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Philip Manly’s Ocean Dream Turns Into Reality
[Editor’s Note: Vallarta Yacht Rentals is offering a 20% discount on it’s Gay Sunset Cruise, offered every Friday from 5 to 8 p.m. Use the code OUTANDABOUT when purchasing tickets, which you can find by clicking here. ]
Philip Manly, a seasoned airline pilot with a lifelong love for the sea, has turned his passion into a reality. His vision of a luxurious, gay-friendly sunset cruise in Puerto Vallarta has finally come into reality. As the sun dips below the horizon, casting a golden glow over Banderas Bay, Manly’s boat, the 48-foot Sea Ray Sedan Bridge he named Escảndalo sets sail, offering an unforgettable experience for travelers seeking a unique blend of relaxation, fun, and stunning scenery. The gay-friendly sunset cruise is offered every Friday from 5 to 8 p.m.
A young Philip once felt his heart racing with excitement as he stood at the edge of the dock, the Sun rising behind him over the serene waters of Washington State. Today was a special day—his first time embarking on a boat with his father.
The 40-foot Monk Cruiser gleamed in the morning light, its polished bronze fittings and rich teak wood taking on an almost magical quality. With each step onto the vessel, the young Manly felt a thrill of adventure coursing through him, his father’s reassuring presence beside him only heightened his anticipation, and, as they pushed away from the dock, Manly was ready to embrace the freedom of the open water.
It was the beginning of Philip’s introduction to boating with his father—a member of the Classic Yacht Association—on a 1942 classic yacht.
As a boy on the yacht, Manly had lots of teak to varnish and bronze to polish. Philip recalled being the only crew on the boat.
“And my pay was dinner,” he laughed.
Philip grew up driving a tugboat because his father worked for a tugboat company. He learned to drive one before driving a car, he said.
At 22, Manly moved to Los Angeles, CA, where he took over running a tortilla factory, a business from his mother’s side of the family. He successfully ran that business for fifteen years from 1998 to 2012. It was during that time that he started taking flying lessons.
“Some people golf, I took flying lessons,” Manly said. “That was my outlet.”
Flying was a family affair for Philip. One of his uncles was a pilot who would take him on trips to the San Juan Islands in Washington State for work. This early exposure fueled his passion for aviation, leading him to become an airline pilot in 2012. Today, Philip flies for JetBlue.
Philip first visited Puerto Vallarta in 1998 and with each subsequent visit, his love for Puerto Vallarta deepened. This led to him purchasing a property in the south shore area in 2001. Having a decades-long connection with Puerto Vallarta also made him witness the development and tourism boom in the city.
Another thing he became keenly aware of was how the gay life in P.V. had been thriving and had taken a life of its own.
“Having the luxury of travel has allowed me to visit many places and honestly, I have yet to find a place where I can feel that the gay life is just as good as here,” Manly said.
Even a gay-friendly town like Sitges, Spain, has a fraction of the gay life as it does in Vallarta, he said. Mykonos, Greece, is another example whose claim to fame is Jackie O’ and only a couple of other small gay establishments, he continued.
“For a travel destination with an amazing gay nightlife, Puerto Vallarta is a class of its own,” he said.
During the Covid pandemic, when travel restrictions and flight limitations were in place, Philip stayed in Puerto Vallarta for an extended period. Eventually, he decided to make it his home. He officially chose to settle there in August 2021 and sold his property in Long Beach, California, a couple of months later.
It was there when, living close to the water down on the south shore and seeing all the boats float by, Manly decided to own one of his own.
In November 2021, he purchased Escảndalo. Today Philip uses the boat for both personal recreation and charter purposes.
The 48-foot Sea Ray Sedan Bridge features an upper level known as the flybridge. The flybridge is protected by a hardcover and has a canopy for additional shelter. It offers plenty of seating with tables, making it ideal for whale watching. Below, there is a spacious main seating area with large cushions and a small canopy for shade.
When operating the boat as a charter, Philip has a crew that’s licensed.
“My mariner is not only a licensed sailor,” he said, “he’s also a licensed tour guide with specialty training in whales.”
Philp’s dream of owning a personal boat has evolved into operating a charter with the necessary permits and a licensed, bilingual crew.
In the first two years, Manly primarily focused on operating private charters, despite receiving requests for group tours. He noticed that many gay tours were being held during the day on the bay, taking participants to a beach, having lunch, and allowing them to enjoy the bay in daylight.
However, Philip’s favorite experience had been to enjoy the bay at dusk while cruising along the Malecon and watching the sunset. Manly further observed that there were no LGBTQI+-specific tours offering sunset cruises.
Considering this, Manly decided to host a sunset cruise on Pride 2024, which turned out to be a success and even generated a waiting list. The positive response led to the decision to offer weekly tours every Friday from 5:00 PM to 8:00 PM.
Guests can look forward to enjoying top-shelf liquor and a selection of freshly prepared appetizers that change with the seasons and availability.
In addition to the sunset cruise, the company offers private daytime group tours led by a licensed crew. These tours may include various excursions, such as whale-watching.
Tickets for the sunset cruise tours can be found on Eventbrite through the company’s website – https://vallartayachtrentals.com/luxury-gay-sunset-cruise/.
It’s important to note that the tours depart from the Marina port.
Philip offers an upscale experience to the LGBTQI+ community through public tours.
“Think Mykonos on a boat with good food, good drinks, and good music,” he said.
On the private tour side, customers can expect to be on a gay-owned and operated boat.
Philip Manly has successfully woven his passions for boating, aviation, and community into a vibrant life in Puerto Vallarta. From his early days on the water with his father to establishing a thriving charter business that caters to the LGBTQI+ community, he has created not just a means of recreation but a space for connection and celebration. With the addition of sunset cruises and private tours, Philip ensures that guests enjoy the beauty of Banderas Bay.
If you are interested in the Gay Sunset Cruise, which includes a welcome cocktail, premium open bar, fresh on-board made hors d’oeuvres, port taxes & high-speed WiFi (tips for the staff are not included), get a 20% discount using the code OUTANDABOUT. Tickets can be purchased here.
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