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 News from Around Banderas Bay | May 2006 
Marina Del Ray to Puerto Vallarta now 4 Races in 1
 Rich Roberts - bymnews.com
| | Race entry packets for "four races in one" are available at the new race Web site at www.pv07.com. |
Race entry packets for "four races in one" - Del Rey Yacht Club's new format for its 19th biennial International Yacht Race from Marina del Rey to Puerto Vallarta next February - are available online on the new race Web site at www.pv07.com.
The longest and oldest enduring race to Mexico's mainland, with continuing sponsorship from Corum, will incorporate the scope of several other popular races to Mexico by marking the approximate finishing points of those shorter races with navigational “crossing lines.” Without stopping, the boats' times will be scored automatically by signals to shore from transponders mounted on the stern pulpits.
The segments will be Marina del Rey to Ensenada (159 nautical miles), Ensenada to Cabo San Lucas (669) and Cabo San Lucas to Punta Mita at the entrance to Banderas Bay (280). Prizes will be awarded in Puerto Vallarta to the boats with the best corrected handicap times at each crossing line.
From Punta Mita the boats will continue the final 17 miles into the bay to complete the race off the beach in front of the Westin Regina Hotel for a total of 1,125 nautical miles. The traditional trophies and Corum watches will be awarded to the top overall finishers.
Race chairman David Ross said, "This continues Del Rey Yacht Club’s tradition of innovation. The 2007 Puerto Vallarta Race will combine the best of all Mexican Races in one."
The crossing lines will be positioned perpendicular to the rhumb line course and far enough offshore that tactical navigation is not compromised. The Ensenada and Cabo San Lucas crossing lines will extend 70 miles out to sea.
Doug Baker, the first finisher last year sailing his Magnitude 80 from Long Beach, said the innovation could boost the racers' incentive for the earlier stages of the race before it reaches the trickiest part with the notoriously light and fluky winds inside Banderas Bay.
"You have to be imaginative and creative in organizing races these days," said Baker, who in 2005 missed by three hours the record of 4 days 23 hours 4 seconds set by Dick and Camille Daniels' MacGregor 65, Joss, in 1985.
While Racing Division boats will not stop, Salsa Division competitors also will have transponders to report the time of its two scheduled stops when a boat crosses the finish line of Leg 1 at the north end of Cedros Island and the finish line of Leg 2 abeam of Cabo San Lazaro.
Corum is an independent, family owned company producing high-quality and prestigious Swiss watches since 1955. The Admiral's Cup Trophy 41, with a 41mm stainless steel case and nautical pennants instead of numerals to indicate the hours, was just introduced by Corum last year. More information at www.pv07.com
Del Rey Yacht Club www.dryc.org |
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