The magazine for all things Ixtapa-Zihuatanejo
Serving the Ixtapa-Zihuatanejo community since 1999
Available at select spots all across Ixtapa-Zihuatanejo
The magazine for all things Ixtapa-Zihuatanejo
Serving the Ixtapa-Zihuatanejo community since 1999
Available at select spots all across Ixtapa-Zihuatanejo
|
Community4th Annual Zihua SailFest Regatta a Huge Success!By Lisa B Martin Each year for the past four years a maritime miracle in Zihua Bay has occurred. In late December and into January the “cruisers” and their live-aboard yachts beginning arriving in Zihua Bay and the Marina Ixtapa. The adventurous traveling spirit, fellowship and camaraderie of these veleristas is astounding in itself, but what happens when they gather forces annually in Zihua to help the local schools and community causes is truly remarkable. In February 2001, Zihua SailFest was born as a weekend of boat races, raffles and fun to raise money for the region’s only school for indigenous children, Escuela Primaria Netzahualcoyotl. A few dozen feisty cruisers raised $2,000 US dollars back then, which was matched (doubled to $4,000) by a challenge from ex-cruisers and now Ixtapa-San Antonio-San Diego residents Richard & Gloria Bellack and their Bellack Education Foundation. Since then, returning and new cruisers and even land-lubbing tourists have returned each season to create and participate in Zihua SailFest and its five days of fun-tastic land and sea events, traditionally held the first weekend in February. The total amount raised grew to nearly $30,000 in 2004, with the additional sponsorship of the Bill Underwood Family Foundation. Could the Z-SailFest 2005 team top that? You bet!! The 4th annual SailFest “Regatta in Paradise” took place February 2 to 6, 2005, and cruisers and local volunteers alike began intensive planning in early January at the official SailFest HQ, Rick´s Bar on Calle Cuauhtemoc in central Zihuatanejo. They lined up a schedule of about a dozen events, including a beach games day on La Madera with local school children, a dingy race, a chili cook-off and street fair, educational seminars for seafarers, raffles and auctions - and they hit the starting gun. When solicited by SailFest’s determined team of charitable foot soldiers for donations of merchandise, services, and gift certificates for the auctions and raffles, local businesses responded in record numbers – over 300 hotels, restaurants, tiendas and individuals from Barra de Postosi to Troncones heartily gave over $11,000 US dollars in prizes, well up from about 125 local business sponsors in 2004. It seems nearly everybody wants “in” on the now internationally recognized regatta. Zihua Mayor Amador Campos helped kick-off the SailFest ’05 at the opening auction and party at Rick’s, along with local press and representatives from the offices of tourism. Official Certificates of Recognition were presented by Presidente Campos, expressing his sincere - if not astounded - appreciation of how SailFest has grown to be such a fabulous international community event, all to help the local schools and children of the region. The first night’s auction alone raised over $9,000 US dollars, with many fine prizes including swim with the dolphins, diving trips, fine art, jewelry, and hotel stays. Over 150 people attended, and guest auctioneers Dewey McMillan of Troncones and Victor Basbush of Ixtapa comically egged the both the crowd and the bids along. Cruisers Tom and Joanne Collins on M-V “Misty Sea” of Huntington Harbour, CA were this year’s lead organizers for the visiting fleet of nearly 80 participating yachts, which worked closely with Rick Carpenter, owner of Rick’s Bar, the Harbor Master, and local businesses to borrow tents, create fun venues, and water down the record numbers of SailFest participants. Several large work parties of cruisers and others struck out to paint, clean, and repair two local schools, Netzahualcoyotl in barrio Premier Paso Cardenista, and Nueva Creacion in barrio Vicente Guerrero. Children from these schools attended events as well, many getting on a boat for the first time ever, and others having fun building sand castles and tossing coconuts for prizes on games day, which was hosted this year by MJ Richies at Playa La Madera. Annual donor Richard Bellack is very pleased with this year’s results, over $40,000 US dollars were raised. “Without the support of local businesses whose donations helped the cruisers raise funds, we could not accomplish such success,” he commented. “Besides having lots of fun, partnership and hands-on connection to the community to help improve local lives is at the heart of everyone who participates in SailFest. My wife Gloria and I are honored to support this great event each year.” Co-donor Bill Underwood echoed these sentiments. Zihua SailFest 2006 is already scheduled for February 1-5. More photos, results and info can be found at HYPERLINK "http://www.zihuasailfest.com" www.zihuasailfest.com or by visiting Rick’s Bar in downtown Zihua.
|
|
