Just three hours—that’s how long it took the March 26-28 Fort Myers Offshore overnight trip to Hawks Cay Resort on Duck Key in the Middle Florida Keys. The 35 available slots disappeared in one morning.
“We could have sold out 45 slots, easily,” said Tim Hill, the president of the Southwest Florida nonprofit scholarship fundraising powerboat club. “Our members were ready for an overnight. It’s been nine years since the last one.”
Certainly, the time that elapsed between the upcoming event and the one nine years ago has created pent-up demand and scarcity value. But there’s more to it than that. No longer a local gem, Fort Myers Offshore is the nation’s fastest-growing nonprofit powerboat club. Members and sponsors from around the country flock to its easygoing events. That has made it a truly national and—thanks to is robust Canadian contingent—international organization.
The destination for the event also cannot be discounted as a significant contributing factor in its rapid sell-out. Hawks Cay is a destination resort. Members who opt out of daily lunch runs during the late March weekend can stay put and still have a remarkable, relaxing experience. Hawks Cay recently redid its marina, which to be honest need some freshening. Now the facility is top flight.
The only aspect of the event that remains open? Sponsorships, which are essential to the success of all Fort Myers Offshore events. But with GSX/Glasstream, MYCO Custom Trailers and a few local sponsors already inked, sponsor-space is filling fast. Would-be backers need to act quickly before those spots are taken.
Once the Hawk’s Cay affair is complete, just two April events—the East Beach Raft-Up On Cayo Costa raft-up and the Season Finale Run to Riviera Bar and Grill in Punta Gorda—will remain on the 2025/2026 Fort Myers Offshore schedule. But Hawk’s Cay adventure will happen before then, and for 35 members and their guest it could end up being the event of the year.