Last week J World Puerto Vallarta hosted our annual Banderas Bay Clinic aboard our fleet of J/80s.  The three day session immediately precedes our participation in the ever popular Banderas Bay Regatta.  Per usual for winters in the Banderas Bay area, sailing conditions were extraordinary…
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A couple of our J/80s, loving the sun, loving the breeze… |
With a great group of racers joining us, we had a very productive clinic in some ideal conditions.  Boathandling, sail trim, sail handling, strategy, tactics…  and a whole day of starting practice!  Teams were formed, trash was talked, and maybe some margarita-based wagers were placed.  Then is was off to the real races…
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Port tack upwind was a almost square into the waves
making for some challenging conditions |
Teams moved from boat to boat and had a different coach each day. The J/80s raced mostly windward leeward and triangle courses (while many of the cruiser divisions had looonng reachy races).  I know I am beginning to sound like a broken record, but this place is absolutely awesome.  I have been fortunate enough to sail all over the world, and it’s a rare day when the sailing elsewhere rivals the average day in Banderas Bay.  Just look at these shots…  I have a whole camera full of them.  Blue skies, clear water, temperatures just over 80F/26C…  no foulies, no jackets, no long sleeves…  if this isn’t perfect, I can’t imagine what is.
When the spray settled and the last of the sunscreen had been washed off the smiling faces, it was off to the awards dinner, a huge fiesta out on the beach at the Paradise Village resort. Â In order of finish:
1st Place:Â Team Canada was Tom (Sug), Tom (Cookie), and Greg. Â
2nd Place:Â Team Girl Power was Bev, Martha, and Elaine.
3rd Place: Team Co-Ed was Irene, Roger, and Roberta. Â Â
It was great to see how much everyone improved over the course of the week, and we expect great things from this group in the future… Â so watch out if any of them show up on your home waters!
Anyway, that’s what I’ve got for now. Â Only one more moth remaining to get your wintertime blues fix in the land of sunshine. Â