MIASF Hosts 23rd Annual Plywood Regatta

 The 23nd Annual Plywood Regatta organized by the Marine Industries Association of South Florida (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, 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 students 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.

Nicole Hoekstra, MIASF Event Coordinator, said, “This is such a great community event and every year we have as much fun watching the boat designs come to life as the kids have making them.”

All Plywood Regatta proceeds benefit South Florida’s marine industry education programs and the Plywood Regatta Scholarship Fund. At the event, MIASF awarded $7,000 in scholarships to seven students, most of whom are bound for careers in the marine industry: Arlettys Espindola of South Plantation High will start her goal of an optometry degree at Broward College; Cameron Henthorn of Inlet Grove Community High School will attend Palm Beach State College on his path to become a marine mechanic/mechanical engineer; Ashleigh Lucas of South Plantation High School will major in biology at Georgetown University with hopes of becoming a doctor in the U.S. Navy; Mackenzie Malloy of South Broward High School will focus on marine engineering at Broward College; Ricardo Perez will continue at Florida State University working toward a biology degree; Jessica VanWinkle of South Plantation High School plans to attend Broward College for two years and transfer to Florida Atlantic University in pursuit of a degree in environmental science, while Megan VanWinkle, her twin sister, will be joining the U.S. Coast Guard and studying marine and environmental science.

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 Olsen 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, Yachtsmyth.

For more information about the Plywood Regatta, visit www.plywoodregatta.org or call (954) 524-2733.