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International Marina andBoatyard Conference.Jan. 29-Feb. 1. RenaissanceOrlando SeaWorld,Orlando, FL, (202) 737-9774.www.marinaassociation.org.NEWSCharlotte Harbor Sailing CenterWithout a HomeBy Barbara PierceIn a recent decision by the Punta Gorda (Florida) CityCouncil, land next to the Punta Gorda Boat Club cannot beused to create a community sailing center. The nonprofitCharlotte Harbor Sailing Center wanted to share a small stripof the club’s land to give the city’s disabled and underprivilegedyouth the opportunity to learn to sail. The center wouldalso serve as a site for local high schools to teach sailing.Council members voted unanimously not to force theclub to share the land.The feud leading to this decision has been long; BillDixon, leader of the effort to start a sailing center, attendedevery City Council meeting for the past four years to lobbyfor the sailing center’s cause. “A compromise - sharing theland - would be good for everyone,” Dixon believed.The City Council had hoped that the two groups couldagree to share the basin. Thanks to a lease with the city, theclub maintains control of the basin. The lease, which hasbeen in effect for 50 years, costs the club $1 per year.The club was unwilling to share the basin, giving liabilityand safety issues as the reason. It is alleged that otherissues lurk behind the tension. There is speculation thatboat club members, mostly retirees, did not want to sharetheir land with children and teenagers.The City Council made the decision to find a new sitefor the center.Dixon has resigned from thecause, discouraged that therewill ever be a communitysailing center in PuntaGorda.Just before going to press, Southwinds learned of recentdevelopments in this story. The Charlotte High School sailingteam was to train with the Charlotte Harbor SailingCenter, and when the Punta Gorda Boat Club denied thecenter the use of its grounds, Punta Gorda Isles Yacht ClubCommodore Larry Stewart heard about it and wondered ifthe Yacht Club’s Dinghy Sailing Club could partner up withthe high school sailors. The club offered the use of theirgrounds to the high school team, along with four boats theycould sail. (The Charlotte High School sailing team is notofficially associated with the high school.)Ericson Yachts Web Site SeeksFunding to ContinueThe Ericson Yachts Web site, www.EricsonYachts.com, is nolonger being run by Pacific Seacraft Corporation, owners ofthe Ericson name. The site is now being run by the originalowner of the Web site, and he is seeking funding for it.Donations can be made directly to him via check (SeanShannon Engle, PO Box 16482, Seattle, WA 98116-0482),or via PayPal (www.paypal.com: account is under ssengle@comcast.net).Any questions, concerns or for moreinformation, e-mail Sean Shannon Engle at ssengle@comcast.net,or ssengle@worldnet.att.net.Boat Pump-Out Service Opensin West FloridaMobile Marine Pump Out Service is now operating betweenClearwater, St. Pete/Tampa Bay and Sarasota. “The PumpOut Boat” comes to your boat at its slip or mooring, emptiesthe holding tank for you and sends it off to the city sewagetreatment. The Pump Out Boat is currently schedulingmonthly, biweekly or weekly customers for 2006. Regularservice packages will start at around $20.Owner Capt. Dave Bergen says the much-needed serviceworks just like the garbage man. “We take care of thetanks on a regular schedule. If your day is Wednesday, itwill always be that day unless we have a breakdown orsomething out of our control like weather.”On board his boat, The Potti Animal, Capt. Dave (andhis chocolate Labrador retriever) monitor VHF 16 and 68.If boaters see them in the area, they can hail them, “ThePump Out Boat,” for immediate service. State the name,type and location of your boat, and they will promptlyrespond with an ETA.22 January 2006 SOUTHWINDS www.southwindsmagazine.com