TowBoatU.S. Ft Lauderdale Supports MIASF
Waterway Clean-up and Plywood Regatta
This year was the Marine Industries Association of South Florida's 32nd Annual Waterway Cleanup and 13th Annual Plywood Regatta. TowBoatU.S Ft Lauderdale, a long time member of the MIASF, was there for both events to volunteer and show support.
On Saturday morning, the 7th of March 2009, Captain Brad Cunningham docked TowBoatU.S. Ft Lauderdale's Landing Craft at John U. Lloyd boat ramp. Upon arrival, several members of the Sea Cadets including Hernandez, Fitzgibbon, Santiago, Bisetti, Salmeri, Dhanji, and Sanchez were ready to start cleaning and removing trash from the waterways and shore lines. The Sea Cadets, lead by Gunny Sgt. Sanchez, boarded the Landing Craft and proceeded to scour the waterway south of John U. Lloyd State Park in Port Everglades. By the end of the day the entire well of the 38 foot Landing Craft was full of bulk trash. Together with the other volunteers at this one site a huge contractor size dumpster was filled to overflowing with trash collected from our waterways.
TowBoatU.S. Ft. Lauderdale's Captain Brad also volunteered at the 13th Annual Plywood Regatta as a mentor for the Antibes Yacht Wear team comprised of students from McFatter Technical Center. The team built a low profile, kayak style boat, using only plywood, tie wraps, and 5200 marine adhesive. The vessel was appropriately named "Beast". During the race the team endured 3 paddle malfunctions (they broke) yet still managed to finish a close 2nd in one of the heats. While the team did not win the contest, they did win the Courage and Perseverance Award. Congratulations! To see a clip of the final race please follow this link Watch the Video (WMA).
All proceeds benefit South Florida marine industry education programs and the Plywood Regatta Scholarship Fund. The aims of these programs are to encourage marine education and develop youth interest in the marine industry. The Marine Industries of South Florida recognizes these young Plywood Regatta participants as future boaters and workers in the marine industry and seeks to provide them with opportunities for growth and development.
The Marine Industries Association of South Florida is a not for-profit trade organization created to promote and protect the sound growth of the marine industry in south Florida for the benefit and education of its members, the community and the environment. The Association has 800 members in Broward, Miami- Dade and Palm Beach Counties and is the owner of the Fort Lauderdale International Boat Show and the Fort Lauderdale Billfish Tournament For more information about MIASF, visit www.miasf.org, or contact Public Relations and Event Coordinator Melanie Daily at (954) 524-2733.
