Who’s Racing in the Banderas Bay Regatta?

Who’s signed up to race in the Banderas Bay Regatta this month? The regatta will take place March 18–22 in Banderas Bay, Mexico. This year marks the 32nd event, and to date we can see 12 crews signed up and hailing from Portland through to Mexico.

Here’s an idea of what you can expect from this year’s Banderas Bay Regatta (BBR).

To help get crews organized there’s a BBR Crew List party (sounds familiar). Sailors will gather at Vallarta Yacht Club (VYC) on March 11 from 4–6 p.m. for happy hour cocktails and sailing stories and crew building. In keeping with the BBR and VYC’s mission to support youth, skippers are encouraged to also invite young sailors aboard as crew.

Next on the agenda is the skipper check-in and mandatory meeting on March 18. This also marks the start of the Banderas Bay Opening Day Kick Off Event at VYC:

“After registration and the skipper’s meeting we have a fun night in store with Happy Hour (well drinks) from 5:30–6:30, pasta buffet starting at 6:30 and live music starting at 7:30 to dance the night away! Buffet dinner $350 MXN [about $17 US]. Please purchase in advance: Contact [email protected] or come into the yacht club to purchase. We look forward to seeing you there!”

Handicaps will be posted by 11 p.m. and on-water events begin the next day at 12 noon with the
Captain Ron Theme Boat Parade.

“The parade of boats heading to the ‘Start Your Heart Out’ practice line is a long-standing tradition of the BBR event. This year’s theme is “If it’s gonna happen … ” At noon, all registered boats will enter the Paradise Village Marina harbor and will be ushered into the proper sequence to parade past the judges’ stand. They will then proceed to the ‘Start Your Heart Out’ practice area.”

This is where crews can practice their starts while giving the race committee the opportunity to hone in the starting sequence. “We set a short windward mark to make it fun. Start, round the mark to port, rinse and repeat. New this year, the last start of the day (1500) will be the weekly Beercan Rally. A triangle for the cruisers and multihulls and we add an extra windward leeward for the ‘racers.’ It is great fun for all!”

The three days of racing, and after-parties, begin on March 20 and conclude with the Beach Party Awards Ceremony at Paradise Village Beach, including dinner, drinks, and dancing with live music.

More information here.

Does that all sound like fun? It does to us. We can’t go join the regatta, but we’d love to hear from anyone who does: What was your boat and who were your crew? What did you most enjoy about the racing? How were the conditions? Did you win?!

Early-bird signups have closed, but you can still join the fun. Registrations close on March 17 at 6:00 p.m. You have time! Sign up here.

The Banderas Bay Regatta creates exciting competition and fun for sailors in the warm, beautiful waters of Banderas Bay, Mexico. And the consistent March winds and the protected bay make it an ideal location for some fun racing.

This nonprofit event is organized by the Vallarta Yacht Club, renowned for hosting international regattas that cater to dedicated racers and cruisers alike. Notable past events held by VYC include the 2011 Pan American Games, J/24 World Championship & Nationals, Opti Nationals & North Americans, Laser World Championships, and, of course, the Banderas Bay Regatta. The Regata Internacional Bahia de Banderas stands as the Vallarta Yacht Club’s flagship event and holds the distinction of being the largest and most enjoyable cruising regatta on Mexico’s Pacific coast. From its inception, the Banderas Bay Regatta was created by cruisers, for cruisers. Even after 30 years, the contributions of our generous sponsors and the dedicated efforts of our amazing volunteers have ensured that the regatta remains focused on the needs and interests of cruising enthusiasts.

The regatta and Vallarta Yacht Club are committed to promoting and supporting the education of young sailors. Skippers participating in each regatta are encouraged to invite young sailors to join as crew members. The VYC Junior Program, the oldest and most extensive program in the region, offers useful local knowledge and serves as a valuable resource for aspiring sailors.