| The Second Annual Zihua Sail Fest |
January 30 - Feb 2
The Second Annual Zihua Sail Fest will be held January 30 – Feb 2 and expects to be an even bigger success than last year. With many events for boater’s and non-boaters alike and a chance to support a worthy local cause. As with last year, it is being supported by Latitude 38 magazine and all proceeds will go to benefit the Netzahualcoyotl School in Zihuatanejo. (The Netza school is a Bilingual Primary School for over 300 indigenous students through the 6th grade, it is a bilingual Nahautl and Spanish primary school that honors their heritage while preparing them to attend Spanish language public schools. More information on the Netza School is available through back issues of Another Day in Paradise, www.zihua-ixtapa.com/~anotherday). Last year, Sail Fest raised over $4,000 US for the school and as last year Gloria and Richard Bellack of the Bellack Foundation are generously providing a dollar for dollar match of all funds raised.
Although Sail Fest is enjoying considerable and welcome support from the local government and much participation from local businesses, it is an event completely organized and managed by Zihua’s cruiser community. The annual boaters who winter here with their sail boats, bringing a love for the area and a splash of color to Zihuatanejo Bay. The Mexican pacific coast has always been very popular with cruisers especially in the north, near the Baja Peninsula. Zihuatanejo (for hundreds of years) has been a popular stopping point for travelers making the long trek to South America and beyond, but every year it becomes more popular with the seasonal, couple months a year, boaters who think we’re worth the long trip south. Zihuatanejo, or Z-town, is fast becoming many cruiser’s favorite destination in Mexico and once here they are quick to show their support for the local community.
Sail Fest is an event for the cruisers that we can all enjoy. There will be cruiser specific seminars on boating related issues, parties, boat races and a procession. The festival kicks off Wednesday Jan 29th, 6pm with a party at Rick’s Bar, unofficial cruiser headquarters. Thursday Jan 30th, 1pm Gala Beach Party at Las Gatas Beach Club with beach volleyball tournament and blind folded dinghy races. Friday Jan 31st, 12 noon, a staggered pursuit sailboat race around buoys in the Bay. Saturday February 1st, 11am, a charity sail aboard Latitude 38’s catamaran, Profligate (shown in photo above left), tickets can be purchased at Rick’s Bar. And the Main Event, Sunday February 2nd, 11am, is the sailboat procession from Zihua Bay to Ixtapa, a glorious sight to see the entire fleet, sails unfurled, circling the bay and snaking up the coast. Make sure and be near the shore to take pictures. And throughout the event raffle tickets will be sold for donated items and prizes.
More information can be found at Rick’s Bar, on the pedestrain walk between Cinco de Mayo & Nicolas Bravo, across from the basketball courts, in Centro Zihuatanejo, 554-2535.
January 2003
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