Last Friday afternoon and evening, many of our members saw a large, sparkling clean 18-Wheeler parked in front of the Yacht Club. And alongside of the truck were fifteen of our Junior Sailors who, with the help of their parents, were carefully wrapping padding around their boats. Once properly prepared, three professional movers loaded the boats aboard the truck for transport to Lake Chapala where our young sailors will compete with others from all over Mexico in the 2010 National Junior Olympics. In addition to providing the transport of our boats, the State of Nayarit fully pays for the transportation, food and lodging of the 15 sailors, their coaches and team leaders during the 5 days of the event. From the twelve VYC sailors competing in last year’s Olympics, six of them made the podium taking home 2 Golds, three Silvers and one Bronze medal.
Just five years ago, a group of Vallarta Yacht Club members purchased and donated eight Optimist sailing dinghies in the hope that a Junior Sailing Program might be established to promote the sport of sailing to young residents of the Vallarta area. Thanks to the following generous donors, the original Club boats (Bow Numbers 1-8) are still in use today having taught over the last five years, nearly 50 young sailors the rudimentary basics of sailing. Three cheers and another big thanks go to: Bob & Sally Wood (Lil Lu), Dick & Gina Markie (Oso Mojado), Don & Donna Farrah (WOW), Gene & Nancy Fletcher (Caramba), John & Nancy Moore (Tortuga), Ricardo & Delia O’Rourke (Delia), Terry & Aggie O’Rourke (Aggie) and Woody & Coley Hunt (Coley D).
Since then three used Laser class boats have been donated by Terry & Patty Klaus, Mike & Leah Danielson and John & Nancy Moore. And, two new McLaughlan competition Optimists were donated by Jay & Laurie Ailworth (Strangebird) and John & Nancy Moore as well as VYC buying an additional two McLaughlan Optimists. Rounding out the fleet of Junior Sailing boats, four Optimists are privately owned by Jason Lavender (for use by VYC), Ethan Rossier, and Cristina & Andrea Ortiz, while Christian and Paul Moreno each own a Laser boat. Finally, after the Princess Yachts loaned inflatable was reclaimed, VYC member Captain Bob Henderson convinced the owner of Keilani to sell a 14 foot Edgewater tender ( valued around $10,000.00 USD) to the Club for a token $2,500.00 USD. As the VYC Junior Sailing Program saying goes: “We couldn’t do it without you.”
