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FISHING REPORT
| Vallarta
Yacht Club Now Open! | | December 1 ,
2002. |  The
long-awaited Vallarta Yacht Club is now a reality for the boating community in
and around Puerto Vallarta and Nuevo Vallarta, Mexico. Nearly 200 people were
in attendance at the gala Grand Opening Celebration and ribbon cutting ceremony
held at the new club facilities in the Paradise Village Resort in Nuevo Vallarta,
Nayarit, Mexico. Sunday, November 24, 2002. On hand to do
the honors with the official ribbon cutting and opening of the new club was one
of the early visionaries of the Vallarta Yacht Club, Jim Ketler, accompanied by
several distinguished dignitaries including Paradise Village owner and founder
Graziano Sovernigo, Bahia de Banderas Mayor Hector Paniagua, Navy Captain Roberto
Hernandez Michel, Nuevo Vallarta Port Captain Luis Jorge Ochoa, Captain Genero
Anaya of the Puerto Vallarta Port Captain's Office and head of the Customs Department
for Puerto Vallarta, Miguel Colorado Luque. Lew Jennings,
a Flag Member in the club, provided the opening remarks and paid tribute to Graziano
Sovernigo for building such a beautiful facility for the yacht club. Jennings
also introduced Vallarta Yacht Club Commodore Dave Wheeler and other newly elected
Fleet Officers including Vice-Commodore Operations Nick Rau, Vice-Commodore Finance
and Administration and Club Treasurer G. Thomas Mortenson, Rear Commodore Activities
Doug Campbell, Rear Commodore Marketing Jane Forester Wheeler, Club Secretary
Dan Green and Directors David Hare, Mary Ladner, Jack Mathews, Guadalupe Dipp
and Dick Markie. The new yacht club is a non-profit organization
created and operated by the membership to serve the Banderas Bay boating community
and visitors to the region. Commodore Wheeler addressed the audience with details
about the vision and objectives of the yacht club. "The
vision of the Vallarta Yacht Club is to create a non-profit private membership
organization that enjoys a prestigious reputation as a globally recognized world-
class yacht club known for its service to members and contributions to yachting
and the Banderas Bay region," explained Commodore Wheeler. "To
help us attain that enviable status the Club has three objectives", he elaborated,
"First is to provide an attractive, comfortable, and active private social
environment for members. Second is to promote, sponsor, manage, and provide facilities
for local and international yachting events. And third, is to sponsor charitable
events and activities that benefit the Banderas Bay region and its residents". Philo
Hayward and his band from La Cruz provided great music as the crowd gathered in
the club to view the facilities and enjoy cocktails and refreshments. Latcho and
Andrea, the famous Gitan Blondes, followed with wonderful flamenco guitar to serenade
those who remained for dinner.  The
new Vallarta Yacht Club facilities are specifically designed to provide a relaxing,
comfortable atmosphere for members while providing many needed services for boaters.
The yacht club operates a full-service restaurant and bar open daily for breakfast,
lunch and dinner. Internet service, mail drop, community bulletin board, ATM,
laundry facilities, showers, Jacuzzi and pool are just a few of the many services
and facilities available to members and guests. Graziano Sovernigo, Director General
of Paradise Village, personally supervised the construction of the new facility
for the Vallarta Yacht Club.
The design of the yacht club
complements the beauty and quality of the Paradise Village resort. The restaurant,
bar and outdoor dining terrace on the main level blend in with the tropical atmosphere
and overlook the marina and lagoon at Paradise Village, The lower level contains
administrative offices, restrooms, and showers. And a huge Jacuzzi and swimming
pool on the lower level are also available to members and marina residents and
guests. Dick Markie, Harbormaster at Paradise Village
Marina and a Vallarta Yacht Club board member said this is a dream come true for
area boaters. "Many of us have dreamed for years of a world-class yacht club
to serve Banderas Bay and the international boating community and it couldn't
be built at a better location than right here at the Paradise Village Resort,"
Markie said. "Paradise Village Resort built this
beautiful facility for the Vallarta Yacht club because they believe the members
can provide much needed services to the Banderas Bay boating community and host
prestigious international yachting events like the Banderas Bay Regatta and local
charity events like the Cruiser's Great Chili Cook-off", Markie explained.
"The Vallarta Yacht Club will uphold the quality services of Paradise Village
and enhance the resort's image and prestige," he emphasized. The
Cruiser's Great Chili Cook-off is an annual event scheduled for Saturday, December
7th this year at the Paradise Village Resort's outdoor amphitheater. Local restaurants
and individuals enter their favorite chili recipes in competition and all proceeds
from the event benefit local charities. "This is a fabulous taste delight
with great food that draws hundreds of people from around the bay to sample some
of the best chili in the world", says event chairman Jim Kettler. "This
year's Great Chili Cook-off will get started at 4 pm Jalisco time and people should
plan on getting there early as the best chili will be gone in a hurry!",
Kettler emphasized. There is no admission charge to the
Great Chili Cook-off. Tickets to sample the various chili recipes may be purchased
at $5 pesos per ticket. Awards are presented for 'Most Popular' chili for the
competitor with the most number of tickets and 'Best Chili' as judged by a panel
of professional chili tasters.  The
Vallarta Yacht Club will be sponsoring charity events like the Great Chili Cook-off
and other yachting and sporting events for residents and visitors to Banderas
Bay.
If the attendance at the Grand Opening was any indication,
the Vallarta Yacht Club is well on its way to becoming a world-class yacht club
providing great services to the Banderas Bay boating community and visitors to
the region. The Vallarta Yacht Club is actively seeking
new members and can be contacted via their website at http://www.vallartayachtclub.com
or e-mail info@vallartayachtclub.com "There are six
classes of membership to fit nearly every situation and budget", explains
David Hare, Director of Membership Affairs, "Plank Owner, Flag, Associate,
Reciprocal Associate, Guest and Honorary. It's a great deal and a wonderful opportunity
for boaters and those interested in boating activities here in Banderas Bay." Plank
Owner memberships are limited and require a $300USD initiation fee and $50 per
month dues while members are in the area using the Club facilities. Plank Owners
are life members who provide a non-recourse $1,200USD loan to the Club in return
for 15 percent discount on all food and beverages and other specified privileges. Flag
memberships are available for a $300USD initiation fee and $50 per month dues
while members are in the area using the Club facilities. Flag members enjoy full
privileges at VYC, reciprocal privileges at international yacht clubs where agreements
exist, full voting rights and a special flag burgee. Associate
memberships are available for a $100USD annual membership fee and $50 per month
dues while members are in the area using the Club facilities. Reciprocal
Associate membership is offered to members of internationally recognized yacht
clubs who are here on a short-term basis. Reciprocal Associate membership requires
a $50 annual membership fee and $50 per month dues while using the club facilities.
Guest and Honorary memberships are provided to distinguished
representatives of the international yachting community and leaders in local government
and business who further the goals of the Vallarta Yacht Club. Additional
information about the Vallarta Yacht Club can be obtained via e-mail at info@vallartayachtclub.com
or visit their website at http://www.vallartayachtclub.com
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