Extravaganza Nautica in Riviera Nayarit RivieraNayarit.com
February 28, 2012

World-class sailing events, longboard and stand up paddle competitions, windsurfing, kitesurfing and volleyball on beautiful beaches: these are just some of the ingredients of "Extravaganza Nautica", Mexico's biggest celebration of sailing and watersports and more than three consecutive weeks of nonstop excitement and fun.

Held every two years, this is the second Extravaganza Nautica in Riviera Nayarit.

The major event during the festival is billed as the Regatta Copa Mexico 2012 Edicion Olímpica (Regatta Mexico Cup 2012 Olympic Edition), March 2-19, which includes seven sailing divisions: J24, Windsurf, Oceanic Race/MEXORC, Kitesurf, 420, Laser and Optimist.

This is referred to as the Olympic Edition because many of the participating athletes are preparing for the London Olympics. A joint effort from the Mexican government and the Mexican Sailing Federation, it is heralded as the most important international sailing event, a competition taking place only every two years. In 2012, events will be hosted at La Cruz de Huanacaxtle's modern Marina Riviera Nayarit and the Vallarta Yacht Club in Nuevo Vallarta.

A new class is joining the Regatta Copa México at Riviera Nayarit this year; this is an Olympic class and was invited to celebrate the upcoming London Games. The Mexican Federation of Sailing will be supporting the 420 competitions, March 12th-14th and these will also feature international judges, which will make this event shine.

At least 20 boats in this class are expected to participate in the 9 races that will be held during the three days of competition, which will take place at the Vallarta Yacht Club in Nuevo Vallarta.

The 420 class sailing vessels are high performance two-seaters that can reach high speeds, as they have a spinnaker and trapeze. Their hulls are very stable and are made with resistant fiberglass. This is undoubtedly the ideal boat for novice sailors who are just past the Optimist Class, which is usually used for children's categories. Today, this is the most widely used sailboat in universities and naval academies around the world.

The Optimist class is one of the most popular to teach sailing to children and to the young ones. On March 16 to 18, the youngest competitors will be able to test their skills.

The Optimist is an international class of sailing boats designed in 1947 for children aged six to fourteen. It quickly became the preferred boat to teach sailing, as it's a simple, stable, and competitive boat. The number of existing units around the world exceeds 250,000 and more than 100 countries are represented at the International Optimist Dinghy Association.

Clark Mills designed the Optimist in 1947, and the original design had its origins in a popular boat whose shape resembled a soap box used by many children in Clearwater, Florida.

Each year, the Vallarta Yacht Club in Nuevo Vallarta, Riviera Nayarit is home to the Regatta Wesmex, which brings together the best competitors in this category throughout the Americas. Just like in 2010, the competition is being offering in addition to the Mexico Cup.

Because the races take place on open water, these are the suggested times for the public to view them from the public jetty at the entrance to Nuevo Vallarta Beach South:
• 11:00 am – 12:00 pm Sailboat departures
• 4:00 pm – 6:00 pm Sailboat arrivals
 

Good wind currents, a challenging swell and wonderful landscapes: Riviera Nayarit is the ideal destination to practice the most innovative water sport, Kitesurfing, in a series of competitions that will be held March 10-17, during the Regatta Copa México Olympic Edition.

The competition is expecting to have 50 competitors, including professionals and amateurs from over 10 countries, as well as the Top 15 in the World Ranking and the 2009 World Champion, Sean Farley Gomez, the 2010 World Champion Adam Koch and the 2011 World Champion Johnny Heineken.

Saturday, March 10, will begin with a downwind from La Cruz de Huanacaxtle to Bucerias, and international kiteboard regattas will take place from Sunday, March 11, to Saturday, March 17, with at least four daily races, according to the International Kiteboarding Association (IKA) and the ISAF current regulations.

On Sunday, March 18, and on Monday, March 19, there will be a freestyle event with 60 additional competitors.

Stunts in the freestyle category may be visible at times from the coastline on the beaches of Bucerias.

Toward the end of the month the International Bahia de Banderas Regatta, March 20-24, celebrates its 20th anniversary in 2012 with an anticipated record number of competing coastal and off-shore yachts.

Designed to be fun but competitive, the event also features nightly entertainment with live music. Raising funds for a good cause, it is the signature event of the Vallarta Yacht Club.

Extravaganza Nautica will excite spectators with other top events. They can enjoy watching kitesurfing and windsurfing from a close range vantage point on the beaches in Bucerias. And, beyond the water sports, the festival is timed to coincide with whale watching season, one of the most breathtaking and memorable travel experiences in the world.

"Come for one event or stay for them all, Extravaganza Nautica is a great reason to vacation in Mexico's most glamorous and exciting playground at the perfect time of year," said Marc Murphy, Managing Director of the Riviera Nayarit Convention and Visitors Bureau.

About Riviera Nayarit
Mexico's newest destination, Riviera Nayarit, stretches along 192 miles of pristine Pacific coast framed by the majestic Sierra Madre Mountains just ten minutes north of accessible Puerto Vallarta International Airport. The region extends along the entire coast of the Pacific state of Nayarit including the resorts of Nuevo Vallarta, the historic colonial town of San Blas, exclusive Punta Mita, picturesque fishing villages, miles of serene beaches and spectacular Banderas Bay. Riviera Nayarit offers countless activities, such as: PGA golf courses, luxury spas, whale watching, turtle release, zip lining, surfing, bird watching, international cuisine, and the local artwork from the traditional Huichol tribe. The region attracts and satisfies vacationers of all tastes and budgets with its wide range of accommodations including chic luxury resorts, eco-tourism boutique hotels and quaint B&B inns.

  Learn about Vallarta Yacht Club