Cruisers Work and Play at Fiesta de Veleros
“The Barra de Navidad community looks forward to cruisers arriving in our port. We have prepared a week of work and fun activities, and businesses are waiting to serve you. Your welcome bag will include a copy of the itinerary, a map of the town, a 2-for-1 coupon for breakfast, lunch or dinner in Barra, beer tickets, a T-shirt of the Fiesta de Veleros event, and more!” So say the organizers of the Fiesta de Veleros Cruise-In Week, to be held in February in Barra de Navidad. “Local merchants and the tourist bureau are providing swag bags full of goodies for the cruisers who are doing the parade and giving rides. We even have lots of T-shirts this year.”
Monday-Tuesday, February 18-19, 2019
Register on Monday, February 18, or Tuesday the 19th. Dinghy races will be held on Tuesday — oars only, no motors allowed — in the resort lagoon, rather than at the beach party later in the week. (The surf at the beach is too big for safe dinghy landing, but just right for a beach party and bonfire.) The Grand Marina offers a great discount for people coming for the week. Harbormaster Secondino Alvarez is bending over backward to make it a fun time for everybody. On Tuesday evening there will be a no-host cocktail party with snacks in the Piano Bar at the Grand Isla Hotel and Marina.
Wednesday-Thursday, February 20-21
They need lots of volunteers on Wednesday morning to paint the elementary school in front of the Hotel Barra. The locals will give the cruisers a thank-you reception at one of the schools on Thursday. “This is one reason why it’s so great doing things for the villagers in Mexico,” says Pat McIntosh. “They really show their appreciation.”
Friday-Saturday, February 22-23
On Friday afternoon, the cruisers will play games, including volleyball and tug-of-war, with local school kids. The big beach party, with a bonfire, will follow. Saturday night will feature a Mexican fiesta, with folkloric dancing and live music, in the town square. “I hear they are bringing back the dancing horses that were so fantastic last year!” says McIntosh.
Sunday-Monday, February 24-25
The boat parade and sailing on Bahia Navidad will start at 10 a.m. on Sunday. The ticket price, 500 pesos (about $26 in US dollars), will benefit the elementary schools and CETAC technical high school. The tourism board has organized a Salute to Sailors no-host dinner/dance, with another swag bag, to wrap up the festivities on Monday evening at Punta Navidad on the lagoon.
For more information, contact Pat McIntosh at [email protected] or by cell phone at (916) 458-1882; or Linda Bello-Ruiz by cell phone at (707) 331-3684 or (315) 355-8405.