19th Annual Banderas Bay Regatta 2011

The XIX Regatta Internacional de Bahia de Banderas, to be held March 8 - 12, 2011, is expected to again be the highlight of the 2011 sailing season.

This granddaddy of regattas on Mexico’s West Coast brings sailors from the US, Canada and Mexico together in one of the best sailing venues in the world for five days of parties, music, and sailboat racing.

Each year the event has gotten bigger and better and this year is, with over 45 boats signed up, is no exception.

What’s unique about this regatta is that it is designed specifically for cruisers – people who live on their boats and explore the waters of Mexico and in fact the world.

The host for this event is the Vallarta Yacht Club in Nuevo Vallarta. The club will be the headquarters and the center of activities throughout race week.

This year’s Regatta kicks off, on Tuesday March 8 with a Welcome Reception in the amphitheater of Paradise Village Beach resort and Spa. The performances at this reception start with a Mariachi serenade and culminate with native dances of the Aztecs.

Day 2 starts off with the mandatory skippers meeting and is also practice day.

A course will be set up so the racers can test their skill, get crew members all on the same page, and hone up on their starting maneuvers, which can often be the most hair razing part of any sailboat race.

Day 3 (Thursday March 10) starts off with a promenade of all of the boats entered in the race. An hour or so later the serious racing starts just north of the harbor entrance.

On Day 4 (Friday March 11,) and Day 5 (Saturday March 12).the races continue with 1:00 PM start time each day.

On Friday evening racers and the general public are invited to attend one of the Vallarta Yacht Club famous Fish Fry’s and after dinner be treated to a performance of the “The Cuban Band”.

The concert is a free event (cash ba
r). The Fish Fry Buffet is just $150 pesos. Happy hour starts at 5:00 pm with dinner at 6:00 and the music at 8:00. Although the Welcome Event and Awards Celebration Dinner are not open to the general public, visitors are welcome to join the nightly festivities at the Vallarta Yacht Club.

The VYC is located next to the Paradise Plaza Shopping Center in Nuevo Vallarta. Parking is available on the street.

Paid parking is in the covered lot under the shopping center. For more information and a full schedule of events visit the BBR websitewww.banderasbayregatta.com. The Banderas Bay Regatta would not be possible without the generous support of its sponsors including: Vallarta Yacht Club, Grupo Lloyd, Paradise Village Beach Resort and Spa, Vallarta Lifestyles Publishing Group, Mariners General Insurance Group, State of Nayrit / Rivera Nayarit, Philo’s Bar and Restaurant, PV Sailing, Vallarta Yachts, Vallarta Adventures, O & A Investment Funds, Marina Rivera Nayarit, Artist Federico Leon de La Vega and Chevron.