Puerto Vallarta, Mexico - The first round of the Vallarta Cup saw great sailing conditions on Banderas Bay, with breezes between 10 and 15 knots carrying a very diverse racing fleet around the 18 mile course. Primary Race Officer Randy Hough and Deputy Race Officer Jess Coburn did the officiating, with Randy providing his usual lively play-by-play on VHF 63.

In the Performance Cruising Class, Kevin Reath's "Paladin" edged out Ken and Cheryl Sears' "Blue" to earn her first bullet of the series. Blue crossed the finish line a mere 33 seconds ahead of Paladin, after a fierce last leg put Blue ahead of Paladin for the first time in the 18 mile race.

Paladin nearly caught Blue on the short upwind leg to the finish, and after handicap corrections, beat her by only 23 seconds. Long time VYC member Dorr Anderson took 3rd place on "Bright Star." We were happy to see Linda Anne Sweet's "Olas Lindas" out for the first time, taking fourth. We'll be watching Olas Lindas in future races - she looks like a fast boat!

In the Multi-Hull class, the top two positions were taken by Hughes-designed catamarans. Brian Charette's tandem-mast "Cat2Fold" didn't have the waterline to take Richard Spindler's "Profligate," finishing over 20 minutes behind in corrected time. The race committee was overheard saying of Cat2Fold, "With those two sails out like that, I don't know whether she is on port or starboard tack!" Brian and crew did a great job in their first VYC race. Third place was taken by Ken and Felecia Persson's "4ourPlay."

In the Heavy Cruising Fleet, Merle McAssey's "Kenta Anae" was first over the line and first on corrected time, winning against "Rapture" and Tom Jones' "Charissa." It was clear that the entire fleet had a great day on the water.

The next round of the Vallarta Cup is Saturday, January 14. Registrations are still open for individual races or the rest of the series and those who just want to come out for the day and sail around the course are welcome.

The annual Vallarta Cup racing series kicked off on January 7th and continues every Saturday in January. Now in it's 7th year, the new and improved Vallarta Cup is a series of Saturday races designed for the boats of Banderas Bay, with classes for racing boats and cruising boats alike. Courses are designed to give cruising boats a chance to try out those nice reaching sails, and includes a fun class for those who just want to go out for a fun afternoon sail in company around beautiful Banderas Bay.

Races will be held January 14th, 21st, and 28th, with an awards party at the Vallarta Yacht Club February 4th. Come out and join your neighbors and friends for a great time on the water.

About the Vallarta Yacht Club:
The Vallarta Yacht Club is a non-profit, member-owned, private club with social, nautical and community objectives. It has over 500 members and is located in Nuevo Vallarta in the heart of the Riviera Nayarit adjacent to Paradise Village Marina. The club is in its 6th year and is the fastest growing yacht club in Mexico. In addition to the Regatta de Revolution, other signature events include the WesMex Regatta, the Banderas Bay Regatta, the San Diego / Vallarta Yacht Club Races, the Great Chili Cook off, the Vallarta Art and Wine Festival, the Jamm'n with Tom Coster Jazz Nights, and much more. Other significant events included hosting the 2007 J24 Worlds Championship and the Optimist North American Championship (OPTINAM 2997). For more information about the club and upcoming events, go to VallartaYachtClub.org.