Getting Tan While Doing Good

If you’re toying with the idea of escaping the cold this winter and sneaking off to do some sun worshipping south of the border, we’ve got a suggestion for you. Consider participating in the 9th annual Zihua Sail Fest.

Jointly organized by cruising sailors and expats in residence, the five-day event is slated for February 2-8. While the focus of daily shoreside and on-the-water activities is on light-hearted fun, the Fest’s secondary function is to raise funds to educate Zihuatanejo’s poorest children. Last year, the pooling of each day’s fund-raising efforts totaled 640,000 pesos (roughly $45,000), which included generous matching grants from the Bellack Foundation and California-based cruiser Pete Boyce. When combined with a Rotary International grant, in-kind donations from several Mexican agencies and countless hours of volunteer labor, 10 new classrooms were built, and over 600 kids benefited from Sail Fest-funded educational projects. All are administered by the non-profit Por Los Niños of Zihuatanejo organization.

With sailboat and dinghy races, a parade of sail, a dinner concert, a live auction, a street fair, a kids’ beach day and more, it’s a fun-filled week that’s well-worth attending — and with its fund-raising components, it is truly a win-win for sailors, expats and, best of all, for severely disadvantaged kids. Check the website for further details.