Banderas Bay Regatta Wrap-Up

"The 20th Annual Banderas Bay Regatta was held last Thursday through Saturday, March 22-24," reports Richard Williams of the Vallarta YC. "At 36 boats, the field was a bit smaller that the last two years but the racing was great. Banderas Bay lived up to its ‘Chamber of Commerce’ billing by providing us with great conditions each of the race days. Here are the results, with a little info on each winner. Hope to see everyone down here next year!"

Division A

• 1st – Blue, J/160, Ken & Cheryl Sears. Blue is a first-time winner and a multiple-year participant who placed second in ’11. Cheryl and Ken are from Nashville, Tennessee, and are affiliated with the San Diego YC and the Vallarta YC.
• 2nd – San Souci II, Jeanneau Sun Odyssey 54ds, Enrique Aldrete Cuesta. San Souci II is a first time participant in the Banderas Bay Regatta. Enrique is from Puerto Vallarta, Jalisco, Mexico.
• 3rd – Intuition, C&C 37-3, Ron Holbrook. Intuition is a multiple-participant in the Banderas Bay Regatta. Skipper Ron hails from Bonney Lake, Washington, and is a member of the Corinthian YC.

Division B

• 1st – J World 5, J/80, Wayne Zittel. A many-year participant in the BBR, J World 5 is part of the J World sailing school and charter fleet working out of Paradise Village Marina in Nuevo Vallarta. This year’s crew was Tom Kase, Greg Neeley, and Tom Petric from Ontario, Canada. This was the first time they’d raced together as a team. The crew was coached by Rick Taylor.
• 2nd – J World 2, J/80, Wayne Zittel. J World 2 is also a member of the J World sailing school and has participated numerous times in the BBR. This year’s crew is Martha Zinderman from Detroit, MI, Bev Burr from Los Angeles and Elaine Neeley from Ontario, Canada. All three crew are returning J World alumni from various events including J World’s offshore programs. They were coached by Joshua Butler, who has sailed in four other BBRs.
• 3rd – J World 4, J/80, Wayne Zittel. J World 4 is another member of the J World sailing school and has participated in numerous BBRs. This was teh first race every for this year’s crew, not only as a crew but as individuals. 

Division C

• 1st – Our Shangri-La, Catana 431, George Uhrich. Our Shangri-La is a first-time winner and first-time participant in the BBR. The crew of Ralph and Miki Hunter, Jim Machado, Fernanda Fenton, and Dave Wegesend is truly international (Canadian, two Mexican, American). They finished 2nd in the ’11 Zihuatanejo Sail Fest and are well-known for their late starts and strong finishes. 
• 2nd – L’Obsession, Lagoon 450, Aric Ludwig. L’Obsession is a first-time participant in the BBR. Aric hails from Juneau, AK.
• 3rd – Humu Humu, Marelli 68, David Crowe. Humu Humu, a local PV boat that’s available for charter, is a many-time participant in the BBR.

Division D

• 1st – Cupcake (Formerly Tomatillo), Jeanneau 43 DS, David Lezak/Jim Casey. Cupcake was a multiple-participant in the BBR as Tomatillo. Former owners Jim and Jamie Casey and crew member Bartz Schneider guided Cupcake to her first place finish.
• 2nd – Destiny, Catalina 42 Mark I, John & Gilly Foy. Destiny is a first-time entrant in the BBR. John and Gilly’s crew were Barritt Neal (foredeck and fast/strong trimmer) and Renee Neal (navigator, expert tactician and beer opener). 
• 3rd –Talion, Gulfstar 50, Patsy Verheoven. Patsy calls La Paz, BCS home and is a member of the Portland YC and the Club Cruceros in La Paz. She has a long and successful history of racing in the Banderas Bay Regatta.

Division F (No division E)

• 1st Place – Befana, Catalina 30 BS, Randy Hough. Skipper Randy Hough is a veteran of the BBR, guiding Befana to third-place finishes the past two years and finally breaking through to the top position this year. He is a member of the Vallarta YC, and is currently serving as the club’s Rear Commodore. Befana was home for Randy for several years and is the Italian name for the ‘Christmas Witch’, an Italian Santa Claus.
• 2nd – Kievit, Cape North 43, David & Marj Fries. Kievit is a first-time participant in the BBR. David, Marj and their crew members Ginger and David Hanson are all members of the Stockton SC. Except for the regatta at the La Paz Bay Fest in ’11, this boat has never been raced.
• 3rd  – Nirvana, Irwin 43.5. Bob Davis. Nirvana is a first-time participant in the BBR. Bob is from Green Cove Springs, FL but notes that he’s a member of the California YC.

Division G

• 1st – 40 Love, Hunter Legend 40, Joel Gerber. This is 40 Love’s second BBR. Joel is from Crystal Bay, MN and is a member of the Wayzata YC.
• 2nd – Nirvana, Alden 64, Steve Link. This is the second BBR for Nirvana — an all-wood cutter built in ’52 (and still winning race!) — having participated in the ’11 regatta. Captain Steve Link hails from Escondido.
• 3rd – About Time II, Hunter 410, DeWayne Enyeart. This was About Time II‘s first BBR, and was sailed by a very experienced crew. Crewmember John Redpath sailed with DeWayne since the ’70s on San Francisco Bay and Puget Sound and in the ’94 Pacific Cup. Liz Enyeart spent her junior year on the three-masted tall ship Concordia, travelling 22,000 miles from Poland to Victoria, BC. DeWayne hails from Friday Harbor, WA.

Division H 

• 1st – Moondance, Islander 36, Conor & Lanea Riley. Moondance is a first-time entry in the BBR. Conor and Lanea hail from Redwood City and are members of the Corinthian YC. Conor explained that their success was based on properly balancing the vessel by moving the beer into the bilge.
• 2nd – Charissa, Liberty 458, Tom Jones. Jones resides in Elk Grove.
• 3rd – Saver Vivir, Catalina 30, Chuck Naslund. Saber Vivir ("Know how to live") is a longtime participant in the BBR. It’s the ninth regatta for Chuck and the sixth for Saver Vivir. This boat is always competitive and usually places in the top three spots in her class even though its a liveaboard, has an Engle Freezer, and is currently carrying 15 bottle of rum, 20 liters of cranberry-mango juice, 150 movies, and 100 CDs. Chuck is originally from Port Whittier but now calls Mazatlan his home.