Outreach: If you know a young person who would benefit from our junior sailing program, please share the program information with them and their parents, and encourage them to get in touch with us.
If you're part of a service club (i.e. Rotary Club), we will gladly present our program to your membership.
Volunteer: If you have spare time and wish to assist with activities on the water, maintenance, or administration, please contact the Junior Sailing Program Director, Bart Goodell.
Donations: Over 50% of our program reaches children who otherwise would not be able to participate. Donations are crucial to making our scholarship program possible. Here's how you can donate:
DONATE ;
Individual cash donations to fund scholarships, purchase boats and equipment, and cover the costs for student transportation and accommodation during out-of-town regattas.
Consider becoming a mentor by sponsoring a student's program costs. You can follow their progress, share their achievements, and provide support, much like a Sailing "Big Sister or Brother" Program.
Thank you for your support.
Bart
Bart Goodell
Director, Junior Sailing Program
jrsailingprogram@vallartayachtclub.org
+52 322 297 2222
For over 20 years, Vallarta Yacht Club hosted world class racing on one of the best sailing venues in the world, and has been the home-away-from-home for cruisers.
Banderas Bay is known globally for its consistent and reliable thermal winds. VYC is proud to have hosted sail racing on Banderas Bay at the highest level in the sport, while at also welcoming more relaxed cruiser racing and cruises in company.
For those who love cruising, Banderas Bay has many excellent cruising destinations to explore within the bay, as well as being a perfect jumping-off point for cruising the Mexican west coast. The bay is home to a great variety of ocean life, including turtles, dolphins ocean mantas and whales. Outside of the bay, the Sea of Cortez, Chamela Bay, Tenacatita, Barra de Navidad, and Zihuatanejo at popular cruising destinations. Many cruising sailors use Banderas Bay as a staging point for longer voyages, including the west coast of Central America, Panama, and the South Pacific.
The club's two Signature Events, the International Banderas Bay Regatta and WesMex International Small Boat Regatta draw top sailors from Mexico and the world, and are highlights of the annual sailing calendar. The bay's most popular sailing season is November to May, making it an ideal destination for sailors from the north who want to get out of the cold weather. The club also hosts monthly small boat regattas and weekly “beer can” races. Over the years, VYC has hosted various national and international championships, including several national, continental, and world championships. In 2011 the club was honored to host the sailing events for Pan American Games.
Whether you're competing in a major regatta or cruising along the beautiful coastline, Vallarta Yacht Club offers members the opportunity to not only participate in events, but also volunteer as on-the-water support. As an on-the-water support volunteer, you get front row seats to sailboat racing in one of the best sail racing venues on the planet.
VYC SIGNATURE EVENTS
WESMEX INTERNATIONAL SMALL BOAT REGATTA
Since it's inception over 15 years ago, the WesMex International Small Boat regatta has consistently been the largest and most competitive small boat event in on the Mexican Sailing Calendar. The event always includes Optimist and ILCA dinghies, and frequently includes classes like C420, Hobie 16, iQFoil and several others. The best of the best have sailed in WesMex, which serves as a Mexican qualifier event for national, continental, and world championships.
You'll find out more about WesMex, and how to participate as a competitor, or a volunteer, on the event website at https://www.wesmexretatta.org.
REGATA INTERNACIONAL BAHIA DE BANDERAS
For over 30 years, the Banderas Bay Regatta has been the premier cruiser regatta in Mexico. Focused on fun cruiser racing, the event is known not only for great races around beautiful Banderas Bay, but also for great after-race parties. The event includes a wide variety of racing classes, from racing boats to cruising boats, and from Hobie 16s to large traditional schooners. The event starts with parade of decorated boats, and finishes with a beach party that is always memorable. Event success is measured in smiles!
The motto of Banderas Bay Regatta is "They had a party and a yacht race broke out!". Find out more at https://www.banderasbayregatta.com.
OTHER REGATTAS AND CRUISE-OUTS
Dear Members and Guests,
Since its establishment in 2002, the Vallarta Yacht Club has evolved into a premier member-owned and operated yachting and social club serving the Banderas Bay Area community. From its humble beginnings, VYC has expanded to over 200 members from around the globe.
Our mission to foster a love for life on the water has led to the development of a diverse range of programs. These include a junior sailing program with participants competing at national, international, and Olympic levels, the Vallarta Sailing Foundation dedicated to charitable causes, and our popular VYC Junior Sailing Summer Camp. We proudly host and organize national and international sailing events, including the J24 World Championships, J70 North American Championships, and the WesMex International Small Boat Regatta.
In 2023, VYC relocated to a larger venue within Paradise Village Marina, enhancing our facilities. Our Picante Grill has quickly become a favorite spot for members and their guests. VYC offers a range of activities from game and movie nights to fundraisers and fiestas.
The growth and success of our club over the past two decades is a testament to the active involvement of our members without whom VYC would not be the dynamic club that it is today.
Looking forward to seeing you at the Club!
Warm regards,
Randy
Randy Hough, Commodore, Vallarta Yacht Club
commodore@vallartayachtclub.org
