(San Diego, CA)- Seemingly, it’s a simple race. After starting off San
Diego, it’s “Baja to the left, wind off the stern, and aim for the bar”
in Puerto Vallarta. Well, it can be that simplistic, but never seems
to be. As one crew member wise-cracked about the race, “it’s a bit like
the movie ‘Something Wicked This Way Comes’, you never know when you’re
going to be toasted, but it always happens.” Therein lies the challenge
for many on this race- “because it’s there” and because there have been
tales told of endless days surfing down the Baja Coast with dolphins
frolicking, giant whales breaching like leaping lizards all around you
and brilliant twinkling stars shining from horizon to horizon at night. The 32nd edition of the biennial San Diego to Vallarta International Yacht Race will start off Shelter Island at noon on both Friday, March 14 and Saturday, March 15 (smaller, slower boats first, big fast ones later). Twenty-five entries will embark on the 1,000nm southerly slide toward mariachis, margaritas, and beautiful Puerto Vallarta, Mexico.
The
event starts off with the infamous “Kick-off Party” held at San Diego
YC’s wonderful facilities on Thursday, March 13th. The great partnership
between SDYC and the Mexican Tourism Board continues in 2014 with the
Mexicans hosting of the party! The only J/Team sailing happens to be an all-star crew from Seattle and San Francisco. Don’t count out Fritz Lanzinger’s tenacious Corinthian YC crew aboard the J/125 HAMACHI. They’re sailing in Class 3 starting on Friday, March 14th against two Santa Cruz 50s (including Wayne Zittel’s J/World’s Hula Girl) and a Rogers 46 amongst a slew of other boats. This crew is certainly capable of winning, having chalked up a 2nd overall in the 2013 St Maarten Heineken Regatta last year. Top Guns aboard HAMACHI are Jonathan McKee (yes, one of the famous McKee Brothers you see sailing everywhere) and Trevor Baylis (from San Francisco). For more HAMACHI Sailing team information, please visit their Facebook page For more San Diego Vallarta Race sailing information
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