San Diego Yacht Club prepares for the 37th running of the Biennial Puerto Vallarta Race
by San Diego Yacht Club 24 Jan 2024 16:34 PST
February 22 - March 1, 2024
2022 Puerto Vallarta Race © Mark Albertazzi
The San Diego Yacht Club (SDYC) is thrilled to announce the upcoming 37th edition of the Puerto Vallarta Race, a biennial international offshore yacht race, set to take place from February 22 to March 1, 2024. With a rich history dating back to 1953, the race has evolved into a premier event attracting the best offshore sailors, featuring a challenging 1,000 nautical mile course from San Diego, CA to the vibrant shores of Puerto Vallarta, Mexico.
This prestigious race has become the pinnacle of offshore sailing on the West Coast, serving as the only continuous race to the Mexican mainland. The tradition continues to draw serious competition from the best of the best in offshore sailing. The co-chairs for this year's event, Ben Mitchell and Karen Busch, both seasoned organizers, ensure the seamless execution of this thrilling race, turning it into a well-oiled machine.
As of now, 26 boats have confirmed their participation, promising an exhilarating competition among seasoned sailors and impressive vessels. The entry list and additional race details can be found on the official event website.
The Puerto Vallarta Race has a storied history, originally conceptualized in 1953 by Commodore Ken Baker in collaboration with the Club de Yates de Acapulco. The race covered a grueling 1,430 nautical mile course from San Diego to Acapulco, taking up to 14 days for yachts of that era to complete. In 1998, the race's finish was relocated to the beautiful Banderas Bay, transforming it into a 1,000 nautical mile race. The move proved fortuitous, as Roy P. Disney's Pyewacket set a monohull course record, completing the course in just 3 days, 21 hours, 55 minutes, and 36 seconds.
Pyewacket set another standard for the present-day race, earning First to Finish in 2022 with an elapsed time of 76.73, a monohull course record.
The 2022 edition saw John Raymont on Ker 52 Fast Exit II emerge victorious. Raymont, a veteran of offshore racing, emphasized the importance of skilled teamwork and camaraderie among the crew. As he gears up for his fourth Puerto Vallarta Race, he looks forward to fast reaching into warmer waters and an intense competition with a talented crew of seasoned sailors.
"Offshore racing is a complex, healthy, competitive, high skill sport with addressable risks," explained Raymont. This will be his fourth PV Race with a fantastic core team from the Transpac and other races.
The race kicks off with a Send-Off Mexican Fiesta at the San Diego Yacht Club on February 22, setting the stage for the exciting journey ahead. Following the thrilling offshore competition, an epic awards party awaits participants and their families at the Velas Vallarta on Banderas Bay, where they can unwind, sip tequila at sunset, and relive the memorable week of racing.
For more information on the Notice of Race, regatta registration, competitor lists, and details about San Diego and Puerto Vallarta festivities and logistics, please visit www.pvrace.com.
The 37th Puerto Vallarta Race is proudly sponsored by Marina Vallarta BVG, Tanteo Tequila, Alaskan Airlines, Ullman Sails, Ocean Navigator, Ballast Point Brewing Company, MWU, Flamingo Vallarta Hotel & Marina, and MEXORC. Learn more about our sponsors at www.pvrace.com.