Boat clocked going 157 mph in St. Lawrence River during Poker Run; team ticketed

TOWN OF ORLEANS, New York (WWNY) - A boat participating in the 1000 Islands Charity Poker Run was clocked traveling 157 mph near the Thousand Islands Bridge over the weekend, an area of the St. Lawrence River with a 30 mph speed limit.

The speed was both illegal and a violation of the poker run’s own rules.

“We stress these slow zones all weekend long. Since they register, we send them email after amil with all of the rules, so they had the rules,” said Bobby Cantwell, President of the 1000 Islands Charity Poker Run Board.

The river hosts the Poker Run, which is not a race. Before hitting the water, all drivers meet with organizers to learn the rules including speed limits. A member of the team from the boat did attend the meeting but wasn’t actually on the boat when the incident happened.

New York State Park Police clocked the boat, a 50-foot catamaran powered by turbine engines lettered “XINSURANCE” on its sides, at 157 mph in the restricted zone.

Tuesday night, Nick Buis, one of the team members, tells 7NEWS it takes two people to drive the boat and the team was ticketed with 6 violations and no one was arrested.

The NYS Park Police news release says the incident resulted in the arrest of one person for reckless operation.

Buis told organizers the team didn’t know where they were on the river and that they made a mistake. Buis says to 7NEWS he wants the community to know the team apologizes and didn’t mean to disrupt a wonderful community event.

Organizers said they understand the mistake, but point out under the rules of the event, the team can’t come back to compete. Cantwell said safety is first and foremost with the event.

“Going that fast in such a confined area is very dangerous for any of the boating public,” Cantwell said. “Could be a jet skier or any normal day person out on their boat.”

Buis also gave the following statement to 7NEWS: “We messed up. This is 100-percent on us. We appreciate the venue and the great cause. We’re sorry we disrupted the run due to our lack of knowledge, and we hope the venue will allow us back. The teams, locals, organizers and the Make-A-Wish Foundation all did an incredible job. We made a mistake and will do our best to turn a negative into a positive.”

Cantwell said he is glad Buis owned up to the mistake and thanked police for keeping people safe.

The event raises money for the Make-A-Wish Foundation.