A Splash Followed by a Blast!

Today is the last day of the Banderas Bay Blast along the shores of the Riviera Nayarit. Maybe that’s a good thing, because the crews of the 22 boats will all be needing a little rest. 

Paradise Village Marina is not only home to the Vallarta YC, it’s also part of the Paradise Village Resort complex, which features four pools and three waterslides. Champagne Patsy Verhoeven, who flew down from La Paz for the Splash and Blast, gets her wet on coming out of the dragon’s mouth. Part of the reason the gringa is smiling is that she only pays $180 a year — sí, a year! — for complete medical coverage, including dental, in Mexico.

The week’s cruisers’ festivities started with the Riviera Nayarit Sailors’ Splash, a big welcome to the Riviera Nayarit for Ha-Ha participants and other new cruisers put on by the state’s tourism board and others. It started with a cruise from La Cruz over to Paradise Village in Nuevo Vallarta, and a free brunch at the Vallarta YC. Then there was a sail back to the Marina Riviera Nayarit in La Cruz, followed by swimming pool volleyball, and a big welcome party put on by the tourism board and Marina Riviera Nayarit.

Talk about your fine parties! Free Riviera Nayarit hats and shirts for all. Free tequila served by lovely young ladies in maroon gowns. Free beer. Free artisan pizzas. Free ceviche and other taste treats. And great Cuban music and dancing. All at the Marina Riviera Nayarit’s Sky Bar, which provides a commanding view of Banderas Bay. The weather: About 80 degrees at 8 p.m.

Since the conclusion of the Splash Tuesday night, the 22-boat fleet has enjoyed two days of the Banderas Bay Blast, which is strictly fun racing for cruising boats. Day One was a 14-miler over to Nuevo Vallarta and back in moderate winds. Day Two was an 8-mile ultimate light air race from La Cruz to Punta de Mita. Persevering to sail all the way in zephyr conditions were Cheryl Sears of the La Cruz-based J/160 Blue; John and Gilly Foy of the Punta de Mita-based Catalina 42 Destiny; Michael Bowe and new crew Jennifer Martindale of the Marina del Rey-based Catalina 42 Patanajali; and most impressively, Bill and Patty Meanley of the San Diego-based Pacific Seacraft 37 Dolfin — who even towed their dinghy.

The second race was followed by the annual re-opening of the Punta de Mita Yacht & Surf Club. New Commodore Debby Hayward announced that all irrevocable lifetime memberships in the Club had been revoked, and everyone would have to join again. Requirements were that you had to have sailed to Punta de Mita, or at least said you had; paid a 10-peso initiation fee (about 78 cents); and received a welcome paddle by the Commodore.

One by one, new members stood up on the initiation table in front of the entire dinner crowd, bent over, grabbed their ankles, and received their initiation whack. Unable to find a proper paddle, Commodore Debbie used a rake instead. She was very good at her task, looking like someone who may have had some practice. Indeed, young Bao of Cat Two Fold came back for seconds and then thirds.

Today is the last race of the Blast, which is also the Pirates for Pupils Spinnaker Run for Charity from Punta de Mita to Paradise Marina and the Vallarta YC. Skies are clearing so it’s likely the fleet will get more normal Banderas Bay conditions, which would mean 10 to 12 knots from the northwest, making for a great spinnaker run.

Wish you were all here. If you’re doing next year’s 20th Anniversary Ha-Ha, you might put these events on your post-La Paz and post-Mazatlan itinerary, for they are truly a Splash and a Blast.