Sloppy Joe's at Christmas

By Shayne Benowitz

Thanksgiving Day Ultimate Adventure, Christmas Parade down Duval Street, Lighted Boat Parade, Fury’s Annual Holiday Party, Santa’s Toys for Tots Sunset Sail… These are the holiday events we’ve already ticked off the list. Once the holiday’s get going in Key West, the island stays festive for the rest of the year. Key West is truly one of the most fun places to celebrate the holidays.

If you picture a traditional white Christmas by the fireplace at home, then it may sound strange to celebrate the holidays in the tropics, but there is holiday cheer to be had all over the island. Homes are decorated in colorful lights, the palm trees are glistening, and everyone’s in a jolly spirit. There’s even a house off of Angela Street that goes all out and creates its own Winter Wonderland and holiday light show.

Fury Girl's favorite holiday light show!

For those of us who live in Key West, we’ve helped change our own family’s holiday traditions. My parents have spent more than one Christmas in Key West. And this is the time of year I’ve met many of the other Fury crew’s parents! At Fury, we’re on the water every day of the year no matter the holiday because we know it’s a special and unusual way for you, our loyal customers, to celebrate with your family and friends.

If you’re here on Christmas and want a completely new tradition, then the Christmas Ultimate Adventure is the way to go! We’ll host a special Christmas luncheon on our catamarans seven-miles offshore! The day includes breakfast, snorkeling, parasailing, jet skiing, kayaking, and an afternoon of fun on Adventure Island. No matter how you celebrate your holidays, we want to wish you and yours a very happy one from all of us at Fury!

By Shayne Benowitz

I love the holidays in Key West. Our streets are lit up with multi-colored lights, the palm trees at the Westin are sparkling, and everyone’s feeling festive and merry. Tomorrow night’s Lighted Boat Parade is an absolute highlight of the season. Schooners, fishing boats, and of course Fury will be decked out in lights and decorations on a promenade through the Key West Harbor.

There’s many options for enjoying the parade from being in it, watching from land, or viewing it on the water aboard Fury. We’ll have one catamaran in the parade all lit up with our concierge guests and special friends of Fury. Our other catamarans and the glass bottom boat will be on the water viewing the parade, and you’re invited!

We’ll be serving beer, wine, and champagne, and there’s an option to upgrade to a full liquor bar. We’ll also have appetizers and live music entertainment. Watch the sunset from Mallory Square or aboard one of our sunset sails, and then head to the Westin for the fun after the sunsets.

It’s a true spectacle, and one of those only-in-Key-West holiday events, so if you’re in town don’t miss it! I hope everyone’s enjoying the holiday season, and if you’re heading to Key West, we can’t wait to see you on the water!

Shayne Benowitz is a Fury crew member and freelance writer. Follow her on Twitter @ShayneBenowitz

Vroom vroom!

By Shayne Benowitz

What an exciting day on the water! The 31st annual Key West World Championship Powerboat Races started today and Fury was out in full force. As usual, our catamaran was positioned as an official turn boat during the race. This means we were literally apart of the racecourse. These amazing boats zoomed around us at speeds up to 100 miles per hour.

We hosted a party like no other on board with a catered breakfast, snacks, lunch, and of course race day mimosas. It’s a thrill every year and our crew especially looks forward to the action. This year, we doubled the fun with a second viewing catamaran. Drifting just offshore Sunset Key, we had unparalleled views of the straightaway.

If you’re reading this thinking, “How did I miss this!?” Don’t fret! There’s still two days of racing left Friday November 11th and the grand finale Sunday November 13th, so get yourself in gear and head to Key West for the action!

Shayne Benowitz is a Fury crewmember and freelance writer. Follow her on Twitter @ShayneBenowitz.

by Shayne Benowitz

Captain Westy left the dock this morning with a boat full of adventurous ladies for our annual All Ladies Ultimate Adventure in celebration of Key West’s Womenfest. This has been a favorite amongst our crew for years, especially for us girls! At Fury, we’re definitely outnumbered by the boys and it’s nice to have a day on the water when we’re the majority! I’ve worked the trip for years whether it be on the catamaran or the parasail boats. Our inaugural trip, we rocked an all female crew, including our Captain Mindi.

This year Agnes and Christina represented on the catamaran and hosted nearly 60 ladies on the all day trip, which includes snorkeling, parasailing, and jet skiing. As always breakfast, lunch, and all you can drink was included and there was plenty of time for kayaking and playing on the inflatable water toys. It was a truly gorgeous day!

Tomorrow night, we’ll get underway with a very special Ladies Only Commotion on the Ocean featuring musician Deblois Milledge. She’ll be performing her signature acoustic roots stylings to a fun crowd while the sun takes its westward descent into the horizon. The crew will be serving up margaritas, beer, wine, and champagne, along with a delicious appetizer spread. If you’re in town, make your reservation now to get on the boat!

Happy Womenfest, ladies! Thank you to all who decided to come celebrate with Fury! We always have a ball!

Shayne Benowitz is a freelance writer and a Fury crew member. Follow her on Twitter @ShayneBenowitz.

The wedding party at Fort Zach.

by Shayne Benowitz

Earlier this week, one of our most talented Fury photographers was at Fort Zachary Taylor State Park & Beach around sunset capturing shots of our boats for upcoming marketing materials. He noticed an intimate wedding for a couple, probably in their seventies, taking place just down the beach. If you’ve never been to Fort Zach, it’s one of the most beautiful locales in Key West with sparkling views of the Atlantic Ocean and the Gulf of Mexico. That makes it a popular place for destination weddings on the beach.

Our photographer noticed that there was no one there to take pictures and capture their special moment. As it turned out, the photographer they hired was a no show! Being the good Samaritan, our Fury photographer doubled his workload and in between getting pictures of the Fury fleet, he shot their wedding. He even got in touch with Captain Kerry to pull the Commotion closer to shore so that the Cory Heydon Band could serenade the wedding. They were thrilled that a photographer and entertainment magically appeared for their wedding.

The Commotion on the Ocean offshore of Fort Zach.

It turns out the bride and groom, Martha and Jack, had known each other as friends since high school. They had both become widows over the course of the last few years. Martha lived in New Jersey and Jack was in Jupiter, Florida. They reconnected over the phone, and eventually fell in love after all these years. Now, Martha’s moving to Jupiter and they’re starting their new lives together.

When our photographer shared this story with me, I thought it was so romantic. I was also impressed with his selfless act. Thanks to him, Martha and Jack will have beautiful photos to commemorate their wedding. I love hearing heartwarming stories like this. Key West is a very special place.

Shayne Benowitz is a Fury crew member and freelance writer. For more, follow her on Twitter @ShayneBenowitz.

And they're off! Photo courtesy of Megan Ellis.

By Shayne Benowitz

It was an exciting weekend for standup paddleboard (SUP) racing in Key West with the annual Key West Paddleboard Classic 12 Mile Race around the island. This was the second year that Fury’s own Captain Westy served as race coordinator. Easily the fastest growing water sport today, Westy has been a vanguard in popularizing paddleboarding in Key West.

Capt. Westy keeping his eye on the race. Photo courtesy of Megan Ellis.

This year’s race nearly doubled in its number of entrants to almost 300 racers ready to battle the current, the wind, and the hot sun in a grueling circumnavigation of Key West. Some of the top paddlers around the country turned out to compete in what is becoming one of the hottest races of the season.

Along the racecourse. Photo courtesy of Megan Ellis.

Not only standup paddleboards, but also kayaks, dories, sea cycles, surf skis, and prone racers took to the starting line at Smather’s Beach. Among them was Fury’s own Eliza Warren who competed for the first time and finished in 5:02:15. Quite an accomplishment!

Fury owners Scott & Marius at the races. Photo courtesy of Megan Ellis.

Fury’s friendly check-in-gal-cum-fabulous-photographer Megan Ellis was there with her camera snapping hundreds of photos to create a stunning photo journal of the event. And of course, Fury’s dynamic duo, owners Scott and Marius cheered the racers at the start line while the lovely Nicole and Annabelle encouraged them on at Mallory Square.

At Fury, we’re proud sponsors of the Key West Paddleboard Classic and very excited to see the sport continue its evolution. Congratulations to Westy for another great race! If you want to test out your skills on a paddleboard while in Key West, Westy has recently launched Paddle Republic offering clinics and instruction from Smathers Beach. Also, check out Lazy Dog for rentals from Hurricane Hole.

Shayne Benowitz is a freelance writer and Fury crewmember. Follow her on Twitter @ShayneBenowitz.

Fury Girl with Paul & Young Ron at the party.

By Shayne Benowitz

Cinco de Mayo! It’s a holiday I’ve always liked—mostly because I love Mexican food and margaritas—but I’ve rarely been able to get people on board to celebrate. Sometimes it’s just hard to throw a midweek fiesta. But this year was different.

I made the trek to Fort Lauderdale for the BIG 105.9 Paul & Young Ron Cinco de Social party at Bokamper’s Bar & Grill. It was definitely a Cinco de Mayo party, but it was also the kick-off party for the Paul & Young Ron Corona Key West Come Along May 20^th-22^nd.

A partygoer in the sombrero contest with Paul & Young Ron.

There were Corona specials all night long, a piñata full of prizes like concert tickets, and a sombrero contest. The grand finale was a drawing for an all expenses paid trip to Key West for the Come Along party the weekend of May 20^th.

Paul & Young Ron listeners save!

Of course, at Fury we can’t resist a good party, so we had to join in the festivities. We’re offering 25% off to Paul & Young Ron listeners if you book a trip with us before May 22. We’re looking forward to having these hilarious DJs in town for their show, and we think the rest of South Florida should come along with them!

Shayne Benowitz is a freelance writer and Fury crewmember. Follow her on Twitter @ShayneBenowitz.

Bo Bice of American Idol fame aboard the Commotion. Photo courtesy of Fury (& Bo Bice!) Fan Reba Witwer.

By Shayne Benowitz

The stars were out in Key West this weekend with the annual Songwriters Festival and the biggest and brightest shone aboard Fury’s Commotion on the Ocean. American Idol runner up Bo Bice and finalist Kristy Lee Cook’s star power sizzled out at sea. Other names might not dazzle marquees, but they’re the songwriters behind some of the biggest hits in the music industry.

Bo Bice & band performing aboard the Commotion.

Friday night’s line up featured the likes of Steve Bogard who once toured extensively with Jerry Lee Lewis. He’s the current president of the Nashville Songwriters Association International. If you’re a country music fan, his resume is legendary. He’s written eight #1 country songs among 18 ASCAP- and BMI-award winners.

Get a load of this playlist of hits he’s penned:

• George Strait’s “Carried Away” and “Carrying Your Love With Me”
• Rascal Flatt’s “Prayin’ For Daylight” (career maker!)
• Jack Ingram’s “Wherever You Are”
• Dierks Bentley’s “Every Mile a Memory”—2007 Grammy nominee for Country Song of the Year
• Clay Walker’s “If You Ever Feel Like Lovin’ Me Again”
• Black Hawk’s “There You Have It”
• Tanya Tucker’s “Hangin’ In”
• Steve Wariner’s “A Woman Loves”
• Patty Loveless’ “Jealous Bone”
• Eddy Raven’s “Til You Cry”
• Reba McEntire’s “New Fool At An Old Game”
• Lee Greenwood’s “Mornin’ Ride”

The song titles alone get me going! And talk about country music royalty! It’s a really unique experience to hear these songs performed by the actual songwriter. They usually make great storytellers, too. You learn some backstory on their process and the songs’ genesis, and sometimes a little about the singer who it was written for.

We had some amazing rising stars on board over the weekend, such as Dean Alexander, Tyler Farr, and Karla Davis alongside standard setters like Bogard, Marty Dodson, and Adam James.

The Songwriters Festival is a truly unique musical experience, and at Fury we’re proud to be a part of it!

Shayne Benowitz is a freelance writer and Fury crewmember. Follow her on Twitter @ShayneBenowitz.

Spring Breakers parasailing!

By Shayne Benowitz

It’s begun… Spring Break has officially hit Key West! While most young collegiates get one week off in spring, we host them week after week… after week in Key West. When will your school be down?

Just so you know, Fury is keeping the Spring Breakers in mind. We know that it’s all about making the dollar stretch during your vacay, so we’ve created some special offers in honor of this wonderful Key West Spring Break exclusively for the ladies! How does half price sound for almost all of Fury’s trips through April 3? Pretty good, right?

Here’s the breakdown on how to save:

First of all, check out the Key West Spring Break Facebook page we’ve got up and running. It’s a great forum for all kinds of Spring Break fun on and off the water in Key West. Share your tips with other Spring Breakers: where to party (Rick’s, Sloppy’s, the Gecko…), where to tan (Smathers! Fury!), and any other insider advice. And please post your pix! We’ll be keeping you updated through April on what’s going on with posts, pictures, and videos. Why don’t you check it out right now?

Next, we’ve got a boatload of deals all around twenty bucks, so let’s start with the cheapest thrills and work our way up. The best happy hour in town is aboard Fury’s Sunset Sail—ladies discounted rate, $18.50! That gets you two hours of open bar beer, wine, and champagne served by the fabulous Fury crew plus the best seats in the house for Key West’s famous sunset. Begin your Duval crawl once we’re back on the dock!

Ladies, for only $18.75, you can get a bird’s eye view of Key West 300 feet in the air while parasailing! We depart every hour on the hour. For that price, parasailing is really not to be missed.

It would be a shame to come all the way to Key West and not go snorkeling. After all, we’ve got the only living coral reef system in North America. It is stunning! Trips depart three times daily for only $20-$22.50 for the ladies. It’s always happy hour on the sail home with beer, wine, rum punch, and margaritas depending on which trip you take!

Finally, the biggest, baddest way to spend your day on the water is the Ultimate Adventure—$89 discounted rate for ladies. This includes breakfast, lunch, all you can drink beer and wine; plus, snorkeling, parasailing, jet skiing, kayaking, and much more at Adventure Island.

It is always a party at Fury and in Key West, so do yourselves a favor , come join us for Spring Break!

Shayne Benowitz is a Fury crewmember and freelance writer. For more travel stories visit her at web.me.com/shaynebeth and follow her at twitter.com/ShayneBenowitz.

Romance on a Fury sunset sail.

By Shayne Benowitz

Happy Valentine’s Day, everyone! I have to admit, I’m a sucker for this holiday. Call me an optimist or a hopeless romantic, but I just love the idea of a day dedicated to love! Over the years, whether I’ve been single or coupled up on February 14, I always strive to make the day special, and remind the wonderful people in my life just how important they are to me.

After all, a little romance goes a long way… Tonight, for instance, Fury’s dedicating its sunset sail to Valentine’s Day. Take your sweetie out on the warm, tropic waters of Key West Harbor, sip on champagne, and feed each other strawberries while the sun sinks into the ocean and the sky lights up in an amazing color show.

Or… grab your girls, put on something sexy and red, and hit the town celebrating your friendship. Sip champagne and feed each other strawberries. Why not!? Okay, only kidding about the strawberries part (sort of!). But, seriously I’ve had some of my most romantic Valentine’s celebrating with platonic friends. And you never know what the night may hold. There could always be a handsome stranger sitting across the bar… (I’ve always had an active imagination!)

A Valentine's dinner.

And gentleman, why not amp up the romance? If there’s a special lady in your life—your wife, your girlfriend, your mom, your sister, your best friend—why not surprise her with a little special something? It’s not hard! A box of chocolates, a love poem, an old school homemade Valentine, a bottle of champagne… And, as my man Stephen Reddy says, flowers go a long way. I second that! Any girl would love a bouquet of red roses or just a single carnation. It truly is the thought that counts!

I put a little something together for all of my Valentines’ this year. We will see what the day holds… Lots of love and romance to the fabulous Fury fans! See you on the Key West sunset sail tonight!

XO, Fury Girl

Shayne Benowitz is a Fury crewmember and freelance writer. For more travel stories visit her at web.me.com/shaynebeth and follow her at twitter.com/ShayneBenowitz.