Catalina Island Fun Run Turns 10

Forget what you may have heard or think you know, there is but one major barrier to high-performance boating fun off Southern California. And it’s not the lack of an Intracoastal Waterway for protected running when the deep-blue waters Pacific Ocean get rough. Nor is it a shortage of natural beauty. Viewed from the water, the Golden State coast is a knockout, as are the Channel Islands beyond it.

The owners of the first DCB Performance Marine M42R, Southern California’s Kris and Shelby Hansen brought DCB vice-president Tony Chiaramonte along for the ride in last weekend’s Catalina Island Fun Run. Photos courtesy/copyright Daren Van Ryte and Brian Johnson.

There’s just no other place to go than Catalina and its time-warp-of-an-island-town called Avalon. From Newport Beach or Long Beach or Dana Pont or wherever you start, Catalina is the only compelling destination. And therein lies the rub.

For the 10th year in a row, group led by Southern California-based organizer Corey Vodvarka spent last weekend on the 22-mile-long speck of land that encompasses Avalon and the Bahamas-like Twin Harbors location at the island’s mid-point.

Catalina views don’t get any better.

“Beside some overcast weather, it turned out amazing,” Vodvarka said. “We had 62 boats register and somewhere between 50 to 55 made it over to the island. I was shocked at how full all the boats were. And the owners of a few of the boats that had maintenance issues ended up showing up by helicopter and ferry.

“While I don’t count heads, we easily had over 200 guests at the Descanso Beach party,” he continued. “It might have been pushing 250 people.”

Among those guest were a couple of South Florida folks you wouldn’t necessarily expect to see at a West Coast event. Both Cristina Ruiz of Cigarette Racing Team and Florida Powerboat Club Stu Jones were on hand. It was their first visit to the famed island.

Austin Carver’s MTI-V 50 center console was among the beauties that made the trek.

“The Catalina event was—amazing,” Ruiz said.

Joined by his wife, Jackie, Jones was equally dazzled. They made the trek in an MTI-V 50 center console owned by club-member Austin Carver, who lives in Newport Beach.

Carver treated the couple to the best of the Newport Beach and Catalina Island scenes by boat.

“Austin had originally called me several months ago and said he had just watched the In The Lead video Speed On The Water did on me,” Jones recalled. “He told me it gave him a greater appreciation of how many years it took for me to build a club and the vision that I had. He said he was proud to be involved with the club and would very much like to host me on this Catalina Fun Run. So he gave me the dates and said, “Just show up and you’re going to be taken care of quite well.”

The waters off Catalina Island have never seen a more stunning go-fast powerboat fleet.

“He was correct,” Jones continued. “Within 30 minutes of checking in at the Lido House Hotel, we met Austin and friends and had dinner.  Before long, we were out on the 50 MTI and cruising the local waterways in Newport beach ending up at his home. We left from there the next day.”

But Jones and his wife departed for the island minus Carver, who had a family commitment. Instead, Carver’s friend Kyle Reynolds took them on the Catalina trip on Carver’ 50-footer.

Long before they reached the island, Jones committed the Florida Powerboat Club as a sponsor for the 2025 happening.

“So we made a contribution,” he said. “I think that was a good move on our part because it made us feel more engaged with the event.”

Enjoy more images from the 10th annual Catalina Island Fun Run.

Though the couple stuck with the group for most of the planned events based out of Avalon Harbor, they broke away for a private island tour by Jeep. It provide to be one of the highlights of their trip and—at least to some degree—explained the attraction of Catalina itself.

“At one point, we were able to look down and see the entire Catalina Fun Run Group as it headed to Twin Harbor for the day with the dramatic Pacific Ocean as its backdrop,” he said.

In one afternoon, Jones learned firsthand his fellow participants in the 10th annual Catalina Island Fun Run already knew. There is just one compelling destination for high-performance powerboat owners once they leave the Southern California coast. Just one.

But what a destination.

Strangers in a strange land, Florida Powerboat Club leaders Stu and Jackie Jones enjoyed Newport Beach before heading to Catalina.

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