Now THIS is my kind of race! Latitude 38, a sailing magazine and West Coast sailing community nexus, has an annual event at the summer solstice called Summer Sailstice. This falls during hurricane season here on Banderas Bay, when the seasonal sailors have left and folks who are here are often hunkered down carefully. So Katrina and Mike, our brilliant community leaders, have this fantastic tradition: The Umbrella Downwind Regatta. You can use any floating platform under 14' (4.2 meters), a paddle for a steering tiller or to fend off boats to prevent impact but not to paddle, and some kind of jerry-rigged sail, usually an umbrella. Donations were collected from the participants to benefit the El Cora Santuario de Crocodilos, the wonderful sanctuary we visited in March that cares for crocodiles and, really, any other animals that folks bring by. They are good and caring folks.

Three people sitting on a row of paddleboards floating in water. They are wearing sunglasses and smiling at the camera. One person is holding a rainbow colors umbrella.
Me, James, and our new dock neighbor Randy waiting for the festivities to begin. 

It was a wonderful, silly day, and our first group social event since vaccination. Huge thanks to everyone who helped, and especially to Cat and her team for not only taking photos, but taking the time to send us some. James and I are so happy that we chose La Cruz as our pandemic port; it's been a sweet, safe home for us this past year and a half.