La Cruz de Huanacaxtle, Mexico - As part of the Regata Copa Mexico Olympic Edition that is currently in mid-stride in Riviera Nayarit, Mexican President Felipe Calderón helicoptered into town on March 11 to fire the starting shot for the Governor’s Cup and Gold Cup races in the MEXORC portion of the 2012 Regatta.

The Governor’s Cup Regatta, Olympic Edition 2012 comprises yachting regattas in seven classes in the Bahía de Banderas area. It involves the participation of world, Olympic, Pan-American and national yachting champions. A total of 1,150 yachtsmen from 26 countries have registered.

Before firing the shot to start the Mexorc portion of the Regata, which involved 32 sailing vessels from 16 countries traveling 25 nautical miles between Puerto Vallarta and Nuevo Vallarta, President Calderón welcomed the participants on behalf of the Mexican people.

Calderón thanked the competitors and declared that events such as the Regatta Cup are beneficial for the country since they generate employment for thousands of families dedicated to tourism. He concluded by saying, "I wish you all success, good winds and good seas."

Afterwards, the President, accompanied by the Governor of Nayarit, Roberto Sandoval, and his Jalisco counterpart, Emilio González Márquez, watched the competition from aboard the Oceanic category yacht "Sofia" for around four hours.

Back on dry land, the sailing organization presented Calderón with a replica of the Mexico Cup inscribed with the names of the winners, while Nayarit Governor Sandoval presented him with a miniature sailboat decorated with traditional Huichol art.

Later, President Calderón, accompanied by Secretary of the Navy Mariano Francisco Saynez Mendoza, returned to Mexico City to prepare for a Monday morning departure to the state of Tabasco for a working trip.