Vallarta Yacht Club

WOW!  This sums up how people reacted to the great job that our Vallarta Yacht Club Volunteers did to support the Pan American Games. Here's a big "Thank You" to all of the volunteers that  helped!

Once again our depth of experience proved its worth … after all we've seen everything that can possibly go wrong with a regatta!

Hurricane threat? No problem for VYC!  In less than 24 hours we had all the competitors boats either under cover or secure.

• Last minute or late arrival of support equipment? No problem, we've been there before.
• Need another 90 lunches for competitors? No problem … You guys and gals ROCK!

I received positive feedback from so many different sources. From the President of US Sailing to short stories from our own Volunteers.  From the international measurers who have been to the Olympics and more.  From the PASAF (Pan American Sailing Federation).  From the competitors.  What more could we wish for?

And the stories about the competitors... The US Hobie team, always smiling and missed the medal round because they didn't protest a boat that fouled them, “Hobie guys don't protest boats they beat on the water.” The female board sailor from Brazil (Patricia Frietas) … another WOW … over early, comes back to restart, works her way back into the lead, gets hit by a TV Crew boat, goes up over and into the water, recovers again and wins the race. With a damaged board, she then goes on to sail the second race that day and wins again!  At the end of the Medal Race, she sailed over to the RC Signal Boat and the Finish Boat to say “Thank you for a great regata.” Team Cuba … happy to be here and were made to feel welcome (not to mention that the male board sailor was hunkalisious).

Our Club has reminded the international sailing community that we are one of the best support organizations in the world. I can't even begin to name the people that made this all happen. Of the over 4000 hours put in by almost 100 VYC Volunteers I only saw a small part.  But everywhere I looked there was a VYC Volunteer quietly doing a great job.

Once again, thanks to all that made this happen. As Linda Green told me over a year ago, “If the Games are a success, the organizer will get the credit.  If the sailing goes poorly, VYC will get the blame.” From what I could see, we had all of our bases covered and we did our Club proud. People noticed what a great job you all did.

As always, if there is something that we did right and should do again, something we can do better, or something that should have done and didn't, tell me. You can alway s reach me by email (click here).  Our Volunteers are our strength, I want to listen.

... submitted by Randy Hough, Rear Commodore, Vallarta Yacht Club