Event· Nuevo Vallarta· Mexico
Banderas Bay Regatta
20° 41.5′ N · 105° 17.6′ W · approximate
More than thirty years of 'fun cruiser racing' on one of the best flat-water thermal venues anywhere: three days of racing, a costume boat parade and the famous Blender Awards for boats more committed to margaritas than to boatspeed. Whales regularly join the course.
Practical
Coordinate is the Vallarta Yacht Club / Paradise Village area (approx). Run by the Vallarta Yacht Club each March; the 33rd edition ran March 17 to 21, 2026 (welcome reception, boat parade, three race days), with Margarita and Cheeseburger (cruising), Flip Flop (multihull) and Pirate (performance) divisions. Early-bird sign-up closed February 15 in 2026. Racing area runs from La Cruz south to the Puerto Vallarta sea buoy; starts usually off the Marival or Flamingos resorts in 20 to 60 ft. Paradise Village Marina offers discounted slips during the regatta. Notice of Race and Sailing Instructions on banderasbayregatta.com.
Best for
Racing your cruising boat with the whole fleet
Season
Mid-to-late March
Nearby
- Vallarta Yacht ClubRight here
- Vallarta Cup, WesMex and MEXORC (Banderas Bay Racing Season)0.1 NM away
- Marina Nuevo Vallarta0.2 NM away
- Nuevo Vallarta Port Captain (International Zarpe)0.2 NM away
- Paradise Village Marina (Nuevo Vallarta)0.4 NM away
- Paradise Village / Nuevo Vallarta Outside Anchorage0.9 NM away
- Licenciado Gustavo Díaz Ordaz International Airport (PVR)2.3 NM away
- Afternoon Sea Breeze (Banderas Bay)2.7 NM away