100 days until San Diego Yacht Club's 38th Biennial Puerto Vallarta Race
by San Diego Yacht Club 18 Nov 16:01 NZDT
February 26 - March 6, 2026
Puerto Vallarta Race © Mark Albertazzi
With 100 days left until the 38th biennial San Diego to Puerto Vallarta International Yacht Race, sailors from across the United States are starting to dust off their passports and foul weather gear for the exciting 1000nm offshore trek from Southern California to Mainland Mexico February 26 - March 6, 2026.
17 boats from 4 different states, including California, Louisiana, Nevada, and Wyoming, are currently registered for the 2026 PV Race with a handful more expected to sign up in the upcoming weeks. For those considering signing up for the PV Race, the deadline to register with the standard entry fee is January 9, 2026. Late registration and the applicable fees are available through February 6, 2026.
Greg Dorn and his team will be racing the TP52 Favonius2 in the PV Race. "We are looking forward to the challenging distance and unpredictable conditions this race offers as another test for our team as we continue to upgrade the program. With learnings gleaned from our first season in 2025 (and first Transpac) we are making numerous improvements to the program and look to test those during the PV Race. With practices in November, December and January and our prior experience with the platform we expect to be ready."
The kickoff party for the 2026 Puerto Vallarta Race will be held at San Diego Yacht Club on February 26. Those looking to send the racers off in style can attend the class start celebrations on Shelter Island in San Diego at 1100 on Friday, February 27 and Saturday, February 28. Similar to previous years, expert navigator and PV Race veteran Peter Isler from Marine Weather University, will be providing weather briefings to skippers and navigators on their respective start dates at SDYC. The 2026 PV Race Awards Party celebrating the top teams in classes and overall winners will be held beachfront at the Velas Vallarta Hotel, located less than a mile from the Marina Vallarta, on Friday, March 6.
Regatta Chair, Joanne O'Dea added that she is thrilled to be heading up the effort because she values the camaraderie of the sailing community and the challenge the race offers to participants, from the race preparation prior to send-off through to the awards celebration. With the start a mere 100 days from now, O'Dea enjoys hearing participant feedback and learning about their positive experiences, which drives the SDYC team to create a memorable event.
Sailors and spectators seeking accommodations in Puerto Vallarta can contact the Flamingo Vallarta Hotel & Marina for discounted room rates if booked prior to December 30, 2025. Marina docking will be available upon arrival in Mexico at Marina Vallarta, which is walking distance to hotels and restaurants. Competitors should check in with the Marina Vallarta Harbor Master after arriving at Marina Vallarta. Berthing for registered PV boats finished and/or retired from racing will be provided at Marina Vallarta at a discount. Customs and immigration officials will be available at the marina to welcome sailors into Mexico and expedite the entry process.
After the conclusion of the PV Race, competitors are invited to stay for MEXORC, one of the largest regattas in Latin America located in Banderas Bay, which will be a part of the Nayarit Sailing Week. During Nayarit Sailing Week, over 600 athletes and 280 boats across classes including Optimist, ILCA, iQFoil, J70, and Oceanic are expected to participate in a variety of races located in the Mexican Pacific. The event blends top-level competition with a variety of social gatherings, and will take place from March 7 - 11, 2026 in Riviera Nayarit, Mexico.
Thank you to the 2026 Puerto Vallarta Race sponsors Marine Weather University, Velas Vallarta, Bebemos Tequila, Flamingo Vallarta Hotel, Sailing Supply, and Marina Vallarta for making this signature event possible.
For more information on the 2026 Puerto Vallarta Race, visit pvrace.com.