Sailfest is a fun week of activities that are planned for the purpose of raising money to benefit the poorest children in Zihuatanejo. But we the visitors to Zihuatanejo benefit greatly while supporting this worthy cause by having a “hell of a good time”. I busied my self with a few shifts of selling t-shirts, raffle tickets and event tickets and sailboat cruises and adventures.
Sailfest begins with a welcome dance that was so hugely attended it filled two waterfront restaurants, while folks danced in the sand to Expressions Inmune, a wonderful local Mexican band that has been supporting Sailfest for several years playing good old rock n roll. While the crowd is primarily grey, this was not a sedated group listening politely to the music. No it was more like a bunch of grey haired teenagers dancing and bopping to the music they have loved for so long.
Tuesday night brought us the M-Dock concert, another band who has been coming to Zihuatanejo to promote Sailfest since its inception. Their warm up band was another local Mexican band that was most excellent and got everybody warmed up dancing, and M-Dock kept the dance floor full the whole night. There were plenty of drinks and food available, a good time was had by all, except maybe me as I had severely pulled a leg muscle and was hobbling around on a cane. No dancing for me this year.
Wednesday is a crowd favorite with the chili cook off and silent auction where the food was hot and the bidding hotter. I did manage to score a few dinner certificates . So now the Senor will now have to take me out to eat.
Thursday is rally round the rock, a sailboat race out of the bay and around the rock and return. I have yet not seen or participated in this event. But I think I want to participate in it next year.
Friday was the Gala Dinner at El Mediterraneo, a lovely restaurant the dinner was quite nice, the company was good, but my personal opinion I’m done going to these big dinners where you have a choice of one of two items. If I’m going to eat out and pay for my meal I want to order off the menu. I”ll find plenty of other ways to support Sailfest.
Saturday was the Sail Parade out around the bay then out to Ixtapa to pay respects to the port captain, then each boat is on its own to do as the group chooses. We headed to Ixtapa Island, moored out away then most of us jumped in to swim in the salty brine. You just can’t help but float, my feet just bob up to the top.
Monday the volunteers were treated to a party at Gloria’s lovely Las Palmas residence. The weather was fantastic, the food and drink plentiful, the music was good, the pool a pure pleasure, at times it looked like standing room only as everyone walked around with a drink in their hand.
Sailfest is done for this year, I’m sure it was quite profitable, every year seems to outdo the previous. I had a great time and look forward to volunteering, and participating. It’s the least I can do for this lovely community I am lucky enough to live in 4 months of the year. Signing off KO
Zihuathyme 
How does one hear about Sailfest and get tickets?? We love Zihua and would like to fly down next year for this fun and worthy event. Thanks!
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Sailfest happens the same week every February. The first full week in February or another way to remember is it starts the Monday after Super Bowl. Volunteers start selling tickets a week or so in advance and continue do do so daily throughout Sailfest week. They are at the artist park between Casa Arcadis and Tata”s on the Malecon daily from 10 – 6. Never worry about events selling before you would get here that doesn’t happen as venues are large. It is a full week of daily events that you can pick and choose from. All funds raised go directly to building repairing and replacing schools for Zihuatanejo’s poorest children and providing scholarships for higher education for promising children. This year we raised in round figures the equivalent of $102,000 US. Also its good to know that there are no paid administrators, this is truly a volunteer effort. Hope to see you next year
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