Video Shows Moment Gay Party Boat with 60 People Capsized Near Puerto Vallarte

By Pinknews

RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL – Startling mobile phone footage uploaded to social media showed the moment blue waves engulfed the PV Delice Party Cruise catamaran.

Crew and partygoers trying to stay afloat bob along in life vests around the keeled-over boat, some clinging to or frantically flagging the attention of nearby rescue boats.

The disaster struck the cruise off the coast of Puerto Vallarta, a resort town in Mexico’s western state of Jalisco, during a New Year’s Eve event. The state has been observing some of Mexico’s strongest restrictions, prohibiting mass public gatherings of more than eight people, as Puerto Vallarta regional hospitals reach tipping points.

Witnesses described the waters that day as “choppy” while others confirmed that no passengers were injured during the incident, reported Out and About PV, a local queer news outlet.

According to the organiser’s website and social media posts, the event saw ticket-holders pay upwards of US$120 toUS$150 for the party. It began as the boat left Los Muertos Pier at around 10:30am.

It included access to a secluded men-only, “clothing optional” beach jammed with gogo dancers and a live DJ.

https://twitter.com/fitnessgayz/status/1345109265283915776

As the boat wrapped up its celebrations by Playa Quimixto beach at around 5pm, revellers quaffed margaritas on the boat’s bar. But passengers noticed the rear of the boat begin to swell with water.

“It was like the Titanic,” reflected passenger Emillo Blanco, who travelled to Mexico from Chicago, US, “it went all down slowly.”

“I think the crew just didn’t know how to manoeuvre the catamaran very well, the sea was not very rough nor was it too windy,” he said. “We were about to sail back to Puerto Vallarta, but the catamaran barely moved.”

Staffers quickly rang an SOS signal out in alarm. With the boat steadily sinking, Blanco claimed “at least 10 small boats” rallied to rescue them and he had to swim to one: “It was quite a scary situation,” he said.