Sailors’ Splash, Blast and Inflatable Pumping

The video here is of Katrina Liana demonstrating how to pump up an inflatable surfboard on Profligate last Christmas. She makes it look easy, doesn’t she? We’re happy to report that Kat is once again assisting Riviera Nayarit Tourism and Latitude 38 by helping to put on the Sailors’ Splash in La Cruz on Friday, December 13, and the Banderas Bay Blast on December 15-17.

What’s the Splash? It’s the big welcome for all of this year’s new cruisers — and old cruisers — to the Riviera Nayarit (the northwest portion of Banderas Bay). It starts at 10:30 a.m., when all the captains and crews of boats who will be participating in the Blast are invited to board Profligate and other cats for a trip to seven-mile distant Paradise Village Marina, where we’ll call on the Vallarta YC to have a look around, take a dip in their pool, and who knows what else.

That afternoon we’ll make our way back to Marina Riviera Nayarit at La Cruz where, at 3 p.m., we’ll start the Intergalactic New Rules Volleyball Championship. The new rules are simple: 1) The main thing is to always keep the ball moving, so a person or side can hit it as many times as possible, and a ball landing in the water doesn’t stop play; 2) Only women can hit the ball downward; 3) Men are encouraged to wear Speedos. This event will be covered by ESPN 9’s quadcopter for a three-hour special to be aired on Christmas Day.

Nayarit Riviera Tourism’s Splash Party will begin at 6 p.m. There will be free appetizers, beverages, sun shirts and hats for all those who will participate in the Banderas Bay Blast. Naturally there will be music, too. And Katrina will probably give an in-person inflatable SUP inflating demonstration.

The three-day Banderas Bay Blast, which features Baja Ha-Ha style ‘racing’ for cruisers, starts on Sunday December 15 after the Saturday layday. In order to avoid any accidents, this will be pursuit racing, with each boat having her own starting time. In order to encourage participation by boats that rarely, if ever, race, these boats will be given a triple Latitude handicap bonus, and will be vying for one of three pizzas donated by Philo’s. The ‘racing’ will start sometime after noon, and be short enough to continue the Intergalactic New Rules Volleyball Championship at 5 p.m. Philo’s Music Studio, Bar and Restaurant will open just for the Blast participants on Sunday night for music, drinks and food.

Monday is the seven-mile race to Punta Mita. Time and waves permitting, there will be a surf and SUP contest. Monday afternoon marks the annual opening of the Punta Mita Yacht & Surf Club, which is located in Punta Mita at the last building at the base of the last jetty. Get your Punta Mita Yacht & Surf Club shirts — all proceeds to charity — while they last. Opening ceremonies at the club will be presided over by new Commodore Kat. Lifetime memberships are $1, but require that you sail to Punta Mita and that you received one paddle by the Commodore with a carbon fiber paddle. Current members often fake not being members so they can get that paddling. Extra paddles, which are very popular, are an extra $5 each. All proceeds go to charity.

The final event of the Blast is Tuesday’s Pirates For Pupils Spinnaker Run for Charity from Punta Mita to Paradise Marina. The fun starts in the morning, when the young children of Punta Mita put on a lunch performance for everyone at the yacht club. The ‘racing’ starts at 1 p.m. Anyone donating $20 or more will be placed on one of the boats. There will be a limited number of free berths for Monday night at Paradise Village Marina.

If you’re going to participate, please advise Doña de Mallorca, so she can figure out how much beer and how many shirts to buy. Trust us, you don’t want to miss this one — even if you have to fly down to join a boat as crew. After all, at this time of year the sun is always out, it’s always 85 degrees in the afternoon, the breeze is mellow, the seas are flat, and the natives are friendly.