Nuevo Vallarta, Mexico - Everything is ready for the XXVI Annual Banderas Bay Regatta, scheduled to take place March 20 through 24, 2018 at the beautiful Paradise Village Hotel and Marina in Nuevo Vallarta. What started out as a modest annual regatta has become the premier sailing event on the West Coast of Mexico drawing 40-60 boats each year.

The Vallarta Yacht Club will be Race Headquarters for all On- and Off-Shore events. There will be lots of fun, food, and entertainment for sailors and landlubbers alike.

The fun begins on March 20th at 7:00 pm with a Mexican Fiesta at the Vallarta Yacht Club featuring a delicious Mexican food buffet, live music and lots of fun. This event is open to everyone, even those who are not participants of the Regatta.

The public is invited to join in the fun at the traditional boat parade scheduled to begin at 11:30 am on Wednesday, March 21st in the Nuevo Vallarta Channel, where each boat will be introduced along with its crew. This is the only chance for spectators on shore to see the BBR competitors up close before they head out to the Bay to begin racing with their boats and crew.

Each boat will pass before a reviewing stand where an announcer will introduce each boat and crew, adding colorful commentary about the skipper and crew, as well as interesting history of the boat. After the "Desfile de Barcos," boats will head out to an area set up as a practice start line consisting of the Committee Boat and a start mark, so that competitors can get a feeling for the start signals and routines, during the "Start Your Heart Out" practice race from 1-5 pm.

BBR XXVI Racing Day 1 starts at 1:00 pm on Thursday, March 22, and the public is invited to experience the thrill of watching nine categories of yachts and sailboats from around the world compete for trophies. And, since the prime objective of the Banderas Bay Regatta is to have fun, after the races, sailors and non-sailors alike are invited to enjoy an Italian dinner and live music by the Rhythm Roosters at the Vallarta Yacht Club's Open House from 6-10 pm.

On Friday, March 23 the fun continues at 1:00 pm as all categories of yachts and sailboats join in the 2nd race across Banderas Bay, in hopes of being the first to reach the finish line and another night of fun and fraternization at the Vallarta Yacht Club. Everyone is invited to come to the VYC's Open House to enjoy live music by The Expirals and tasty seafood from 5-10 pm.

The third and final day of Regatta revelry begins at 1:00 pm on Saturday the 24th as all classes compete in the final race across Banderas Bay. Topping off the festivities an Awards Night and Beach Party will be held for Regatta participants at the Paradise Village Resort beach, giving sailors the opportunity to get all "decked-out" for a of night dining and dancing to live music by Gypsy Rumba from 7-10 pm.

The 2018 Banderas Bay Regatta will offer lots of fun, food, and entertainment for everyone - whether you are racing or not - so call the yacht club at (322) 297-2222 or visit BanderasBayRegatta.com for more information about this exciting event.