MARION — A three of a kind made up the winning hand for the big game of poker Wednesday, July 17 in Marion.

As part of Sippican Land Trust’s “Poker Paddle,” kayakers embarked at Island Wharf and ranged to pick up five cards at different stops across town waters.

The 2024 paddle, a fundraiser for the land trust, was the third year of the event, according to board member Alan Harris.

Jim McKowen returned with three queens, securing a $100 prize.

Harris said the Poker Paddle is a “nice, small fundraiser” that gets people out on the water.

“It’s a good way to highlight some of our waterfront properties that people can’t really visit,” he said.

Card pickup stations for kayakers included Gravel Island and Blankenship Cove.

“It’s nice to celebrate those spots,” Harris said.

Another stop was Upper Hammett Cove, where Katie Haight and Debbie Ewing sat in lawn chairs on a narrow dock right by A&J Boatyard. Ewing reached out with a long stick to deal cards to arriving paddlers.

“Very high tech,” she said.

It was Haight’s third year running station three of the Poker Paddle and the first for Ewing, a Sippican Lands Trust board member.

“It’s kind of my spot,” Haight said.

Ewing said getting on the water is a “real treat for people.”

“It’s fun,” she said. “It’s nice to see people out there having fun.”

David and Marion Berzansky were the first couple of kayakers to reach the third card pickup stop, about 30 minutes into the Poker Paddle.

“Go for it,” Ewing said to them. “You’re doing great.”