Sailing Club Makes Plans for 2010-2011 Sailing Season
The first season of the new sailing club in La Paz, Veleros de Baja, came to a close with the Summer Solstice event at Playa Pichilingue on June 19-21. The final regatta event of the season was attended by 16 boats and more than 50 landlubbers attended the beach pig roast and dance at Luna Brueja. The three day event involved two days of sailing, to and from Playa Pichilingue and a lay-day for the longest day of the year and the beach party.
Club Commodore Bob McAlvain expressed his delight at the number of vessels that participated in this event and the three preceding events. “Our main intent of these races, and the club, was to get people out sailing and enjoying what the Sea of Cortez has to offer. We were very pleased with the amount of participation we got, this our first year at giving this a go.”
The new club has also had great success in recruiting sponsors for the events. Restaurants in La Paz, beer companies and the Hoteliers organization are lining up to help with the next seasons events. The club also works diligently with existing events to compliment them, rather that compete with them for attendance.
Bob McAlvain had initially organized the first Carnaval Regatta, which coincided with La Paz Carnaval in March of 2010. The event proved to be so much fun that a core group founded Veleros de Baja and organized four more monthly events for the remaining 2010 season. Two types of events were alternately organized by the group; races – single day course events and regattas – multi day touring competitions, scheduled for every month. The first was the St Patrick’s Rock to the Dock Race, March 14th, followed by the 4 day Spring Regatta, April 15th -18th, the Founder’s Day Race, May 9th and closing with the Solstice Event on June 19th-21st.
Every event had a 14 to 18 sailboats entering, ranging from 26’ to 109’. The boats competed in multiple classes, using PHRF ratings to level the playing field. The events all ended in some exciting gunnel to gunnel racing which certainly added to the popularity of the next event. In the Solstice regatta the weather at the end of June was of course very warm and the winds are not what they are earlier in the season. The first leg of the event went around from the entrance to the Ensenada de La Paz west around a mark and north around Roca Lobos and back to the finish at Playa Pichilingue.
Click here to visit the Veleros de Baja Website and see more event photos
The majority of the race was a light air sail and the pack stretched out over several kilometers. The late afternoon breeze came up from behind the race and allowed those boats being outdistanced to catch up with the pack. At Roca Lobos the wind calmed with all the entrants within ½ a kilometer of each other. The rounding of the mark proved exciting, as most boats lost forward motion and many lost steerage. Several boats had to fend off by hand and whisker poles but all managed to avoid physical contact. 
Since many folks were racing their ‘homes’ safety and avoiding breaking anything that won’t heal is an important factor in successful race. Once the mark was rounded, the wind miraculously returned and it was a two kilometer sprint to the finish.
June 20th was the longest day of the year and also a lay-day fiesta at Playa Pichilingue. Billy Delmer was up early to start the fire and spit the pig. Through the hot June sun Billy attended the needs of the pig roast and it was uncertain which would be barbecued first, Billy in the sun or the pig on the spit. With a better breeze than on race day it took slightly longer 
for the pig, but a buffet dinner was served about 7PM followed by Rock and Roll dancing until 11PM.
The second leg of the race was from Roca Lobos to the Municipal Pier in downtown La Paz. In typical summer sailing fashion, the light air boats got out to an early lead before the wind quit completely. The Sea was ripe with spring growth and as Vice-Commodore Tom Zyber put it, “I think life was evolving in the Sea next to us faster than the boat was moving!” (Our apologies to those folks in Kansas who don’t yet believe in evolution)
It was a long day in the Baja sun with several of the boats taking nearly 5hrs to complete the 7 mile course, but in the end all had fun. Special thanks to the Committee Boat -Sarha Ann for their two day participation.
Veleros de Baja has scheduled 8 events for the 2010-2011 cruising season, beginning with the Cabo San Lucas to La Paz Regatta on November 8, 2010 designed to be a compliment the Baja HaHa and those folks sailing down from San Diego. The 4 day event will make it a fun and exciting way for the newbies to the Sea discover the beauty of La Paz. Monthly events are scheduled from November to June and now you can register online for each or all of the events. (click here)
Entry fees for this seasons events are $200 pesos, a nominal charge for such fun and excitement. Entry fees entitle each boat to 2 event T-shirts and an awards plaque. All entries will receive a plaque, for place or participation. (If you have a larger crew additional shirts are available at a nominal charge if ordered in advance)
Very soon you will be able to become a voting Member of Veleros de Baja online as well. For a meager $500 pesos you will receive a membership burgee and a quality Polo in a choice of colors with the club logo and your boat name embroidered.
Cut the docklines and come join in the fun, we expect the 2010-2011 racing season to be even better than the first.
Final Results for the Summer Soltice Regatta - Two Legs |
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