A boating extravaganza for the young at heart will take place on Saturday, noon, Aug. 21, on Long Island Sound, the sixth annual running of the Manhasset Bay Gold Cup Poker Run '99. Headquartered at Lamotta's Manhasset Bay Marina, in Port Washington, the event will have 100 plus powerboaters transiting Long Island Sound, between Bridgeport, Connecticut, and Port Chester, New York, then back to Port Washington.

Guy LaMotta and his trusty 39' Cigarette, Dry Martini will be competing and defending his "King of the Sound" Crown awarded him at last year's event.

It is rumored that Stu Hayim, the World Champion Offshore Racer, will be debuting his new 46' Skater Cat pleasure boat that runs 172 MPH.

Mike Fusco of New Jersey will be entered with his 40' Skater Cat powered by twin GE Turbines that produce 3,000 HP each. He hits speeds in excess of 160 MPH.

Presiding World Offshore Race Champion Peter Meyers will be competing in his famous 35' Instigator at speeds of over 95 MPH.

Ted Lambert of Stamford, Connecticut, has entered with his 33' Fountain, Vavoom, that is powered by twin supercharged 800 HP Chevis and runs 90 MPH.

Cigarette Racing Team will be present with an armada of boats ranging from 20 feet to its Queen of the Fleet, the 42' Tiger; and that runs 95 plus MPH.

All types of boats are invited to participate because it is not a race, but some just like to go fast.

This event will be videoed and photographed for the leading powerboat magazines and TV sport's cable networks.

The host motel is the Royal Inn, 1177 Northern Boulevard, Manhasset, tel: 800-428-0005 for out of NY State calls, 800-832-5600 inside of NY State or 627-5300 if you do not care about the dime, but it is four miles away so you may want to stay overnite on your boat. The rate is $100 for NPBA members; the back-up motel is the Roslyn Claremont at 625-2700.

Participants begin arriving 2 p.m. Friday, Aug. 20, and the "Good Voyage" cocktail party begins at 7 p.m. The main event hits at noon Saturday with a rain date scheduled for Sunday, Aug. 22. The Awards Ceremony begins at 2 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 21.

This event is produced by the National Powerboat Association. For further information, call 203-532-1312.

All are welcome to view the boats docked at Guy LaMotta's, Manhasset Bay Marina, Friday, Saturday and Sunday.