PV11 International Race- One lucky early bird will get a free ride

by Rich Roberts on 11 Mar 2010 Those who wait until the last minute to sign up for sailboat races may want to think twice about the PV11 International Race Series to Puerto Vallarta, presented by Del Rey Yacht Club and Tutima Instrumental Watches.

Like a chance at a total refund of the entry fee for signing up by March 21. One of the early birds' names will be drawn for a refund at the PV11 'Kick-off Event' at DRYC on Sunday, March 21, 2010 at 10:30 a.m. That refund could amount to $725 to $1,075, depending on boat size and entry date. All competitors entering before Oct. 15 will receive a $200 discount.

Three free pre-race seminars on offshore preparations and long-distance sailing will be presented at Del Rey YC beginning on Oct. 14 and continuing through the final weeks leading up to the event.

For those concerned about having enough hands on board, no worries.

Sterling Tallman, a member of the race committee, said, 'If somebody with a boat wants to go, we'll find a crew for them. And if they have crew but not a suitable boat, we know of yachts available for charter.'

As before, the start will be outside the entrance to Marina del Rey and the final finish line will be off the beach in Puerto Vallarta. There will be free docking at Del Rey YC before the race and at the Opequimar Marina in Puerto Vallarta. The new headquarters hotel will be the Marriott on the beach near the marina.

The four-races-in-one format introduced in 2009 with stopover anchorages at Turtle Bay, Santa Maria and San Jose del Cabo proved so popular that it is being regenerated and expanded to go again on Feb. 11, 2011.

Activities such as whale-watching, sightseeing and fun-filled trophy presentations private fiestas will be scheduled at each stopover.

There also may be an option for a non-stop race---and a shot at Magnitude 80's record of 3 days 15 hours 51 minutes 39 seconds set in 2007---depending on the show of interest.

Otherwise, the serious racing will be in the Salsa Roja Division for boats using spinnakers as well as in the Salsa Verde Division for those using asymmetrical spinnakers (Gennakers) or conventional spinnakers without poles.

Also, a unique handicapping system successfully introduced in 2009 will score each boat on its PHRF off-wind course rating computed by actual time sailed---meaning that it's OK to use the engine when the wind drops so far as to endanger missing the fun at the next destination or being late to the next start.

'This Race Series requires more than just making your boat go faster,' said Peggy Redler, the DRYC member who developed the system. 'There are tactics and navigation involved. You need to know how to use GPS, charts, bearings and when not to use your engine. It's a multi-skill game. It's the only way you can have a four-race event when you have to get all the boats to complete one leg in time to start another.'

The system proved out in 2009 when the boats that motored most judiciously placed better overall---and still enjoyed the parties.

All entries may be made online at www.PV11.org