New Yacht Club Forming in Ensenada
text by connie ellig; photo by david hopps
first published in baja times newspaper

Coincidentally, it was the sea that brought Katrina and Andrés together. Their courtship began in 1985 when Katrina, the casino manager aboard the biweekly Los Angeles to Ensenada cruise ship, the S.S. Azure Seas, met Andrés Tinoco, a local restaurateur. They were married two years later.

In August 2001, the couple opened Restaurant La Vendimia on Av. Riveroll #85 near Blvd. Costero. Several downtown marinas like Cruiseport Village and Baja Naval began recommending the new eatery to their clientele. Boaters not only discovered a spot for consistent fine dining, but also discovered a bubbly Brit named Katrina who would help with Spanish nautical translations, recommend doctors, dentists and other services, and offer general advice to make their stay in Mexico more pleasant.

Word spread throughout the yachting community. By summer of 2004, numerous boaters were begging Katrina to start a new yacht club in Ensenada. At first she thought they were joking. But then in July, a group of yachters presented her with a ship-to-shore radio as a birthday gift. In August, California’s renowned fishing and boating newspaper, The Log, contacted her, reiterated the plea, and offered to assist with registration procedures. In February of 2005, La Vendimia International Yacht Club was officially formed.

“We are not a stereotypical yacht club,” explains Commodore Katrina. “Our membership consists of sailboaters, powerboaters, ex-boaters, and even a few non-boaters whose common bond is a love of the sea and an appreciation for the warmth and friendliness of Mexico. We are a group who likes to have fun, enjoy life, help people acclimate to their stay in Mexico and generally look out for each other. If these are qualities that you like, then we would love you to join us.”

La Vendimia International Yacht Club offers membership services like access to major international yacht clubs, a bimonthly e-newsletter, a directory of local emergency numbers and medical services, and ship-to-shore radio contact with Restaurant La Vendimia. Members also receive benefits at the Tinoco’s restaurant including meal discounts, Thursday Happy Hour, catering with shipboard delivery, and the opportunity to hang a framed photo of their vessel on the “wall of fame.”

Membership is open to fun-loving seafarers of all nationalities, but it is limited to 100 founding members and 100 charter members. For application and fee information, contact Commodore Katrina Tinoco at e-mail
 

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