It's Fast Sailing in the Banderas Bay Regatta
Mexico's resort city of Puerto Vallarta sits snugly in the curve of Banderas Bay, a wonderful slice of Pacific Ocean that provides water enthusiasts with endless opportunities for outdoor recreation. You might be able to see them from the patio of your villa Puerto Vallarta - happy folks scooting across the water on jet skis, slicing through the waves in sea kayaks and bobbing gently with the help of water wings. Time your visit right, and you might have a chance to see the big boys flying across the bay.
Race Like the Wind
The Banderas Bay Regatta, otherwise known as the Regata Internacional, gets underway in mid-March. Sponsored by the Vallarta Yacht Club, the event is made to order if you have a need for speed on the water. Don't expect to hear the roar of powerful engines, though; this race is for sailors who maneuver cleverly designed racing yachts that rely on wind for power. In a way, you might think of it as the ultimate "green" racing experience, one that combines renewable energy (wind), meticulous design (the yacht), and human skill (those things don't sail themselves) to bring in a winner.
Set up camp on the balcony of your villa Puerto Vallarta with a good binocular or visit the yacht club and spend a day observing the Banderas Bay Regatta. A quick look at the sleek, gleaming yachts and their spiffy crews may suggest that this sport is a high-end activity for folks with plenty of disposable income. That may be the case today, but believe it or not, it originated as a working man's diversion.
Serious Sport
The word "regatta" has a romantic lilt that suggests the sport didn't start in the American heartland. In fact, gondoliers on the Grand Canal of Venice started the custom in the mid 17th century, in a bid to determine who was master of the canal. One British visitor enjoyed the Venice races so much that in the 1770s, she organized an event on the Thames in London, including boat races. That's it - history was made, and so was the regatta tradition.
It has been a common thing for fishing crews to challenge each other to a bit of sport in the "off season"; the winner enjoys a fleeting slice of local glory, then it's back to fishing. Today, the competitors who come to Puerto Vallarta for the Banderas Bay Regatta take their game pretty seriously. If you have sailing and racing experience, you can apply to crew and get a taste of local salt for yourself.