Nuevo Vallarta, Nayarit - Vallarta Yacht Club (VYC) is preparing to host a particular event commemorating the 10th anniversary of the Signature Regatta WesMex. Scheduled to take place March 19-22 at the VYC in Nuevo Vallarta, this event typically attracts the best sailors from all over Mexico and other countries as far away as Europe and Australia.

WesMex is also the largest of the four main regattas of the Mexican Sailing Racing Circuit, as this regatta is a qualifier to select the Mexican Sailing team to represent the country in various International Competitions throughout the year.

Banderas Bay is recognized for being a prime venue for sailing. The wind and weather conditions are ideal to the sport of sailing which guarantees the success of a Regatta. Vallarta Yacht Club has been hosting world class regattas, such as the J24 Worlds Championship in 2007, the Pan American Games, 2011 and the North American Optimist Championship in 2007 and again in 2014.

Boat Classes competing this year are Optimist, Lasers (Standard, Radial and 4.7), sail boards (RSX and Techno 293), the 420 Class 2-person crew collegiate standard and, for the first time, the rapidly growing J70 fleet with crews of 4 - 5 persons. So far we are expecting over 300 competitors who will fill the waters of Banderas Bay with color and passion.

Optimist sailing teaches the foundations and the discipline of the sport of sailing to girls and boys from 7 to 15 years of age. The Optimist boat was designed in 1947 and since has been the biggest youth racing class in the world.

Most of the current International Champions, including Mexican Olympic Sailor, Tania Elias Calles, started as an Opti sailor. After age 15, competitors generally move into the Laser class in its different variants. Laser sailing takes sailing to a peak level, being a much faster and more competitive boat, with a worldwide fleet or over 200,000 boats sailed by top competitive athletes in a global international tour, including the Olympic Games.

The popular university C420 boat class has been recently adopted by the Mexican Naval Academy and is being used as a training boat for racing and navigation skills. The C420 is a two person boat in which team work and synchronicity becomes a very important element of sailing this vessel, just as any larger boat.

The RSX and Techno 293 boards are high performance windsurf boards that are designed to work well in winds up to 35 knots and require impressive athletic performance and endurance from the sailor. The J70 boat is currently the fastest growing class in all of North America.

Constantly stepping ahead and caring about our environment, Copa WesMex is registered as a Clean Regatta, under the best practice recommendations, Clean Regatta Program of the International Association Sailors for the Sea. The Purpose is to achieve an eco-friendly event where no traces are left behind.

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 the fastest growing yacht club in Mexico. In addition to the WesMex Regatta, other signature events include the Regatta de Revolution, the Banderas Bay Regatta, the San Diego / Vallarta Yacht Club Races, the Great Chili Cook off, the Vallarta Art and Wine Festival, and much more. For more information about the club and upcoming events, go to VallartaYachtClub.org.