Boats with kids aboard for the Zihuatanejo sailfest: Lemuria (Kyle, 14; Cory, 10; Heidi,7), Quetzal (Alex, 2), Pegasus (Amy, 8), Genesis (Jordan, 13); Ace (Emily,10; Martin,8).

Article by Emily Heeney Dietz (s/v Ace)

The typical cruising kid's day in Zihuatanejo is : Get home school done at warp speed, then paddle out to La Ropa Beach to do all the fun activities like building forts, boogie boarding battling imaginary wit fallen palm tree fronds, body surfing and on calm afternoons, when there is not much wind, and barely any jet skiers and parasailers and banana boats, zipping about the place, freeboarding. But the Zihuatanejo Sailfest added fun to our days.

The day before the Sailfest started, kid boats Quetzal, Lemuria and Ace went to the Indian school, Netzahuacoyotl. The kids were a bit depressed because our Transportation to the school was in a pick up truck with a camper shell where we had to ride in the bed of the pick-up along with some lumpy, pokey bags full of school supplies for the school, while the grown-ups got to ride in air-conditioned, fancy taxis. Oh well. We had a cool experience driving up.

All in all, the Sailfest was a lot of fun for the kids in the cruising fleet. We enjoyed getting to know the kids at the school. Now, most of the kid boats are heading back north to summer in the Gulf of California. Zihuatanejo has been a very special place and we look forward to returning for another visit

Article by Jordan Massé on S/V Genesis

Hi, I'm thirteen years old and I was born in Victoria, B.C., Canada. We've been cruising since September 2004. I'm doing my Grade 8 year through correspondence with my mom, Linda, as my teacher and my dad, JP, as my principal. I'm enjoying myself so far on this trip but I really want to catch some fish and use the spear gun to get some lobster. We haven't been able to do that so far on this trip. I also want to do more snorkeling and see all the marine life that I know exists.

We've been talking about cruising for another year but I feel torn between that and going back home after this year. I would really like to start my Grade 9 year at the same time as everyone else at Oak Bay High School instead of arriving there in Grade 10 and trying to fit into a group. I've already changed schools after Grade 4 and I found it a bit hard to adjust.

I'm enjoying all the water activities like swimming, snorkeling and boogey boarding and would like to have a kayak to travel around in when we arrive at interesting places. I tried hang gliding for the first time and found it an awesome experience. Now I want to go Para sailing.

I had an assignment for CAPP (Career and Personal Planning) which involved helping someone else so I thought SailFest would be perfect for this. Being involved with SailFest was a great experience for me. I've learned a lot about attending meetings, accepting responsibilities and carrying them out and especially about volunteering my time to help a really good cause. I graduated from Grade 7 with an award for service. I was the only young person at the meetings but the adults took me seriously and listened to my ideas. That felt really great. Enough about me!

Genesis is a 44-foot Bruce Roberts offshore cutter.

S/V Genesis departed Victoria, Canada mid-September and cruised as far south as Huatulco, Mexico where the crew did an inland trip to Oaxaca. As of February 2004, Genesis is enroute to Puerto Vallarda and Paradise Village Marina to be berthed while the crew visits home. Then the plan is to visit the Sea of Cortez.

Jordan can be reached at sailor6@hotmail.com

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