CLEARWATER - The Island Estates Yacht Club held the 30th Annual Memorial Holiday Boat Parade on Saturday, December 11 honoring the memory of Tom Soukup.

This lighted water parade is an annual tradition viewed by thousands of people in Clearwater and surrounding communities who line the Intracoastal Waterway to see this colorful spectacle. Hundreds of homes on Island Estates host backyard parties to witness the boats navigate close-up. Fifty-one boats registered to participate but brisk winds and chilly temperatures reduced the participants to 30 hardy boaters.

The Best in Parade went to "Shady Lady" owned by Captain Steve and Mary Levine of Indian Rocks Beach. Other winners:

• Power Boats 30 feet and over:
  • First place: "Slip N Away" - Captain William Schiffner, Dunedin
  • Second place: "Tweety Bird" - Captain John Parrish, Clearwater
  • Third place: Caladesi/Honeymoon Island State Park barge - State Park Crew - Dunedin
• Power Boats under 30 feet:
  • First place: "Lil Mudshark" - Captain Tom Schaffer, Indian Rocks Beach
  • Second place: "Fishful Thinking" - Captain Lewis Church, Largo
  • Third place: "Fishfull Thinking" - Captain John Maloney, Tampa
• Sail Boats:
  • First place: "Tradewinds" - Captain Brian James, Clearwater
  • Second place: 41' Beneteau - Captain Roland Rogers, Clearwater

The Island Estates Yacht Club wishes to thank all parade participants and the many generous business sponsors for making this event a fun and festive family affair.

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