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By: MIASF Staff

Date posted: Apr 30, 2019 Tue

The 23rd Annual Plywood Regatta organized by MIASF took place at the Dania Beach City Marina on April 6th and 7th. During the two-day boat-building and racing event students were introduced to the excitement and career opportunities associated with recreational boating. 33 teams of South Florida middle school, high school, technical school, and college students built, painted, and decorated their uniquely designed vessels using only simple hand-tools, three sheets of plywood, 3M 5200 fast-cure caulk, and zip ties. On Sunday teams competed in a series of spirited heats to determine an overall winner.

1st Place winners: Beginner’s Division -Moto Moto from Kid’s Unplugged and sponsored by Seafarer Marine;

Intermediate Division – Knotty from Inlet Grove Community High School and sponsored by Wright Maritime;

Advanced Division – Under the Sea from South Broward High School sponsored by Dockside Corporate Services.

The winner of the Lauderdale Marine Center Overall Best Team Cup was Knotty.

Generous support from the community includes, 3M, AME Solutions, Atlantic Marine Power Systems, Boat Owners Warehouse, Complete Marine, Dania Beach, Derecktor, Diesel Service of America, Dockside Corporate Services, Engineered Yacht Solution, Frank & Jimmie’s Propeller, Fort Lauderdale Mariners Club, Gold Coast Marine Distributor, Hall of Fame Marina, Headhunter Integrated Marine Systems, High Seas Hydraulics, High Seas Yacht Service, Informa, Interlux, International Yacht Brokers Association, Kelly’s Landing, Land N Sea, Lauderdale Marine Center, Marine Industries Association of South Florida, MarineMax, Nancy Olson Water Fitness, Neptune Boat Lifts, Outer Reef Yachts, Port Everglades Pilots Association, Resolve Marine Group, RPM Diesel Engine Co, Seafarer Marine of Fort Lauderdale, Stanley Yacht Services, Teak Decking Systems, TGL Environmental, Troy Industries, West Marine, WMG, and Yachtsmyth.

The 2019 Refit International Exhibition & Conference was held at the Broward County/Greater Fort Lauderdale Convention Center on April 10th and 11th. MIASF was pleased to participate with an MIASF/Salty Jobs booth on the show floor and in a number of plenary sessions, including Phil Purcell’s keynote
speech on Materials and Industry Drivers Over the Decades, Kelly Skidmore’s participation on the Superyacht Summit Advocacy Panel, and Sean Smith’s presentation of the finalists of the South Broward High School Elevator Pitch Competition. As the refit and repair capital of the world, Fort Lauderdale is
fortunate to host this important conference.

April’s Maritime Monday was held from 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. on April 1st at Bar Rita, where there was a great turnout and a fun rooftop atmosphere, along with specialty margaritas and light bites. Several members also took the opportunity to sign up as volunteers for upcoming MIASF events.

The U.S. Coast Guard Foundation tribute dinner to honor members of the 7th district was held on April 18th at Pier Sixty-Six Hotel and Marina, where MIASF and its members filled five tables. The annual fundraiser to support guardsmen and women and their families in need was a huge success with, master of ceremonies, JJ Raterink, keynote speaker USCG Commandant Admiral Karl Schultz, and honoree, Thomas B. Crowley, Jr. chairman and CEO of Crowley Maritime Corporation. Attendees were also entertained by the USCG Band Brass Quintet.