Saipan boat owners form new association

The newly elected officers and directors of the Saipan Boaters Association. From left, Diego Benavente, Don Smith, Ron Smith, Ray Yumul, Mark Hanson, Joe Deleon Guerrero, and Robert Bracken. (Contributed Photo)

After months of discussion among boaters on Saipan, a new association has been formed to promote both recreational and commercial boating in all its forms. The Saipan Boaters Association will soon be chartered as a non-profit corporation.

The purpose of the Saipan Boaters Association is:

1. To maintain communication with members concerning any safety and security issues;

2. To work with local and federal authorities and legislative bodies to foster and promote boating activities and the improvement/establishment of marine facilities; and

3. To promote safe boating/sailing through marine safety classes and sailing instruction, among other goals.

Over 30 boat owners and other interested individuals recently elected a board of directors who are tasked to conduct and manage the Saipan Boaters Association. Directors will make policies and procedures consistent with law and the bylaws of the SBA, and appoint committees to report and make recommendations to the board.

The SBA officers elected at the meeting are Diego Benavente as president; Ray Yumul as vice president; Robert Bracken as treasurer; and Ron Smith as secretary.

In addition to the officers, the five other board of directors are Scott Shular, Don Smith, Joji Taguchi, Joe P. Deleon Guerrero, and Mark Hanson.

Benavente said, “This is exciting because I believe that we can do so much as an association to benefit the boaters in the CNMI.”

Smith said, “The establishment of this organization provides boaters with a unified voice in the Commonwealth.”

Yumul said, “Throughout the mainland U.S., most marinas have yacht clubs, boating clubs and other recreational clubs, which stimulates interests in boating for the community to take part in, and this association will accomplish just that.”

The SBA assigned Shular to chair the Fuel Facility Committee. “One concern we have is the lack of a fuel facility which is one of the priorities of the SBA, because the current practice of refueling at the [Smiling Cove] Marina is not only inconvenient, it is also unsafe,” Shular said.

Any individual who is interested in joining the SBA as a charter member may contact any of the officers before the Jan. 1, 2020 deadline. Regular membership enrollment will begin Jan. 2, 2020. For more information, email board@saipanboaters.org or call Smith at 287-5518 or Benavente at 285-5848. (PR)