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In days of olde pirates and sailors alike gathered on
Espiritu Santo, an island at the north end of Bahia de La Paz. As many
as two hundred vessels from around The Sea and from as far away as New Zealand
gathered there in the late spring, before heading their separate ways. The
focus was on sailing – with daily races for craft large and small, some
of them down right serious. It was a chance for seafarers to swap stories
and share tequila. The grog flowed plentifully and more than one topless
wench was seen to grace a pulpit. It was a party for adult sailors and no
excuses were made for the wee ones. It was a fiesta to celebrate the camaraderie
of the sea and the adventure of traveling in a rough and foreign land. A
burgee, garnered as a prize and seen flying from a rig in some distant port
like San Francisco, would be greeted with knowing winks, as if to say, ‘I
too was there!’
 Well,
times changed and Baja became more civilized. The olde sailors died or became
land lubbers and the big boats stopped coming. The tradition was lost.
In speaking with some old timers who remember those historic
times, they say the last great gathering was in the early '90's, that's
1990's. The event was known as ‘La Paz Race Week’.
In the first years of this century the great gatherings have struggled to
revive that which was lost. The La Paz ‘Race Week’ event went the way of
the wild goose in 2003, when Club Cruceros suffered an identity crisis.
Now, with a new commodore and new vigor the club is promoting this years
event with significantly more enthusiasm.
April 2003 saw a new effort in ‘Island Madness’, a privatized
attempt to revitalize the true cruiser's party on the islands. The fact
that the event was new and a
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general decrease in the number of cruisers that year lead to a disappointing
attendance of just 32 boats. I attended, and along with some 70 other people,
had a very good time. However, Latitude 38, known for it’s La Paz bashing,
titled their second hand review of the event as ‘What if Your Threw a Party
and Nobody Came?’ The logistics of sponsoring an event of this size on a
remote location and the diminished cruising crowd made Island Madness a
one time event.
Days later, a shore based 2003 Race Week attempt was canceled
following the opening night festivities, which only a handful of people
were said to attend.
 ‘Loreto
Fest’ hung on, as the swan song of the winter cruising season. But,
it too has been challenged by anchorage limitations and the addition of
mooring fees. In recent years rumors persisted within weeks of the event
that it may or may not even take place.
Today both of these events are trying to make this year something memorable.
The La Paz event has been renamed ‘Bay Fest’ and ‘Loreto Fest’ has evolved
into a music and art festival of local and cruising talent. With an increasing
percentage of gringos now land based in Baja, it probably makes sense for
these events to move to include land lubbers as well.
Organizing and promoting these events has become a much
more intensive task than in years past, requiring permits and more formal
organization. People have grown to expect more as well, adding to the strain
on the volunteers.
The face of the cruiser has changed too. Economic changes in the US and
the fact that cruising Mexico just isn’t that cheap anymore has lead to
a “graying” of the cruising population. Additionally, an ever increasing
number of Mexico boaters are no longer cruisers, but folks who keep their
boat here and come for vacations. Both of these reasons have lead to a decreased
interest in group functions and multi-day beer fests.
So, with this in mind we have invited the two groups responsible for these
events to keep you up to date here, on the Baja Insider. The organizations
responsible for these events are Club Cruceros (ClubCruceros.org)
in La Paz and Hidden Port Yacht Club (HiddenPortYachtClub.com
) in Loreto.
We encourage these organizations to update us regularly
here to get the word out and you our readers to contact these groups and
get involved. With everyone’s help, we can make these events worth sailing
a thousand miles to attend once again!
 Tomas
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Loreto Fest 2006:May 4-7, 2006
10th Anniversary 1996 - 2006
Club Motto: “Come Find Us”
For information on Loreto Fest 2006 and activities go to:
www.hiddenportyachtclub.com
Email:
hiddenportyachtclub@hotmail.com
Plans are underway for Loreto Fest 2006. This is the
10th year of Loreto Fest and should be the best one we have had yet.
So mark you calendar and set your sails and wheels for Puerto Escondido
May 4, 5, 6 and 7, 2006.
What happens at Loreto Fest and who is it for? Loreto Fest
is for everyone, Adults wanting to play and relax, Family’s to meet and
play together, and everyone wishing to meet new and old friends for a few
of days of fun and entertainment.
Loreto Fest started with a bay clean up and has grown to
a 4 day event. The main event of Loreto Fest. is still the Bay Clean up
and surrounding Tierra firma. There is the Ham Radio test, and Green T-Shirt
award, Mexican Train, Baja Rummy, Chess, Horseshoes, Over the Line, Candeleros
Regatta, Dinghy-Kayak parade, Beading classes, Water color workshop, Slow
jam session, Music harmony workshop, Basic Guitar workshop, seminars on
Water Makers, Mexican Weather, and Hardy Auto Pilot. There have been fishing
tying and writing workshops.
Events
Music – Entertainment
Bay Clean Up
Chance for FREE MOORING during Loreto Fest
Third Annual Candelaros Classic Regatta
Schedule to be posted. If you wish to participate - Registration can be
via Email to HPYC:
hiddenportyachtclub@hotmail.com
Events (cont)
Bead - Craft Workshops – Seminars – Music WorkshopsHam Testing
New or Upgrade
Spam Contest
Chili Cook-Off
Silent Action – Swap Meet - Quilt Project
Water Volley Ball – Karaka Parade
Board – Water – Team Games - Workshops, and Seminars, will be scheduled
thru-out the weekend. There are going to be a few new games and contests
this year to play and compete in. Watch
www.hiddenportyachtclub.com for Schedule of Events.
Events for Kids
T-Shirts – Burgees – Packages- Membership –Hot Dogs – Beer – Etc.
Thursday May 4
Ham Test - Chili Cook Off: Chili with Coleslaw and Corn
Bread - Music - Will be a sing-along
Friday May 5
Spaghetti Dinner: Green Salad and Garlic Bread – Music
Saturday May 6
Ballet Folklorico de la Casa Cultural - Dinner to be announced
– Music "Theme will be Sock Hop" and we will feature 50's, 60's and 70's
music for your dancing pleasure.
Sunday May 7
Pancake Breakfast with Sausage - Pot Luck Dinner - Awards
- Music
People joining the club, (Membership - $10.00 a year) attending
Loreto Fest, purchasing burgees, T-Shirts and participating makes everything
possible. Becoming a member of HPYC not only can help many others, proceeds
from Loreto Fest go to the Local Community and Schools. HPYC is an
internationally recognized club with privileges at other Marina’s. Children
under 18 are considered Jr. Members. A membership entitles you to free meals
at L.F. also
Email US: We found last year a head count before L.F. was
most helpful if you are going to attend Loreto Fest, Please email us.
If you would like to play music, work on a committee or
hold a seminar contact:
hiddenportyachtclub@hotmail.com
Thanks and see you there!!
Attention all Musicians:
Loreto Fest has also come to mean a “Music Fest” There is
music and a special appearance of the Casa de Cultura local dancers. Also,
entertainment skits have been performed.
The following is from Jim “Priority” (2-18-06)
1. We will begin rehearsals on or about April 1, a
month before LF. Rehearsals will last 3-5 hours a day, starting at
1:00PM and we'll take Sunday off. Rehearsals will be split up with
two days a week being devoted to vocals and two days a week for instrumentalists.
The vocalists will need to hone their work, including arranging for backup/harmony
singers. I expect there to be some overlap because the vocalists will
want someone to play during their rehearsals. Also some do both vocals
and instruments. That makes up four of the six days each week.
The other two days will be set aside for both the vocalists and the instrumentalists
to work together.
2. I need a song list from each performer a week before
the fest so we can arrange Friday night, Saturday night, and Sunday.
We will welcome early comers as well as late comers but if a performer doesn't
show up early enough to get me a song list in time he/she will play on Sunday
night.
3. Thursday evening will be a sing-along. That
worked well last year and Jay & Harriet on Claudacious will be bringing
a Karaoke machine which displays the words thru a TV set and they have a
flat-screen TV.
4. I am hoping to have a Gospel Half-Hour on Sunday morning.
I'd like as many musicians as possible to do gospel music.
5. Saturday night's theme will be 'Sock Hop' and we will feature 50's,
60's and 70's music for your dancing pleasure
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The La Paz Bay Fest April 20-24, 2006
Click here to see an updated Schedule of Events released 03/12/06
Everyone is invited to the 2006 La Paz Bay Fest April 20-24
where, on beaches of Ensenada de La Paz, cruisers and land-based members
can equally enjoy the activities and camaraderie.
After many years of fun and frolic at the islands of La Paz, the last Sea
of Cortez Race Week was held in 2002. For several reasons this event did
not happen for a couple of years. In 2005, Club Cruceros de La Paz and Paradise
Found put their collective toes into the water and decided to set up a little
different event on the beaches of La Paz to replace Race Week.
 The
La Paz Bay Fest had it’s debut beginning April 14, falling between the Banderas
Bay Regatta in March and the Loreto Fest in May. The La Paz Bay Fest hosted
three days of events. There were dinghy races, a scavenger hunt, blindfolded
dinghy rowing contest and a GPS poker run. Beach games, dominoes, and children’s
games occurred each day. The twice daily seminars included information about
diving spots in the Sea of Cortez, first aid and treatment for sea stings,
wireless internet, knot tying, traveling Mainland Mexico by car, and a presentation
by a panel of cruisers who had spent previous summers up in the Sea. Potlucks,
food contests, and good music were enjoyed nightly.
On the 4th day a handful of sailboats raced from Roco Lobos,
an area about 10 miles from the inner bay, to Marina de La Paz and became
the first entrants in the ‘Rock to the Dock’ race.
Feedback from those that attended this event was very positive
with many requests to do it again. After enjoying this successful Bay Fest
some moved on to Loreto Fest while others stayed in La Paz, with many good
memories and new or renewed friendships.
Please visit their website at www.clubcruceros.org.
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