had hoped to have his new 36-footer with 1,100-hp stern-drive mills ready in time for this year’s happening and “came close,” but it’s not quite finished.
“Right now, it looks like there will be four or five inboard boats,” LaMorte said. “The rest are outboards.”
Of course, Speedonthewater.com chief photographer and avowed Skater fanatic Pete Boden is coming back to capture the action. Some things never change.