Community to Community – Northern California to Baja del Sur

They may be close geographically, but the small fishing villages of Baja California remain a different world from the big towns of La Paz and Cabo San Lucas.  Typically populated by fewer than 50 people, these villages are simple places focused on daily needs.  As in much of rural Mexico, the people are warm and friendly.  A village school might have a dozen young students.

With Schooner Seaward’s frequent contact with local fishermen, it seemed natural to Captain Alan Olson to find a way to forge a closer connection, do some good and have a great time in the process.  Fast-forward:  a group of seven Northern California members of Rotary International joined Schooner Seaward in La Paz to make it happen.

Rotary International was the perfect partner for this (ad)venture because, says Captain Alan, “It’s important to work within the community,” and Club Rotario La Paz Balandra was on the scene with village contacts and translators.  They also were great hosts, and the Sunday barbecue in La Paz will be remembered for a long time.

But the Rotarians didn’t come just for the barbecue; sailing to coastal villages such as Nopolo and San Evaristo they brought clothing and school supplies, a carefully chosen collection of Spanish-language schoolbooks, and Spanish-English dictionaries.  Plus a few of soccer balls, of course!

The group had a chance to participate in community activities and experience a connection to rural villages that extended well beyond tourism.  The exchange went both ways as a group of Mexican youth got to experience an afternoon sail aboard Seaward.  And there was still time in the week for the Californians, all members of the International Fellowship of Yachting Rotarians, to explore some of the remote islands and beaches that dot the Sea of Cortez.

With the success of this year’s program, and with some additional support from Rotary International, Captain Olson and Call of the Sea are working on another exciting project for next season.  Students from Redwood High School’s InterAct, a Rotary-sponsored youth service club, are planning to travel to Baja California next winter for a joint sail-training voyage aboard Seaward with local youth, followed by a service project in La Paz.