14th ANNUAL ZIHUA SAILFEST ~ 2015
Monday ~ February 2th
thru
Sunday ~ February 8th
You are cordially invited to participate in the 13th Annual Zihua SailFest fund-raising
fiesta for the education of disadvantaged children in Zihuatanejo. This annual event is
held in beautiful Zihuatanejo Bay located at Latitute: 17.6� N, 101.5� W.
SailFest is a six-day festival that combines fun and games, heart-felt volunteerism and
an outpouring of international friendship. Although the tone of the event is light-hearted,
the cruisers� goals are serious � to raise funds for the education of Zihuatanejo�s poorest
children. In the true spirit of a "rendezvous", vessels begin arriving in November from
as far away as Alaska and the Caribbean and drop anchor until February to participate in
what is becoming one of Mexico's premier sailing events, the Zihua SailFest. Cocktail parties,
benefit concerts, live & silent acutions, sailboat raoces, kids beach day, seminars, chili
cook-off, street fairs, regattas, school tours and work parties at the schools are just some
of the events that highlight this gathering of "free spirits".
In 2014, the troops raised $1,109,575 pesos, including the generous grants from the Bellack
Foundation, Sailfest volunteers Austin Brown and Jane Fiala and cruiser/donor Pete Boyce. Bolstered
by a pending $40,000 USD grant from the Rotary Foundation, labor donations from the city
of Zihuatanejo, generous support of the business community, and the volunteer labor of dozens
of parents, our bright-eyed young scholars now have 3 new schools in which to learn. This year,
7 additional schools, and more than 700 children, benefited from classroom, bathroom and
kitchen repairs funded by SailFest.
The funds are administered by Por Los Ni�os of Zihuatanejo, a Mexican registered non-profit
corporation that was established to administer the funds raised by SailFest related
activities. A nine member advisory committee composed of year-round international residents,
local bilingual Mexican educators and representatives of the sailing community makes all
funding decisions.
We hope you plan to join us in 2015 to continue this tradition that began only 13 years
ago, but has gained international recognition as a "major" sailing community event. We look
forward to welcoming you to Zihuatanejo. And the kids are waiting to meet you!
Zihuatanejo City Of Peace
EDUCACION PARA PAZ
THE UNITED NATIONS
In partnership with the United Nations Ixtapa-Zihuatanejo has certified Ixtapa-Zihuatanejo as a "Community of Peace";
the only city in all Latin America to be so honored. As the UN theme for 2013/2014
is "Education for Peace", the Mexican government has asked Por Los Ninos de
Zihuatanejo, and our Zihua Sailfest committee, to host the presentation ceremony
on Sunday, February 9th. We were honored and thrilled to accept; it will be our
closing event. National and International dignitaries will attend. We local Sailfest
volunteers are planning a charming welcome for them. This is a really big deal for
sleepy Zihuatanejo. Please join us for the exciting celebration!
