Rapscullion flies into Bahia.
Henry and JJ aboard Rapscullion were thrilled to enter Bahia del Sol. JJ remarked "can we turn around and do it again?" They arrived just in time to help plan the four days of activities leading up to the big cruisers celebration May 15.
All the cruising kids enjoying the rally.
The week began with a late Tuesday afternoon happy hour hosted by restaurant Acajulta. For three hours thirty-five cruisers consumed $1 beers accompanied by free appetizers.
Susan from Calypso
Elina and Greg of Sapphire
Not ANOTHER happy hour??
Some of the other activities held during the week were: a beach bocce ball tournament, a wine tasting, two buffets supplied by the hotel, another happy hour hosted by hotel Bahia del Sol, a desert pot-luck, and a late-afternoon dinghy raft-up in the estuary.
Some don't remember the wine tasting.
Island Marine supplied all the beer for the raft up.
Anna from Trumpeter
Saturdays’ celebration kicked off with hotel owner, Marco Zablah giving a large group of press journalists and local government dignitaries a tour of the rally fleet aboard his 50-foot power cat. Many of the group then accepted invitations to visit aboard the rally boats moored in the marina.
Journalists and photographers.
Aboard Marcos' power cat.
The fleet decorated for the tour.
Everyone is curious about the cruisers.
The main party was held in the air-conditioned meeting room at the hotel. Rally hostess Claudia Oviedo passed out certificates and a souvenir to each boat. Then all the attending boat names were put in a hat to draw for prizes supplied by the rally sponsors. Every boat ended up winning a prize. Vicky Plett of Inspiration at Sea won four bottles of rum for the boat traveling the farthest.
Gift bags from the Ministry of Tourism.
The Grand Buffet.
Dancing to the sounds of a local jazz duo.
Marco awarded the winners drawn for the three grand prizes. Henry Robinson of Rapscullion won third prize of $300, second prize of $500 and two nights in the marina was given to Tom and Kathy Edwards of Ahwahnee and the top prize of $1000, and a week in the marina was awarded to Glen and Joyce Mickowski of Rhumbline. After the awards ceremony the El Salvador Ministry of Tourism passed out gift bags to each boat.
Mick & Joyce - winners of $1000.
Kathy & Tom - winners of $500.
Henry & JJ - winners of $300.
Seventy-one boats signed up for the rally with 34 boats making their way to Bahia del Sol. Twenty-one boats stayed for the rally festivities. Prizes, gift bags, parties, and discounts were valued at $7000 not including the discounts offered by Marina Riviera Nayarit in Mexico.
(L-R)Agustin Lozano-food manager, Claudia Oveido-rally hostess, Marco Zablah-owner, Carlos Solsona-hotel manager.
Happy cruisers.
The rally fleet.
Yep...got the T-shirt too.
The first-ever cruisers rally to El Salvador is a success and plans are underway for the 2011 rally. Everyone involved with its’ development would like to thank all the entrants and sponsors for their support and encouragement. We are now going to take a much-needed rest, catch our collective breaths, and start planning next years rally.
Do Salvadorians love Americans?
Sounds like a great time! You mentioned that Inspiration at Sea got the prize for traveling the farthest--how far did they go?
ReplyDelete