La Paz Bay Fest Event 2010 Coming in April
By Vicki L Garrod
For many years the Sea of Cortez Race Week was held at the islands of La Paz to mark the end of the winter cruising season and start the summer season. The last Race Week was held in 2002. In 2005, Club Cruceros de La Paz and Paradise Found put together a new event held on the beaches of La Paz to replace Race Week. Scheduled to take place between the Bandaras Bay Regatta in March and Loreto Fest in May, this premier Bay Fest was held at Vista Coral and in 2006 and 2007 the location moved to the Racing Club.
Seminars and workshops have been an important part of Bay Fest through the years. There have been presentations by local officials covering rules and regulations, presentations by doctors and nurses covering medical emergencies and equipping a first aid kit. Boating seminars have included information about spending the summer in the Sea of Cortez, diving and snorkeling in the Sea, Mexican weather, hurricane preparations, and a women’s panel on boating skills and education. Technical seminars have included a round table discussion of boating topics as well as specific presentations about outboard motors, inflatable dinghies watermakers, and HF/VHF radios. Non-boating related seminars have included information on visiting Mexico by car and driving the Baja.
Workshops have presented information on beading, knot tying, splicing watercolors, and quilting.
There have been water games including blindfolded dinghy races, dinghy tag team races, poker runs, scavenger hunts, and kayak races. Beach games like bocce ball, volleyball, and a Tug of War have been enjoyed by participants and spectators alike. Table games have been popular including the domino and cribbage tournaments.
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Food events have included themed potlucks featuring appetizers and desserts, chili cook offs and a seminar on cooking with Mexican ingredients.
Music has popular and has been provided by some of the finest musicians in La Paz and the cruising fleet.
The traditional end to Bay Fest is the “Rock to the Dock” sailboat race from Roco Lobos to a finish line in the Bay. This 10mile race is often a display of colorful spinnakers.
The local business community has always helped by contributing a long list of awards for the event and tournament 
winners and prizes for a raffle.
2008 was a significant year for Bay Fest for several reasons. For the first time the events were held in La Costa restaurant beginning a special relationship between the restaurant and Club Cruceros. Many club and non-club events are now held at La Costa.
Secondly, that year was the first “kick off” Art Show and Wine Sampling event held at the Club Cruceros clubhouse. Many local artists and talented members of the fleet have been able to display their work. The wine sampling has featured products from “non-U.S.” vineyards, which are available locally at very reasonable prices.
2008 was also the year of the first volleyball challenge pitting the fleet against the Mexican navy team from the La Paz Navy Base. This year the fleet has been challenged by the waiters and cooks from La Costa restaurant.
This year’s Bay Fest will see a repeat of some of the more popular events mixed with some new events. The Bay Fest promises to be fun and informative for boaters and non-boaters alike. Bay Fest 2010 will be held April 8th through the 11th at the La Costa Restaurant, Topete and Navarro between La Marina del Palmar and Varadero Don Jose.
Plan to attend and spread the word. http://www.clubcruceros.org