Mexico Warms Winter With Banderas Bay Regatta and Other Race Events

While we’ve been watching the winter rains fall, Mexico has turned on the heat with its annual winter racing regattas. Last month they kicked off with the Vallarta Cup on January 13–14 and 27–28. Fifteen boats competed across three divisions: Multihull, Cruising, and Performance. Charity Palmatier sent us a few photos of the regatta; she was too busy racing to manage more.

“We have been busy having fun down here for sure!” she wrote.

Full Vallarta Cup results are as below:

Next on the schedule is the J/70 regatta, Copa de Mexico, followed by WesMex International Small Boat Regatta, which also serves as qualifier for many of the junior and small-boat sailors, including one 2024 Olympic hopeful, Elena Oetling.

Next month is the Banderas Bay Regatta, held at Riviera Nayarit. This annual race is a favorites for cruisers. We’ve shared many stories of their days of races, parties, and more racing and partying. And that’s not including the “kick-ass beach party/awards ceremony” at the end.