More than 70 people hopped into kayaks at Shell Point in Onset on Saturday, June 25, hoping Lady Luck was on their side as they earned playing cards on their paddle around the bay.

It was the 10th Kayak Poker Run, and the largest one yet.

"This is a record-breaking attendance right now," said Kat Jones, President of the Onset Bay Association as she welcomed the kayakers before take-off.

Last year, there were 25 kayakers, and the trend was steadily the same in the years prior. At $25 per kayaker, the Onset Bay Association raised around $1,800 during the event, all of which will help fund the association's various events.

Onset Bay Association events include the Summer of Love concert series on Wednesday nights, free Film Festival on Thursday nights, the Blessing of the Fleet on July 2, and Illumination Night on August 27.

Jones thinks the publicity that the association worked so hard on this year paid off. She promoted the Kayak Poker Run on Facebook, in newspapers, with flyers, by word of mouth, and on the association's website.

"There are a lot of new faces, and some people who haven't been to Onset even," she said.

John Ippilito boasted the best hand of them all: a full house with three 5's and two 7's. After a kayak ride with his fellow competitors that lasted just about an hour, he took home $100.

Event organizer Patrick Marshall, a Wareham native, handed out cards at the beginning of the event, was in charge of water safety, laid out rules for the contestants and determined the winning hands at the end. Prizes were awarded to many people who earned interesting hands. He said he hopes the event will draw more people to the area.

"It's a beautiful place to paddle," he said. "Hopefully [the Kayak Poker Run] gets people to realize how beautiful this place is."