In light of low water levels and safety issues, the UYC Maritime Foundation has canceled its Lighted Boat Parade, originally scheduled for Saturday evening, December 1.

“With lake levels low, safety for our participants and spectators must come first,” said Phil Eastman, chairman of the UYC Foundation Board of Directors, organizers of the event. “It’s better to err on the side of caution, especially with a night-time event on the water.”

The parade committee had created a complete water safety plan and had enlisted the assistance of several groups around the lake, including the Atlanta Sail and Power Squadron, TowBOAT US, assets from several marinas and the US Coast Guard Auxiliary to assist as parade marshals and safety vessels.

“The foundation is to be commended for making this call, even though we were all looking forward to this colorful holiday event,” said Dave Wall, flotilla commander with the US Coast Guard Auxiliary, Flotilla 26/Atlanta/Lake Lanier. “Everyone on the lake needs to recognize that safety is always first and foremost when it comes to boating.”

Buddy Meeks and Ed Gaito are chairmen of the event, working with a committee of nearly a dozen volunteers from around Lake Lanier, representing sailing clubs, marinas and boat dealers.

“We’re disappointed to cancel the event, but after taking thorough look at the parade area and marina approaches, it was obvious to us that it would be very difficult to plan an event that met our standards for safety based on the receding water level,” Gaito said. “I’m sure our committee will want to go ahead and start planning for 2008 now, so that as the lake comes back up, we’ll have a spectacular event next year.”

The UYC Maritime Foundation Inc. is a 501 (c) 3, tax exempt organization dedicated to the principles of maritime education, boating safety and sportsmanship. Chartered in 2006, the UYC Maritime Foundation hosts and/or promotes such events as the Lanier Cup Invitational Lake Sailing Championships, Hot Ruddered Bum lake-wide sailing regatta, activities for Atlanta Alliance for the Developmentally Disabled and the annual Boat Parade of Lights.

The foundation also supports the local chapter of the Sea Scouts, a joint program with the Boy Scouts of America in cooperation with the US Department of Defense. Sea Scouting is a national coed outdoor program for young adults 14 to 20 years old and their adult advisors. The foundation donated a 25-foot NorthStar sailboat to the 150-member Sea Scout Chapter on Lake Lanier and is hosting a fund-raising event later this year to purchase a 420 sailboat for the group to add to its competitive fleet.

For more information about the UYC Maritime Foundation, visit https://www.universityyachtclub.org/Maritime/index.asp.