Day Two in Vallartaville: Now It Counts. Got Your Playlist Ready?
Well now, the warm-up laps are over and the shirts have already been judged.
Yesterday gave us the Tales from Vallartaville Boat Parade, Start Your Heart Out, and the weekly Beer Can Rally—a proper opening act with parrots, pirate gear, loud shirts, practice starts, and at least a few crews proving that dignity is optional at Banderas Bay Regatta. Today, though, is a different animal. Thursday, March 19 is BBR Racing Day 1, with racing scheduled from 12:00 PM to 5:00 PM.
Today's course will the Course 5. Our PRO has spoken!
This is the day your racing skills and performance really count. So shake out the sails, tighten up the crew work, and try to look like yesterday’s tropical foolishness was all part of a carefully designed performance plan.
By now, the stories are already beginning to pile up. Somebody nailed the start. Somebody swears they had the lift of the day. Somebody else is still explaining why that one maneuver “would have worked beautifully if everyone had done exactly what I meant instead of what I said.” That, friends, is regatta magic.
And after the first real day of racing, nobody should be heading straight home to behave responsibly.
Tonight it’s the Day 1 After Race Party at Vallarta Yacht Club, starting at 6:00 PM, with live music, good vibes, and a dinner special of Pasta Alfredo or Pomodoro with shrimp or chicken, or Pasta Bolognese, followed by a chocolate brownie for dessert, for $350 MXN.
And this one comes with a little extra salt and lime: Bangity Bob will be at the club tonight, kicking things off at 6:00 PM with Buffett covers and other good stuff, which is about as perfect a soundtrack for Vallartaville as anyone could ask for.
So competitors, come in, cool off, grab some dinner, raise a glass, and enjoy the party. Tell the story about the great start, the bad tack, the lucky puff, the near miss, the perfect lane, or the one that got away. Listen to a few lies from other boats. Nod politely. Tell better lies of your own.
That’s part of the deal here.
Race hard this afternoon. Then come ashore and do the social side of BBR properly—good food, live music, a little Buffett, a few sea stories, and a yacht club full of sailors who are all pretty sure they would have won if not for that one tiny thing.
Day Two in Vallartaville is officially underway.
Go make it worth talking about tonight.
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
Want to see more pictures? Click this link
BBR 2026 Boat Parade: Tales from Vallartaville
This year, BBR’s overall theme is Tales from Vallartaville—and yes, we’re bringing that same island spirit straight to the BBR Boat Parade.
Parrotheads, pirates, beach bums, lost sailors, cheeseburger lovers, and tropical dreamers welcome.
The Banderas Bay Regatta Boat Parade is the grand opening and long-standing tradition that kicks off the event in proper style. It’s the first big chance for competitors, spectators, and fellow sailors to get a look at the fleet, have a laugh, and set the tone for the days ahead.
This year, the parade moves offshore.
Rather than parading through the marina, boats will make their pass by the “Start Your Heart Out” committee boat, stationed in the practice race starting area offshore. As each boat cruises by the judges, crews are encouraged to go all in on the Jimmy Buffett-inspired Vallartaville theme.
That means Parrothead gear, tropical shirts, leis, silly hats, beach bar glamour, and anything else that feels like it sailed out of a Buffett lyric. Extra points in spirit—if not on paper—for crews who bring the full performance: dancing, singing, waving, lounging, grinning, and generally looking like they’d rather be nowhere else on earth.
Boats will be judged on costumes and general crew attitude as they pass by the committee boat. So don’t just decorate the boat—be the vibe.
This is more than a parade. It’s the opening act. The curtain-raiser. The first chance to show the fleet that you understand one important truth: racing is serious business, but BBR knows how to have fun.
While the actual racing will take place farther out where spectators may only catch glimpses, the Boat Parade gives everyone a chance to see the boats and crews up close—or at least as close as offshore allows—and cheer them on as the regatta begins.
So dig out your loudest shirt, your finest fake parrot, your coconut accessories, your Buffett state of mind, and give us your best Tales from Vallartaville interpretation.
Changes in latitudes, changes in attitudes.
See you at Start Your Heart Out!
Fins UP!
Welcome to Banderas Bay Regatta 2026! The theme for this year is "Tales from Vallartaville", in honor of many sailors spiritual leader, Jimmy Buffett. We'll be searcing for that salt shaker while we're having some great parties, some laid back races, and some epic margaritas.
The NOR is posted, the registration is open, and we're all looking forward to seeing you in your favorite Parrothead gear as we party the nights away.
Ready to sign up? Click Here
Want to volunteer as crew? Click Here
See you in March 2026!