Most boats on the course are about 24 hours behind last year’s record-setting pace. Compared with their 2022 position at this same elapsed time, Rio 100 and BadPak are roughly 200 miles short. Such Fast, a Thursday starter, is about 140 miles short of last year’s Monday morning location.

The 2024 edition of the San Diego to Puerto Vallarta International Yacht Race features a staggered start so the smaller boats can sail their best race and hopefully finish within a day or two of the larger, presumably faster boats.

With the Thursday starters from division ORR 6 sailing about 140nm on their initial 24 hours down the course, Friday saw divisions ORR 5 and ORR 4 start in what amounted to a ‘fair’ breeze. While the forecasts called for mostly calm with some models even suggesting a southeast wind (which would mean upwind sailing) a modest 5-8 kts from the west showed up in the harbor to move both fleets smartly out of San Diego harbor and into a building westerly for the rest of their run for the day. 

The biennial San Diego to Puerto Vallarta International Yacht Race started in 1953, and returns for the 37th running February 22 - March 1, 2024. Sailors have been racing to the Mexican mainland for decades in San Diego Yacht Club’s signature offshore race for the on-water adventure and competition, and the tropical winter weather awaiting them in PV. Twenty two boats are set to compete in this year’s 1000nm race from the start line in San Diego Bay to the entrance of Banderas Bay in Puerto Vallarta, Mexico.

The race officially begins Thursday, February 22 with Class 6 boats Blackwing (Grand Soleil 44 Race) and Such Fast (1D35) squaring off as the first two starters of the race. These two will get a 24 hour and 48 hour head start over the rest of the fleet starting on Friday and Saturday. In 2022, the Thursday starters remained ahead of the later starters for the first three days of racing before the bigger and faster boats caught them at just past the halfway mark of the race. David Garman is racing his 1D35 Such Fast out of Seattle in his third straight PV Race, eager to escape the winter weather for warmer San Diego and tropical conditions in PV. Garman’s adventure won’t stop after the PV Race. He’ll be competing in MEXORC in Banderas Bay before solo sailing his boat up the Gulf of California for a few weeks.

The San Diego Yacht Club (SDYC) is thrilled to announce the upcoming 37th edition of the Puerto Vallarta Race, a biennial international offshore yacht race, set to take place from February 22 to March 1, 2024. With a rich history dating back to 1953, the race has evolved into a premier event attracting the best offshore sailors, featuring a challenging 1,000 nautical mile course from San Diego, CA to the vibrant shores of Puerto Vallarta, Mexico.

US Sailing is working on the 2024 ORR Rating application system. For those racing earlier 2024 events like the SDYC Islands Race and Puerto Vallarta Race, you're welcome to use the currently available application form for renewals or new boat applications. The form will be the same next year, just a more streamlined process.

See the "Apply for 2023 ORR Certificate" button here https://www.ussailing.org/competition/offshore/orr/#applications.

If there are any boats racing in the PV Race needing insurance please contact Romeo Villarreal. Romeo has participated in the PV Race and other local offshore events and can assist with the changing dynamics of offshore race boat insurance.

Share the knowledge - invite your team - the more the afterguard, speed team and crew are involved - the better. You will learn about:

• preparation
• race strategy (PV, Baja & Islands Race)
• pre-race weather study
• sailing team communication
• safety considerations
• in-race optimal routing and tactics
• satellite data techniques
• and much more

For Reservations, contact: ventas@flamingohotels.com.mx

Prices include: Standard room, tax, breakfast buffet, Wifi in rooms and hotel grounds.

Bookings for this Room Block available until January 30, 2024. Prices per night:

SINGLE ROOM: $108
DOUBLE ROOM: $116
TRIPLE ROOM: $141
QUAD ROOM: $168
CHILD (6-12): $30
JUNIOR (13-17): $52