For over 20 years, Vallarta Yacht Club hosted world class racing on one of the best sailing venues in the world, and has been the home-away-from-home for cruisers.
Banderas Bay is known globally for its consistent and reliable thermal winds. VYC is proud to have hosted sail racing on Banderas Bay at the highest level in the sport, while at also welcoming more relaxed cruiser racing and cruises in company.
For those who love cruising, Banderas Bay has many excellent cruising destinations to explore within the bay, as well as being a perfect jumping-off point for cruising the Mexican west coast. The bay is home to a great variety of ocean life, including turtles, dolphins ocean mantas and whales. Outside of the bay, the Sea of Cortez, Chamela Bay, Tenacatita, Barra de Navidad, and Zihuatanejo at popular cruising destinations. Many cruising sailors use Banderas Bay as a staging point for longer voyages, including the west coast of Central America, Panama, and the South Pacific.
The club's two Signature Events, the International Banderas Bay Regatta and WesMex International Small Boat Regatta draw top sailors from Mexico and the world, and are highlights of the annual sailing calendar. The bay's most popular sailing season is November to May, making it an ideal destination for sailors from the north who want to get out of the cold weather. The club also hosts monthly small boat regattas and weekly “beer can” races. Over the years, VYC has hosted various national and international championships, including several national, continental, and world championships. In 2011 the club was honored to host the sailing events for Pan American Games.
Whether you're competing in a major regatta or cruising along the beautiful coastline, Vallarta Yacht Club offers members the opportunity to not only participate in events, but also volunteer as on-the-water support. As an on-the-water support volunteer, you get front row seats to sailboat racing in one of the best sail racing venues on the planet.
VYC SIGNATURE EVENTS
WESMEX INTERNATIONAL SMALL BOAT REGATTA
Since it's inception over 15 years ago, the WesMex International Small Boat regatta has consistently been the largest and most competitive small boat event in on the Mexican Sailing Calendar. The event always includes Optimist and ILCA dinghies, and frequently includes classes like C420, Hobie 16, iQFoil and several others. The best of the best have sailed in WesMex, which serves as a Mexican qualifier event for national, continental, and world championships.
You'll find out more about WesMex, and how to participate as a competitor, or a volunteer, on the event website at https://www.wesmexretatta.org.
REGATA INTERNACIONAL BAHIA DE BANDERAS
For over 30 years, the Banderas Bay Regatta has been the premier cruiser regatta in Mexico. Focused on fun cruiser racing, the event is known not only for great races around beautiful Banderas Bay, but also for great after-race parties. The event includes a wide variety of racing classes, from racing boats to cruising boats, and from Hobie 16s to large traditional schooners. The event starts with parade of decorated boats, and finishes with a beach party that is always memorable. Event success is measured in smiles!
The motto of Banderas Bay Regatta is "They had a party and a yacht race broke out!". Find out more at https://www.banderasbayregatta.com.
OTHER REGATTAS AND CRUISE-OUTS