The beauty of growing up Latino is that you learn early on about the power of community. Your family, whether small or large, likely values staying close together and preserving traditions that have been passed down through generations.
The boating community shares similar values. We honor all those shared values, but especially during Hispanic Heritage Month, which runs from September 15 to October 15 this year.
The Power of Community in Latino and Boating Cultures
During this month, we take the opportunity to uplift Latino boaters and acknowledge the integral role they play in the boating community. It's special to see how much of their boating traditions, which date back generations, they bring to each boating adventure. And how proud they are to bring those joyful traditions to the forefront, especially during a time when the beauty and contributions of the Latino community and its diverse culture are being questioned.
In the boating community, fellow boaters start as strangers but quickly become lifelong friends. Family members new to the boating community often become enthusiasts after just a few boating trips.
All it takes is one family member to revisit a tradition for the rest of the family to understand why and how boating can be so special. Or how they, too, can fit into the boating community. As boaters often share, it's easy to feel calm and have a deep sense of belonging when on a boat. And it's even easier to share that feeling with others.
In one of our videos, you'll meet David Callejas, a Hispanic boater who combined his family's love for boats and his own entrepreneurial spirit to start a boat rental company, Float On.
He shares that for him, boating has always been a deeply personal and rooted aspect of his family's Latino heritage. Now that he has a team that also loves boating, each day feels like a great day at work. More importantly, it's also an excellent chance to introduce others — sometimes first-time boat riders — to the magic that happens when you're on the water.
This Hispanic Heritage Month, consider how tapping into your passion for boating can help you build a connection with individuals who share your love for the water.
What Boating Can Add to Your Life (While Celebrating Hispanic Culture)
1. A fun new way to bond with your family
Before you decide to build community with others, consider challenging yourself to develop deeper connections with your family. In a Latino family, that can mean anyone from your children to your siblings to your primo-hermanos.
Getting on a boat with your family members is the perfect way to set the scene for new conversations and shared adventures. Family is a core pillar of the Latino community. While grandparents thrived on bringing loved ones together in their living rooms, you can change the scene to a boat.
2. A designated time to unplug every day
Tapping into alone time isn't traditionally a common self-care habit in the Latino community. However, it is important to reinvent what caring for yourself looks like. Time alone on a boat will always feel purposeful — ask any of our boaters — but it can also be full of the quiet you're searching for.
3. A hobby that may have ties to your own family traditions
It can sometimes feel challenging to connect with ancestors and past traditions, especially if you're a second or third-generation descendant. It's one thing to hear stories, and it's another thing to have been your parents or grandparents who saw the craftsmanship, struggles, and moves from one town to the next firsthand.
But just because you may not have witnessed their traditions personally, it doesn't mean you can't tap into them now. If boating is a part of your family's lifelong tradition or trade, getting out on the water may help you connect with yourself and with generations that came before you.
Hispanic Heritage Month can be an excellent opportunity to connect with your family and the broader boating community.
Read Next: Latinos Making Waves
How to Celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month on a Boat
1. Celebrate with us at Boating La Familia
If you're in Austin, join us for Boating La Familia, our Hispanic Heritage Month boating event celebrating the Latino community's love for boating and family.
This special gathering will highlight Hispanic culture through food, music, and traditions, while also supporting Latino-owned local businesses. David Calleja's company, Float On, will offer boat rides, and guests can participate in interactive "Ask Me Anything" sessions with boating experts. These sessions will cover topics such as renting, buying, safety, and more.
Mark your calendar for September 14—and if you'd like to attend, be sure to register here.
2. Join a Local Boating Club or Sailing Association
If you're not in Austin, don't worry, you can still celebrate on the water! Many sailing associations and yacht clubs across the country host Hispanic Heritage Month events throughout September and October. Check with your local organizations to find opportunities that celebrate Latino culture and the boating community.
Whether it's your first time attending or you're just beginning your boating journey, remember that this community is built on values as strong as those in the most tight-knit families. You'll be welcomed with open arms and encouraged to deepen your connection to boating.
3. Plan Your Own Boating Itinerary
If you already have a boat, you're one step ahead. Not having a boating event to attend during Hispanic Heritage Month is no excuse to miss out on the fun.
Check your calendar and find a window of time that allows you to go boating during Hispanic Heritage Month with your crew. Invite anyone in your inner circle who loves boating, or even extend the invitation to friends of friends. The more community you can bring together, the better!
Learn More About Boating
The more you surround yourself with boat-lovers, especially those who share your cultural background, the easier it can be to see yourself at the helm of a boat one day.
No matter how you choose to celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month this year, don't leave your love of boating behind. You'll have even more fun in the community when you bring all of yourself to the water!
Article by Vivian Nunez
