Date Set for Panama Puddle Jump Fiesta

Every winter and spring, westbound sailboats from all over the world converge on Panama, which makes it an ideal spot for us to host a Pacific Puddle Jump Kickoff Party. Thanks to our friends at the Balboa YC, we hosted our first Panama party last winter, with the expectation that doing so would become an annual tradition. The date for this year’s event has just been set: Saturday, February 12, from noon until 4 p.m. We expect to have at least one Tahitian cruising expert in attendance, representing several Tahitian co-sponsors.

As with our annual Puerto Vallarta Kickoff Party at the Vallarta YC (slated for February 4 this year), our goals are to get to know as many ‘Class of 2011’ fleet members as possible, and give them tips and info on cruising French Polynesia and beyond. At both events, multimedia presentations will provide an overview of French Polynesia’s archipelagos, and a preview of what fleet members can expect at this year’s Tahiti-Moorea Sailing Rendezvous next June. We’ll also have some free snack and drinks, and we’ll play some party games with valuable prizes. So if you’re heading west and will be in the area, by all means mark your calendar. Look for follow-up reports on both events here, and in the pages of Latitude 38.

We will also be holding at least two Pacific Puddle Jump seminars in the coming weeks: Saturday, October 23, 5 p.m. at the San Diego West Marine (1250 Rosecrans) and at the Seattle Boat Show, the last weekend in January (date TBA). Online registration for the 2011 Puddle Jump rally will begin soon at the website.