Devon Osborne, the man behind the first ever BVI Latino Poker Run Festival, said he is seeking to eliminate the slow season in the Virgin Islands with the introduction of the event which is dubbed as the first of its kind. Photo: VINO

A screenshot of the website which was launched yesterday, August 30, 2013. Photo: VINO

“People will have more of a reason to be here in the British Virgin Islands or come to the British Virgin Islands to fill that void of the slow season that we have,” Osborne said, “This could be just another reason to keep people in the mix of things of being here in the British Virgin Islands, we want to get out of that thing of saying that we have a slow season or slowed down season. We don’t want to have that anymore in the British Virgin Islands.”

Osborne launched a website (www.bvilatinopokerrun.com) for the event yesterday August 30, 2013 and said the Poker Run Festival will target Latin communities around the world while explaining that there was an opportunity for an inter-cultural exchange, which would give members of the Latino community a chance to experience the Virgin Islands for the premier sailing destination it is.

The website can also be viewed in Spanish for those who are fluent in the language. “Even if you don’t speak the language you will still enjoy the culture and this is something that I would call an intercultural exchange,” he said.

He added that the event will be marketed to the Latino communities of Miami, Puerto Rico and Brazil among other countries.

According to Osborne, the five-day event will run from June 19-24, 2014 and will feature five exclusive overnight stops along the way including Scrub Island, Leverick Bay, Cane Garden Bay, Jost Van Dyke and Trellis Bay. Participants have a chance to buy up to a maximum of three poker hands on each power yacht.

In addressing possible gambling concerns surrounding the event, Osborne said, “Life is a gamble, business is a gamble to me, everything is a risk in life.” He said the proceeds from the gaming event ($150) will be donated to three non-profit organisations while $300 will go back to the winner of the poker run. “In essence there is no money being made from the gaming aspect of the event in itself,” he assured, “…it’s going back to the community.”

Osborne requested support from corporate BVI and asked that business owners come aboard and become sponsors. He also encouraged participation from locals in what he referred to as a staycation and stated that he expects the Moorings and the BVI Tourist Board to assist with marketing as well.

“You as residents of the beautiful British Virgin Islands can have your vacation which will be your staycation right here. Many of us live here but we don’t know what we really have here and this is your chance to get on a yacht, what thousands of people do from around the world, come to the beautiful British Virgin Islands and see what we have to offer which is known as the sailing capital of the world,” he said.

According to the website, sponsors for the event are Myett’s, Foxy’s, LIAT, SOL, Mahogany Rentals, RiteWay Food Markets, ZRod FM, Speedy’s and Leverick Bay while the Moorings will be the official transportation provider.

He did not foresee any conflict with the Leverick Bay Poker Run, which is held in May of each year and noted that officials from Leverick Bay will be involved with the coordination of the gaming aspect of the Latino Poker Run. “[Participants] would be more enthusiastic to even join and say ‘ok you beat me in that one but there’s a possibility that I may beat me in the next one’,” Osborne said.

Early group bookings will receive a five (5) percent discount and price ranges for the boats include $3,648.99 for a two-cabin power yacht, $4,299.80 for a three-cabin yacht and $6,889.54 for a four-cabin power yacht. Cancellations will have to be done 180 days prior to the charter start date.