By Richard | December 8, 2010 | Banderas Bay, Mexico | 0
When it comes to cruiser fundraisers in Mexico, the Banderas Bay Blast / Pirates for Pupils is a modest one, in part because it’s so early in the season that a lot of boats still haven’t arrived. Nonetheless, Ronnie ‘Tea Lady’ reports that just under $2,000 was raised for educational materials for local children in last week’s event. By the way, $500 of it was in the name of participants in November’s Baja Ha-Ha, who will also contribute another $500 to the Spring Pirates for Pupils fundraiser.
Ronnie ‘Tea Lady’, Ms. Probity herself, hands out educational gifts to the enthusiastic children of Punta Mita’s Emiliano Zapata. One hundred percent of money donated to the Blast goes to the kids, as there are no ‘expenses’ or other cuts. And Ronnie, bless her heart, carefully makes her purchases and distribution with great care.
While this year’s Blast fleet wasn’t as big as in years past, the sailing was terrific and the smaller group meant just about everybody got to know one another. As for Banderas Bay, it again proved itself to be one of the most delightful — and beautiful — sailing venues in the world. Check out the photos for proof.
Yes, there is a god. You can tell because just 3 hours and 15 minutes south of San Francisco you can be sailing in a great, tropical, ‘nothing serious’ regatta on beautiful Banderas Bay. This shot was taken aboard Ken and Cheryl Sears’ Tennessee and Puerto Vallarta-based J/160 Blue, with the Surfin’ 63 Profligate and the Hughes 45 Capricorn Cat on her starboard quarter. The air temp is in the mid-80s, and the boats are gliding along at 10 knots toward the Paradise Village Marina finish line.
With the holidays fast approaching, about half of the participating boats will be staying in the Banderas Bay area, while the other half are starting, or about to start, making their way down the Gold Coast to Tenacatita Bay, Barra, and Zihuatanejo for the SailFest there at the end of January. The sun is out, the air temp is in the mid-80s, the water temp is in the high 70s, the people of Mexico couldn’t be nicer, and the 25,000 or so Americans in the Vallarta coast area couldn’t feel safer. So if this part of Mexico is in your future cruising plans, you’ve got something great to look forward to.
The third race in the Blast is the Pirates for Pupils Spinnaker Run for Charity from Punta Mita to Paradise Marina. It’s a great course that usually starts with a tight spinnaker reach on port, a gybe to starboard at the radio tower toward the middle of the bay, after which the fleet gets increasingly knocked so they end up on a very tight spinnaker or white sails reach to the finish. To the left is Piko, Lauren and Lauren Buchholtz’s Seattle-based Pretorien 35 and another Ha-Ha boat, Roger and Diana Frizzelle’s Richmond-based Catalina 470 Di’s Dream. Both boats were able to carry all the way to the finish.
Another view of the luxurious Di’s Dream, as she just barely lays the finish line. Once across, there was no time to waste in getting the chute down, as the heavy summer rains have greatly extended how far out the shoals come from the Rio Ameca. By the way, the main highway bridge over the Rio Ameca that collapsed during 23 inches of rain in 24 hours in September is expected to reopen before Christmas — more than 50% ahead of schedule.
The kids must have their fun! Commodore Ginger — the fifth female commodore in a row at the prestigious Punta Mita Yacht & Surf Club — initiates Dustin Houseknecht into the club with the carbon fiber SUP paddle. Since he sailed to Punta Mita, paid $1 for his membership, and took the paddling, Dustin is eligible to renew his lifetime membership every year.
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