By Ron Cox

Billed as “the World’s Only Motorcycle Rally on a cruise ship,” the 20th Annual High Seas Rally (HSR) set sail from Tampa, Florida on a seven-day cruise to the Western Caribbean. The cruise was aboard the Royal Caribbean’s Brilliance of the Seas, a 2,000-person ship almost filled to capacity with motorcyclists from all over the world. In addition to domestic guests, people came from the UK, Canada and Germany just to name a few.

Ports of call on this pirate themed cruise included the Grand Cayman Island B.W.I., Cozumel, Mexico and Key West, Florida. Each location had a Harley shop which was overwhelmed with tee shirt buying customers.

Throughout the week shipboard activities included a Belly Smacker contest, Topless Man contest, Best Beard Contest, Tee shirt swap, Poker Chip swap, HSR tattoo contest and almost everyone’s favorite The Treasured Chest contest. About 20 pirate costumed wenches circulated among the audience collecting donations for Debbie’s Dialysis Fund (DDF). The winner being determined by who raised the most money. And did I mention the parties on shore at the Margaritaville’s or Sloppy Joe’s?

It wouldn’t be a biker event without a charitable aspect to it, and so it was with the HSR’s Debbie’s Dialysis Fund. The fund was named by HSR cofounder Dean Anderson for his late wife Debbie the other rally cofounder. The fund allows people, bikers and others, the opportunity for the vacation of a lifetime. Dialysis patients usually need a treatment every two or three days. The fund picks up ALL costs related to attending the rally including travel expenses for the patient and a companion, rental of dialysis machines, hiring medical staff, cabin costs and $500 in pocket money. Rally goers are fond of saying they’re “Cruisin’ for a Cause.”

Throughout the week tickets were sold for various drawings at the nightly “giveaway” shows. The nightly 50/50 gave between $2,500 and $7,500 to the winners who frequently gave a percentage of their winnings back for the fund. There was a Biker Bingo Night and a silent auction. Proceeds from these events and others went directly in the Dialysis Fund.

The Grand Prize giveaway show took place on Saturday, the last night of the cruise. An auction was held for various donated items including an autographed guitar by ZZ Top which netted $20,000. Other autographed guitars and banners hung at the tonsil wash emporiums on shore and aboard ship were raffled off with all proceeds going to the Fund. There were two $20,000 winners and Randy and Sheri Simpson from Waynesburg, Pennsylvania took home $10,000. About the only thing missing was a Jolly Roger flying from the ship’s mast!!!!!

As of this writing cabins for the 21st Annual High Seas Rally (December 3-10) are already on sale. Info: highseasrally.com.

For the last 18 months it was rumored that this would be the last High Seas Rally. Dean and Susan Anderson wanted more time together and wanted to find someone to take over production of the HSR. After a lengthy investigation Entertainment Cruise Productions (ECP), a firm with 20 years of producing specialty cruises stepped up and took on the challenge. Dean and Susan will stay on as consultants. ECP will carry on the mission of Debbie’s Dialysis Fund and demonstrated its commitment by donating $10,000. Bravo gentlemen.