Boaters gather at Cayo Costa Saturday. Photo/Aerial & Interior 360

If you were out boating on Pine Island Sound and surrounding Gulf waters this past Saturday, you might have seen what could have been the largest boat parade ever.

Thousands of Donald Trump supporters came out this past weekend to show their support for the president’s bid for re-election.

The boat parade, hosted by Rezny Wealth Management Inc., stretched miles long and began at the north and south ends of Pine Island. From there, a grand procession was made to Cayo Costa.

“It was huge,” said Brian Rezny, president of Rezny Wealth Management. “It was substantially more exciting than what I thought it would be.”

Rezny said as many as 11,000 boats could have participated, and is confident a minimum 5,000 to 6,000 took part.

“It was way bigger than I thought it was going to be,” Rezny said of the parade that advertised 7,000 boats. “There were just happy people — people waving American flags, just hooting and hollering to be part of a great country.”

The caravan spread vastly long with vessels decked out in Trump flags, paraphernalia and patriotic items. Boats in support of the president lined the Gulf side beach of Cayo Costa for miles for food and conversation, Rezny said.

“There were boats all the way down Cayo,” Rezny said. “They were three deep off the beach.”

Upon returning to the site the next day, he said he found almost no debris on the mile-long stretch of the beach he walked.

“These people respected the property,” Rezny said. “Most people were social distancing. People respected the environment and they respected each other.”

Rezny, who had a plethora of Trump flags lining his lead boat and even a Trump cut-out on the back, was thrilled to see the number of supporters for the president join in the event.

“I’m thankful for all the people that support America and I’m glad that all of these people came out in support (of Trump) and I wish them all well,” he said.

Rezny said no boating incidents or injuries of any kind were reported.

“The Trump Boat Parade was everything I thought it would be and so much more.” said Cape Coral resident Jay LaGace, who participated in the parade. “What an incredible show of patriotism to our president. There were over 10,000 boats involved, hundreds of Trump flags and hats given away and a trip out to Cayo Costa for barbecuing fun in the sun. The beach was left spotless — no fights, no issues at all the entire day.

“What a great way for Lee County to make history.”

According to Guinness World Records, the current record for the world’s largest boat parade was in Malaysia in 2014, where 1,180 boats took part in the Malaysia Day celebrations along the South China Sea.

As far as the number goes, Rezny said he is working with sources to try and get an exact total.

According to United States Cost Guard Petty Officer Ayla Hudson, based upon an open-source Google search, the highest number they can confirm is 3,000.

“It could be hard to tell who was a part of the parade and who ended up in it trying to get to their own destination,” Ayla said via email in regards to their search.

A second boat parade also took place Saturday morning in Cape Coral that began at the Midpoint Bridge. Organizers of the event on Facebook could not be reached for comment prior to press time.

Supporters of Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden also turned out Saturday morning in Cape Coral at Horton Park for a boating event. The organizer of the event could not be reached for comment prior to press time.

–Connect with this reporter on Twitter: @haddad_cj