Poker-playing kayakers return to Onset
Marshall hands out the first card of the kayak poker game on Saturday, June 27. Photos by Nick Mossman
Patrick Marshall tells a group of participants how the game works. 
Marshall and "Big Bertha."
Marshall takes a selfie with the poker playing kayakers.
Kayakers prepared their boats before heading out for the poker game.
Kayakers get in their boats to go out on the water. 
Players paddle in Shell Point Bay.
Kayaks were of all different colors for the poker run. 
Kayakers on the water.
Patrick Marshall flips his boat over for fun during the poker run.
Carol Cabral and Nancy Ferreira show their hands.
Players return to Shell Point Beach after collecting cards.
Marshall hands out the first card of the kayak poker game on Saturday, June 27. Photos by Nick Mossman
Patrick Marshall tells a group of participants how the game works.
Marshall and "Big Bertha."
Marshall takes a selfie with the poker playing kayakers.
Kayakers prepared their boats before heading out for the poker game.
Kayakers get in their boats to go out on the water.
Players paddle in Shell Point Bay.
Kayaks were of all different colors for the poker run.
Kayakers on the water.
Patrick Marshall flips his boat over for fun during the poker run.
Carol Cabral and Nancy Ferreira show their hands.
Players return to Shell Point Beach after collecting cards.
While poker is a game traditionally played inside a casino, players put a maritime twist on the classic card game during the Onset Bay Association's annual kayak poker run on Saturday, June 27 at Shell Point Beach.
Kayakers paddled to three stops inside Shell Point Bay, picking up a card at each one to craft the best hand possible. Once everyone has paddled back to shore, the player with the best hand wins $100.
Patrick Marshall, who leads the kayak run festivities, said the floating poker game started in 2005. According to Onset Bay Association Executive Director Kat Jones, about 45 kayakers participated in this year's poker run.
"It's just a lot of fun, gets people out on the water, kayaking here is second to none," Jones said.
Jones said her favorite part of kayak poker was Patrick Marshall.
"He makes it real fun," she said.
Marshall made jokes with the participants and threatened them with a water blaster if they cheated during his introduction to the poker run.
"There is no cheating in this game, I have Big Bertha," Marshall said while holding up an orange water soaker. "And I am not afraid to use her."
Residents used the kayak run as an opportunity to get out on the water and enjoy the sunny day.
"It is a great opportunity to get out on the water, enjoy some of the beauty that this area has to offer and really just have a lot of fun," Marshall said.
Dartmouth resident Carol Cabral and New Bedford resident Nancy Ferreira were the first returnees back to shore, who said that playing poker while paddling on the water was fun. It was their first time playing kayak poker run in Onset, but they're experienced kayakers.
Cabral and Ferreira said that they didn't feel great about the hands they returned with. Ferreira said she may have to exchange some cards. Organizers allowed players to exchange cards in their hand for $2.
Aside from their poker hand, Ferreira and Cabral enjoyed their time at the kayak run.
Cabral said she "couldn't have asked for a better day" and that she would definitely be back.
