Welcome to the Inaugural Presque Isle Poker Paddle! Saturday, June 4, 2016 Start time: 10:00 AM The following information for 2016 Poker Paddlers will be helpful to ensure everyone has a safe, great experience. PLEASE READ CAREFULLY! Start/Finish: Presque Isle State Park, Lagoons Boat Launch (next to Presque Isle Canoe & Boat Livery over the bridge from Perry s Monument) Registration / Check-In: 8:00 AM 9:30 AM: Check-in location: Presque Isle State Park, Lagoons Boat Launch Pre-registration only. No day of event registrations will be taken. No transfer of entry spots. No exceptions. All paddlers are required to check-in on Saturday at the Poker Paddle Registration Area. A Presque Isle Poker Paddle application and waiver form is required for all paddlers in advance of 6/03/16. At Check-In: All Paddlers Report to the main registration table where each paddler will receive a labeled Poker Paddle packet containing: laminated & numbered Poker Card, numbered boat sticker, whistle, 20 liter dry bag, and numbered baggage label for key check. (Your Poker Card will be your food and beverage ticket at the Millcreek Brewing Company.) Due to limited parking space, participants will be directed to the next table for specific instructions on boat drop-off and vehicle parking instructions at Beach 11. FYI: Restroom facilities are located at the Lagoons Boat Launch, Presque Isle Canoe and Boat Livery, East Pier and Perry Monument. Parking & Shuttle Bus Service: Parking for all paddlers, families, friends and spectators will be at Beach 11 parking lot (less than 1 mile east of the Poker Paddle start). Beach 1l parking lot is spacious. Shuttle bus service (complimentary of the e) will provide a continuous shuttle to transport paddlers and spectators from Beach 11 area to the Poker Paddle start and back to PISP Beach 11. The shuttle bus will run from approximately 8:00 AM 10:00 AM & 12:30 PM 2:00 PM between Beach 11 and Lagoons Boat Launch. Paddlers may also choose to walk from the Beach 11 lot (could be part of their warm-up!) No Poker Paddle parking will be permitted at Lagoons Boat Launch Area. No parking will be permitted along the road immediately west or east of the Lagoons Boat Launch. Everyone...paddlers, families, friends, spectators...are encouraged to take full advantage of the complimentary shuttle bus service. Everyone s cooperation will be appreciated!
Post-Paddle Lunch: 1:30 PM 5:00 PM, Millcreek Brewing Company. Lunch and a craft beer for all paid paddlers. Paddlers, volunteers, families, friends, spectators invited! Music, corn hole, giveaways, 50/50. Sponsored by Millcreek Brewing Company. Water Temperature: Presque Isle Bay water temperature averages for 1 st week in June: low-mid 70 s. Weather / Safety-Related Changes / Announcements: Conditions will be monitored closely throughout the morning of the Poker Paddle. Factors that will affect the decision to conduct the Poker Paddle or not...include thunder/lightning, heavy rain or fog (that minimizes visibility), wind/rough water (white caps on the bay!), and tornado warning/watch. Up to a one-hour delay in start time, if needed, is possible. There is no inclement-weather date. Any / all changes / complete information will be announced the morning of the Poker Paddle Radio Communications: Will be in place at each stop along the course thanks to volunteers and staff. Time Limitations: The Poker Paddle course will officially close at 1:30 PM. Safety Boats / Kayakers: Boats will be positioned on Presque Isle Bay between the East Pier and Perry s Monument. Safety kayakers will follow behind the last participant to guide paddlers in staying on-course and to provide assistance as needed. Paddlers who need assistance should signal they need help with their whistle, grasp the bow (front) or stern (back) of a kayak...and never grasp the sides. All Poker Paddle Volunteers: The Poker Paddle is primarily a volunteer effort. Volunteers are exactly that: people giving of their own time to help provide a safe and enjoyable experience for all. Volunteers are not paid. This includes those working at registration, at the start, at the stops, on boats, in kayaks, in the water and at the finish...everyone. It is expected that all participants treat every volunteer with respect. Beyond that, please offer your thanks for giving their time and for being there. For that, we thank you! The Presque Isle Poker Paddle is a non-competitive, celebratory, completion event. No official times will be kept. Those who want a record of their approximate time should plan to wear a watch. Agenda / Procedures / Additional Information 8:00 9:30 AM All Poker Paddle entrants: check-in @ the Registration area (Lagoon Boat Launch) Report to the check-in table and pick up your Poker Paddle packet. Offload and position your boat along graveyard pond. Volunteers will be there to watch over all boats. Attach the numbered stickers to your boat that matches your Poker card number. Drive your vehicle to Beach 11 where you can park and take a shuttle back to the Lagoons Boat Launch area.
If you utilize the key check, go to the check-in once you have returned from Beach 11 parking lot to the launch site. Once you have checked in, feel free to play a game of corn hole and/or help others unload their gear. Field & Stream representatives will be on hand with product demonstrations. 9:30 AM Official welcome and pre-poker Paddle meeting. Updated information and final instructions given. 9:45 AM Paddlers to head to their boats. 10:00 AM Paddle starts for all participants. All paddlers must be in the water by 10:30 AM Life jackets should be worn (or at least visible) from start to finish throughout the Poker Paddle. This is not a race. Take your time and enjoy the beautiful scenery Presque Isle has to offer. Be respectful of each other, the volunteers, and the Park! All paddlers who participate will be accounted for as they draw a card at each stop. All paddlers will be accounted for at the finish of the paddle. If you do not complete the paddle for any reason, PLEASE notify a volunteer so we do not have to call the Coast Guard to search for you. The Finish @ the Start! All Paddlers will be greeted and encouraged to dispose of their trash properly. Check in at the Presque Isle Partnership tent to notify volunteers that you have finished. It is each Poker Paddler s responsibility to: 1. Report their assigned number to officials @ the finish so all paddlers can be accounted for. 2. To log you poker hand. Pick up the e shuttle bus to return to Beach 11 parking area. Last bus leaves @ 2 PM. Remember: Those planning to take the last shuttle need to be @ the pickup area no later than 1:55 PM. Proceed to the Millcreek Brewing Company for lunch, entertainment, prizes, and giveaways! Rules & Regulations are as Follows Registration for the event will be from 8:00-9:30 am at the Presque Isle Partnership tent between the Lagoon Boat Launch and the Turtle Observation Deck over the bridge from the Perry s Monument. Boating Laws All participants must abide by Pennsylvania Boating Laws. Boat registration stickers are not mandatory. Each person must have a PFD and a whistle in their boat at all times and it is strongly encouraged to wear it during the Poker Paddle. Please help keep Presque Isle Clean and Green by practicing Leave No Trace!
Poker Rules The numbered and laminated poker game cards with your name on them will be provided at check-in to individuals who are pre-registered, at least 18 years of age, and only one hand may be played per person. Remember to bring your Driver s License or State Issued ID. You will be given numbered stickers for your boat that match your player number. This is a 5-Card Draw poker event. Each player will receive five cards (one at each of four stops and the finish). Each player will have the option to purchase an extra card before launching and will get a free card at the end of the paddle if they dispose of their trash properly. The maximum cards drawn per player will be seven and the best hand will be made out of five. Sequence of Play 1. Bonus DONATION Card (BEFORE Launch ONLY) Each player will have the opportunity to make a $5 donation to get an extra card before leaving the check-in area. (Remember: this is a 5-card draw poker hand, you will be making the best hand out of 5 cards with the ability to get 7 total cards). 2. Check Point Cards Each player will draw one card at each of the four designated Card Stops along the route and the last card upon returning to the check-in/finish area. The Players Card will be punched according to the card drawn. If any player would happen to draw a duplicate card of the same face value and suit, you must continue to draw until you draw a card that is not already punched on your game card. The staff and volunteers will be recording each card drawn at each stop for each participant. Therefore, any evidence of tampering with the game card will result in that person s disqualification and forfeiture of fees. 3. Bonus Keep Presque Isle Clean & Green Card Each player will receive a small garbage bag at check-in for their trash and for collecting any garbage they happen to find along the way. At the end of the paddle, those paddlers who dispose of their trash properly (i.e. separating recyclables from trash), will have the opportunity to draw an extra Keep Presque Isle Clean & Green card. Please remember to practice Leave No Trace wherever you go! 4. Poker Hands Each player will make their best hand of five cards out of the possible seven cards drawn.
Once you have arrived at the Millcreek Brewing Company, you will write what you think is your best hand on the Master Board next to your Players Card Number. Be sure to confer with your friends to make sure you have not sold yourself short. This will NOT be a cards speak event, you will speak for yourself! There will be no Jokers or Wild cards issued for this event. Aces are only low when they are used to complete a wheel straight (i.e., A-2-3-4-5). A Q- K-A-2-3 straight or any variation thereof will not be permitted. 5. PRIZES Best Hand Prize of $300 Cash: Will be awarded to the player with the highest 5-card poker hand. If two or more hands are tied, those players will each draw a card(s) until a winner is determined. Worst Hand Prize of $150 Cash: Will be awarded to the player with the lowest 5-card poker hand. If two or more hands are tied, those players will each draw a card(s) until a winner is determined. Field & Stream: $150 Kayak package & free promotional items. Door Prizes: Will be awarded at the Millcreek Brewing Company after party and winners must be present to win. 50/50 Tickets: Will be available for purchase at the Millcreek Brewing Company after party. They can be purchased at the following rate: 1 for $1, 6 for $5 or 15 for $10. All tickets will be combined in one raffle drum. One ticket will be drawn and the winner will receive half of the money collected. The winner does not need to be present to win as long as a legible name and phone number are printed on the ticket stub, otherwise another ticket will be pulled. Winners are responsible for picking up their prize either on-site or from the Presque Isle Partnership at the Tom Ridge Environmental Center, 301 Peninsula Dr., Suite 2, Erie, PA. In the interest of integrity and fairness, the Presque Isle Partnership will retain final judgment on all matters related to this event and the prizes awarded.