Puerto Vallarta, Mexico - "I’m ready," confidently states Tania Elias Calles, the most prominent Mexican competitor for the sport sailing competitions at the Pan-American Games 2011. Riviera Nayarit is hosting the sail competitions that will take place from October 17 to 23.

Tania Elias Calles, when asked why she moved to Riviera Nayarit in preparation for the most important sports events, the 2011 Pan American Games and the 2012 Olympic Games, said "The conditions in Riviera Nayarit are ideal for sailing. Not only the wind, but also the surf, which creates similar conditions to those found in international competitions.

"There’s also the infrastructure, including modern marinas like the one at Paradise Village, which will be the hosting venue for the Pan-American Games, and Marina Riviera Nayarit at La Cruz de Huanacaxtle, where I’ve been training. There’s a good gym nearby, and there are certified specialists to fix any sailboat; it’s the ideal sailing combo," said the competitor.

The Mexican Sail Federation chose the Vallarta Yacht Club at Marina Paradise Village as the official supporting venue for the Pan-American Games 2011. Competitors will depart from the piers to the waters of Bahía de Banderas.

Spectators will be able to enjoy the departure of competitors around noon from the public entrance to Nuevo Vallarta's south beach, known as Villa 5. The sailboats will be visible upon entering the channel, and when they return ashore, which will be between 3:00 and 5:00 pm, depending on the wind currents.

The navigation circuits will be defined daily according to the wind conditions, so it’s hard to pinpoint in advance which points at the coast will offer a better view of the competitors. Usually the beaches in Bucerías have the best view, and competitors may be visible from there.

What international competitors are saying about their preparation and training trips to Riviera Nayarit:

"We were staying right next to the boats, and we had wind to navigate every single day, as well as warm weather year-round, which we simply don’t have in Spain. The facilities are (close) at hand and really high quality." - Fatima Reyes, Spain

"Two hours after my plane landed, I was already on the water working because I didn’t have to worry about looking for all the services required for my sailboat or about my lodging." - Rob Crane, United States

"Here we can train with a variety of wind and surf conditions, which are good for sailing year-round. Besides, this area offers all the supporting infrastructure." - Chris Dold, Canada