For longtime member Marie Gardner, the Vallarta Yacht Club has been a place of friendship, purpose, and community through every chapter of her life. From discovering the Club years ago to serving in multiple volunteer roles, Marie has been woven into the heart of VYC. She shares warm memories of boating, the support she received after her husband’s passing, and the joy she’s found with Bruce, who is now part of the VYC family too.
In her own words, here is Marie's story:
Twenty Years with the Vallarta Yacht Club: A Journey of Home, Heart, and the Water
In early 2005, my then-husband Ken and I came to Nuevo Vallarta for what we thought would be a simple seven-day vacation. Like so many of you, we fell in love with this beautiful place almost immediately. We found ourselves talking about the possibility of moving here permanently, so we wandered next door to the Vallarta Yacht Club for lunch — a quiet place to talk it over.
But the moment we walked through the door, any discussion became unnecessary. We were greeted with such warmth, such comfort, and such a feeling of belonging that our decision was made for us. We joined the Club on the spot.
For me, it felt especially natural. I’ve always felt at home on and around the water. I learned to sail years before on a 22’ Tanser in the Pacific Northwest and spent many more years sailing with the Tacoma Women’s Sailing Club. Being on the water has always been part of who I am.
Not long after that visit, Ken and I bought a condo at Playa Royale, returned to the States, sold our house and our restaurants, and by May we were back — settling into our new life. From the beginning, we considered the Yacht Club and its members our new family.
Finding My Place in the Club
I quickly found myself involved in Club life, especially with many of the women who loved to play cards. Together, we started the Bahía Rummy tournaments, along with our weekly games — and back then, the rules were very different from what they are now!
I also discovered a deep joy in working with the young sailors during the WestMex regattas. Their enthusiasm, determination, and pure love of sailing made volunteering a privilege — and I’m proud to say I still help with those events to this day.
A Loss, and a Community That Carried Me
In February 2009, my world changed when Ken passed away. It was one of the hardest moments of my life. Had it not been for the love, kindness, and unwavering support of this Club, I honestly don’t know if I would have stayed here. But everyone had my back and kept me moving forward. For that, I will always be grateful.
A New Chapter, and Love Returning
Then in 2012, life surprised me again. I reconnected with Bruce — an old employer and friend from 38 years earlier. For six months we talked long-distance, reminiscing about old times and old coworkers: him in Washington, me in Nuevo Vallarta. I convinced him to visit this little piece of paradise for a short trip.
Well… the rest is history.
He fell in love with Nuevo Vallarta — and yes, with me too. We were married the following year, and it took no time at all for the Vallarta Yacht Club to embrace Bruce just as warmly as it had embraced Ken and me years before.
What Has Never Changed
Over the past twenty years, one thing has remained absolutely consistent: the love and support of this Club. The staff and members will always go out of their way to help — all you have to do is ask. I’ve watched the Club grow, evolve, and adapt. Even the sad or unexpected changes somehow turn into something positive, because that’s just what this Club does. It lifts people up. It turns transitions into opportunities. It turns strangers into family.
A Story Many of You Never Knew
I was asked to share something from my past that many of you would not know. So here it is — a story from the year 2000.
I was on a 34’ trimaran headed for the Abacos. We planned to stop in St. Augustine, Florida to drop off a crew member. We were still well offshore when we struck a coral reef. We thought we’d only put a small hole or crack in the hull, so I went below, trying to press cushions over the place where water was pouring in while the captain radioed for assistance.
What I forgot — disastrously — was that I was wearing suspenders. As the water rose quickly, my suspenders inflated, pinning me underwater. The captain saw my feet flailing and managed to pull me out just before I completely blacked out.
The Coast Guard was too far away, but SeaTow answered and came to our rescue. They boarded us and brought us safely to shore. What we didn’t know was that because they had boarded us, maritime law allowed them to claim salvage — meaning we had to buy our own boat back.
So my advice to all new boaters is simple: before you begin cruising, learn about the (sometimes archaic) maritime laws. You never know when they might suddenly matter.
Despite that experience — and everything that came with it — my love for the water never faded. I may not sail anymore, but I still find joy in walking the docks, admiring the boats, and watching the races from our condo deck.
Twenty Years of Gratitude
As I look back on twenty years with the Vallarta Yacht Club, what stands out most is not the events, the buildings, or even the bay itself — it’s the people. This Club has shaped my life through joy, loss, change, and new beginnings. It has given me family when I needed one, purpose when I sought it, and community every single day.
Here’s to twenty extraordinary years — and to all the sunsets, races, friendships, and memories still to come!