Two types of non-locals visit Baja –– your regular tourists, and others who have a much deeper connection to the peninsula, whether they live here or not. It is not rare to meet ex-pats with incredible stories of why and how they moved here, accompanied by many anecdotes collected over the years of their everlasting Baja love affair.
It is rarer, however, to meet someone who not only has a deep-rooted connection here but is also responsible for creating long-lasting memories for thousands of visitors over the last few decades and continuously contributes to elevating and benefiting the local landscape.
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On January 7, I was invited to Marina ASIPONA La Paz to witness the beginning of the construction of the first firefighting vessel being built in Mexico. While being constructed here, in La Paz, the vessel, once completed, will carry up to 5 metric tons of water and service mostly the marinas in the Los Cabos area. According to Clicerio Mercado, the cherished coordinator of the world-famous Bisbee fishing tournaments, “Currently, marina-related boat emergencies are being dealt with by the heroic Fire Department of Cabo San Lucas with limited resources to be proactive and effective in case of fires. The problem was brought forward last year to Wayne Bisbee, owner of the Bisbee Tournaments, who did not hesitate to fund the construction of this brand-new firefighting boat.”
Wayne Bisbee has a deep-rooted connection to Baja and an incredible story about how he transformed the fishing tournament his dad, Bob Bisbee, started in Baja in the 1980s. The tournament has earned the title of the “Super Bowl” of sportfishing by Sports Illustrated magazine. He has also continuously shown his commitment to giving back to Baja California Sur, going beyond the famed tournaments to contribute meaningfully to the local infrastructure and wildlife.
This time Wayne is making the news again for his generous offer to fund the construction of the vessel, which once completed will be used as a framework to build other such vessels to accommodate more marinas and expand to more locations such as La Paz. The project is valued at approximately US $250,000 with its state-of-the-art vessel, an FRB-300 fiberglass boat, equipped with a steel tank and a Tohatsu 1500 fire pump, a crucial asset for combating fires in marine environments as it pumps not fresh but ocean water.
When I inquired about his role in the project, Wayne modestly stated, “I wish I could claim the credit, but the idea came to me. Regardless, I'm honored to be part of this. Our team recognizes the critical need for such a vessel and is immensely proud to assure the local community and boat owners that our firefighters will soon possess the necessary resources to address marina fires safely and efficiently.”
The project is a collaboration between the local fire department, Bisbee's Tournaments, and the Maritime and Naval Bureau with completion expected within the next 9 months. Once finished, it’ll be a game-changer for the region, something that would not have been possible without the collaboration of people like Wayne.
It is our civic and social duty to help elevate our communities, more so as ex-pats who move here to enjoy a better life. While all of us don’t necessarily have access to 250,000 USD to donate, each one of us has something they can share, donate or contribute for a better tomorrow, together. If you love Baja, I invite you to find meaningful ways to make it a little better each day. For more of my work: www.naailahauladin.com ,
