Marching Into Spring Sailboat Racing

News Flash! PV Race Canceled

The race from San Diego to Puerto Vallarta was scheduled to start on February 26-28. Yesterday, San Diego Yacht Club issued this statement: “Puerto Vallarta is currently experiencing an evolving, unstable, and unpredictable security situation. The US State Department has elevated the travel advisory level to Level 3 — ‘Reconsider Travel’ — and has advised US citizens to shelter in place in the state of Jalisco. Authorities have reported ongoing transportation disruptions, including curtailment of operations on certain toll roads and road blockages affecting travel access to and from Puerto Vallarta.

“Taking into consideration all the information available at this time, the San Diego Yacht Club Board of Directors has made the difficult decision to cancel the 2026 San Diego to Puerto Vallarta International Yacht Race. While we are disappointed to cancel, we intend to offer alternate racing on Friday, February 27; Saturday, February 28; and Sunday, March 1. We plan to host social events, including the traditional send-off party on Thursday, February 26.”

Very quickly following the above announcement from SDYC, NOSA issued the following statement: “In light of recent events in parts of Mexico and the cancellation of the San Diego to Puerto Vallarta race, we have received several inquiries regarding the status of the Newport to Ensenada International Yacht Race scheduled for April 24-26. We want to state clearly: The Newport to Ensenada Race has not been canceled.”

More Regattas South of the Border

Notwithstanding this week’s havoc in Puerto Vallarta, MEXORC is still on for March 7-11 as of this writing. The regatta will be based out of Marina Vallarta. See www.mexorc.com.mx and https://yachtscoring.com/emenu/50484.

Vallarta YC and Paradise Village in Riviera Nayarit will provide the venue for the Banderas Bay Regatta. This is an epic regatta for cruisers (and racers) that we recommend adding to your sailing bucket list. This year’s theme, Tales from Vallartaville, honors Jimmy Buffett. See www.banderasbayregatta.com.

On San Francisco Bay

Berkeley Yacht Club’s Midwinter Series will conclude on March 1 with a Champion of Champions Race. First, second and third-place finishers from the Saturday series and Sunday series can compete this Sunday. To see who’s invited, see the Jibeset page.

Richmond YC’s Big Daddy Regatta on March 7-8 will feature buoy racing on Saturday, a party on Saturday night, and a pursuit race on Sunday. The theme this year is Cherry Blossom Festival.

The Yacht Racing Association will run an introductory race for beginners on Saturday, March 14, “in protected waters.” The race will be the culmination of their Intro to Racing Series, featuring three online seminars. The first was on February 17; two more are coming up in March, on the 4th and 12th. See https://yra.org/into-to-racing-series.

Members of South Beach YC are promoting the inaugural Kasio Cup Regatta that the club will host on March 14-15. See our preview of the new event posted on Monday, and sign up at southbeachyachtclub.org/regatta/4t5QGFH0tb.

New this year, the YRA’s In the Bay Series will kick off with Oakland YC’s Rites of Spring on March 21.

Island YC invites women skippers and their crews to the Sadie Hawkins Race on Sunday, March 22, on the Estuary.

On March 28, the Singlehanded Sailing Society will continue their 2026 season with Round the Rocks.

In Southern California

Cal Poly Maritime and LAYC will host the Port of L.A. Harbor Cup collegiate regatta, to be sailed in Catalina 37s, on March 6-8.

Al Sargent, secretary of ILCA District 24, alerts us to the ILCA North America Masters Midwinters West on San Diego Bay March 6-8. “Coronado YC is a great location,” he notes. “It’s a quick sail to the racecourse, which means more racing. A full-day racing clinic will be held for $100 and will be taught by National and North American Champion, Doug Hart (who’s really quick in the light and lumpy) on Thursday, March 5. Also, this regatta comes with a special surprise for the winners in each fleet — automatic qualification for the Masters World Championships. Click here for more information and to register for Masters Midwinters West!”

Other Laser regattas in SoCal include the California Masters on March 14-15 at Mission Bay YC and the ILCA Midwinters West at Balboa YC in Corona del Mar on March 20-22.

The Etchells West Coast Spring Series will continue with the Etchells Midwinters West on March 27-29. San Diego YC hosts the entire series. See www.sdyc.org/web/pages/etchells-wcss.

Find many more fine and worthy races in our monthly Calendar. The latest edition will come out in the March issue this Friday, February 27. Plan further ahead with the aid of our 2026 Sailing Calendar.