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Yacht Club To Fly 'Clean Marina' Flag

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By MARK HOLAN, The Tampa Tribune

Published: February 27, 2008

Updated: 02/25/2008 07:44 pm

DAVIS ISLANDS - The sailors at Davis Island Yacht Club today are hoisting a new flag on their yardarm.

The flag features a white pelican against blue and green waves and boasts the words "Clean Marina." The honor is being bestowed at noon by the Florida Department of Environmental Protection.

The state's Clean Marina program encourages marinas to prevent pollution through hurricane preparedness, safe fueling, waste storage and spill recovery.

"It really means a lot," said Antolin Rivera, the club's rear admiral. "It shows we continue to be a good neighbor."

About 110 boats are docked at the club, and about 50 others are kept on trailers. Most are sailboats, which use diesel engines to power past the breakwater.

The club does not have fuel pumps.

The Clean Marina designation requires annual written confirmation that the facility meets state standards; state representatives can request an inspection to reaffirm the status.

The city has applied for the Clean Marina designation for its 61-slip Marjorie Park Yacht Basin on Davis Islands, marina coordinator Richard Achey said.
Davis Island Yacht Club has 500 members and offers a youth sailing program for about 250 students every summer.

"If we can instill it's good to be good stewards of the environment - to leave a clean wake - then they will grow up to be responsible members of the community," Rivera said.

Reporter Mark Holan can be reached at (813) 835-2102 or mholan@tampatrib.com.

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