Flamingo FUNd Race the Highlight of Fiesta de Veleros
By Christine Weaver | February 14, 2022 | Barra de Navidad, Mexico | 0
The second annual Flamingo FUNd Race on Friday raised fun and funds for the schools of Barra de Navidad. The pursuit race for cruisers, many sailing their full-time homes, started in very light breeze off the beach, near the entrance to the Laguna and the Isla de Navidad resort and marina. Bright sunshine, 84º air temperatures, and 80º water set the stage for this, the main event of a week of sailing and shoreside activities.
A light-air start, with the first leg downwind toward the beach. Sixteen boats entered; all started, and all were able to finish, despite appearances here.
John and Donna DeMeyer’s C&C 43 Carmanah and Andy Barrow’s Vallarta Yacht Club-based Beneteau Oceanis 390 Hey Ya in the first leg. Five catamarans and 11 monohulls raced.
Spectators in nearby beach restaurants placed bets and shopped auction items.
The teachers from the Miguel Lopez de Legazpi school took a long lunch break and joined their director, Yuridia, to watch the race start and check out auction items before running back to school.
Students from Ignacio Manuel Altamirano Federal Elementary, one of the beneficiary schools, went out to show their support and thanks to the race fleet. Pictured with them is Linda Bello-Ruiz, one of the event organizers, left, in the white T-shirt.
The wind did eventually fill in; one of the sailors reported a breeze of 10 knots. The second lap of the two-lap triangle course went much more quickly than the first lap.
The race committee: John Adams with Joey, Sue Adams, Terry McGlashan and Bella Wisniewski. Hailing from Sausalito, the Adams family anchored their Fountaine Pajot 41, Winston, to serve as signal boat. Terry’s husband Graham raced their cruising cat, Jazz. Bella, 15, lives aboard her family’s FP Venezia 42, Bella Luna.
Rick Antles and Susan Zuelke’s Cavalier sloop White Raven caught up and passed earlier starters Sonrisa and Dolce during the third leg. The crew held off a fierce sortie by Eric and Kim Rimkus’s Beneteau 461 Gladiator to win the race. We’ll have much more on the race and the week’s activities in the March issue of Latitude 38. Also be sure to see our posts from Barra in last week’s ‘Lectronic Latitude.
What a perfect day to be thinking about your beloved! We're talking about your beloved sailboat, of course. Tomorrow is the deadline for the March Classifieds.
