The Mayor of Tenacatita

Each Friday afternoon during the winter cruising season, cruisers raftup their dinghys near Dog Beach in Tenacatita Bay for the “Mayor’s Raftup”.  The master of ceremonies is Robert, the Mayor of Tenacatita.  Robert sails a cruisng ketch called Harmony with his wife of 49 years, the Lovely Miss Virgina.  A few years ago, cruisers organized and conducted an election whereupon Robert was overwhelmingly elected as the Mayor of Tenacatita.  Robert has remained mayor because, 1) He does a great job and is well liked.  2) nobody else wants the job and 3) certainly nobody wants to go to all the trouble of organizing and conducting another election.

There’s food of course.

The raftup starts around 5:15pm weather permitting.  Each dinghy brings their own drink, plates and utensils for themselves and a dish or snack to pass around.  Dishes range from the standard crackers & dip, popcorn and potato salad to full blown home made pizza.  Every week brings new surprises.

Sometimes, there’s even live music.

This particular raftup, John from Silver Sea serenaded the raftup with Santana’s Flor d’Luna which he played on an electric guitar from his dinghy!  See the video below.

And Finally, there’s the Main Event

After everyone is settled in and the food is moving around, Robert will stand, introduce himself and Virgina to newcomers, give a short speech about the raftup and then thow out a topic for  discussion.  The topic is intended to provoke thought and to allow the cruisers to know one another a little better.  Here are some examples:

• Tell us about the best advice you received in your life.
• Tell us about your best holiday traditions. (the Christmas raftup)
• Tells us about a sliver lining you found in adversity.

The mayor throws the topic out and then starts the discussion moving around the circle.  Each boat introduces themselves, their boat, where they’re from, and then they talk about the Mayor’s topic in their own way.  I’m not big on group hugs or group therapy for that matter but I find the raftup enjoyable.

Enjoy the photos and check out John’s guitar talent in the video.

Let me know what you think. Leave a comment below.

John from Silver Sea Performs Flor d’Luna