2016 FMV Cup - Banderas Bay Regatta - Opening ceremony

by Panos Marinopoulos on 11 Mar 2016 2016 FMV Cup - Banderas Bay Regatta - The 24 year old Banderas Bay Regatta is an unusual yacht race. It's designed to be a fun race for cruising boats. These are large boats that are strong enough to take a couple or a small family on long ocean voyages, such as from Vancouver to Puerto Vallarta or Mexico to France.

The opening event was on the eighth of March, featuring performers from Cirque du Soleil an amazing show for the sailors and tourists of Riviera Nayarit. An enthusiastic moment before one of the best races of Banderas Bay.

Yesterday it was the practice day with 26 boats participating. Boats will race in several different classes, based on the size and speed of the boats, so competitors will be sailing against similar boats. There will be probably two classes of 'performance cruisers', two classes of regular, traditional cruisers and one class of multihull boats.

Boats' lengths vary from 30 feet to 52 feet. Competitors come from Canada (three boats), Mexico (10 boats) and the United States (13 boats). Competitors from Mexico are coming from Jalisco, Nayarit, Sinaloa and the sunny days are expected with winds between 10 and 18 knots. The parade of boats heading to the start line of the first day of racing is a long-standing BBR tradition. While the competitors are out on the race course, spectators can only easily see them with binoculars.

The Boat Parade is the best chance for them to see the competing boats up close and to let the skippers and crew hear their cheers of encouragement. All boats registered for the Regatta are encouraged to be a part of this tradition.