WHAT'S NEW AT VYC

During the months of May and June, the Vallarta Yacht Club hosted the 2022 ILCA World Championship presented by Paradise Village Group. Vallarta Yacht Club, it’s staff, and members did an amazing job of hosting the 3 championships. This year the event included the ILCA 7 Men’s event with 127 competitors, the ILCA 7 Masters with 64 competitors, and the ILCA 6 Masters with 78 competitors in attendance for a total of 269 international athletes. Additionally, the event included 40 dignitaries, Race Officials, and Jury members throughout this time frame.

The early arrivals joined us beginning June 14th and the event ended July 18th. Competitors came from over 50 countries to meet the challenges that Banderas Bay presents, and they were not disappointed. We saw typical conditions during the first event of ILCA 7 Men. As the days went on, conditions warmed up a bit, the humidity increased, and we had our first hurricane threat of the season. By this time, we were into the ILCA 7 Masters and ILCA 6 Masters events and the competitors were happy to just meet up with old friends (literally) and enjoy sailing on the bay in a very friendly but competitive manner.

Paradise Village Group was the presenting sponsor for the entire championship and hosted beach parties, cocktail receptions at the Copan Sky Bar, and awards ceremonies at the Mayapan Restaurant. The Nayarit Tourism Office once again supported the event with the most amazing Huichol trophies for the top competitors.

Kudos go out to Rodolfo and his staff along with the over 35 (or more) volunteers who worked tirelessly for this month-long championship. This was the second time that Vallarta Yacht Club hosted the ILCA World Championships, the first being in 2016. And we all learned once again how gratifying these events can be.

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In 2008, late Commodore John Moore penned an article for the VYC website announcing the establishment of a new Out Station for VYC on Las Animas beach, in the south of Banderas Bay. The El Coral restaurant was selected. Over the past 13 years, the El Coral has been a favorite of many VYC members. Our “Navidad En Playa” beach gatherings have become legendary, with dozens of members and friends heading to Las Animas to enjoy Christmas Day on the beach. Since that day in 2008, the El Coral has proudly flown the VYC burgee. VYC members have donated bocci balls, dominos, kayaks and stand-up paddleboards for use by members when they are at the restaurant, and the El Coral has agreed to give VYC members a 10% discount.

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VYC is a great club with diverse membership. Reasons for joining are as diverse as our membership. 

Here is one member's letter on why he joined. What are your reasons?

Grateful to Be a Member
From Bill Noonan

You know, I’ve been thinking. About Vallarta Yacht Club, to be exact. Cynthia and I have been members since we first arrived on our boat, Crème Brûlée, in 2004. At that time we were happy to find a comfortable, cool place to come, meet new people, relax with a cold beer, and just hang out. And we were really ready to have a place where we felt like we belonged, far away from our home in the Pacific Northwest.

Over that time, the Club has changed, and so have we. The patio tripled in size to become one of the most desirable and pleasant places we know of to spend time, the restaurant fare has improved dramatically, the furniture and décor has been continually upgraded, and the Club has developed an international reputation for being a World Class yacht racing venue. This Club just keeps getting better. And us? We’re 13 years older, we sold the boat, and we’re staying in a condo. What has not changed is how perfect the Club has always been for us.

It’s funny how you can go through life not paying much attention to your many blessings. In this, our thirteenth season in Paradise, we suddenly realized how special Vallarta Yacht Club has been in our lives. The Banderas Bay area has lots to offer in the way of interesting and fun things to do, great restaurants and bars, great shops and markets, endless choices for entertainment, and of course the incomparable Mexican culture. All that in a ridiculously pleasant climate on a beautiful bay surrounded by incredible beaches, with some of most amazing sunsets imaginable. That’s what brought us here in the first place, and what makes us stay around.

But we started to think about the one very special place in this tropical paradise that we have been so lucky to call our own. When we walk through the doors of the Club, we are not only greeted by familiar faces, a pleasant lounge, bar, restaurant and patio; we know we are in OUR place. We are free to listen to music, check our email, read a book, watch the boat traffic, play a game, have a drink, snack or meal, or just hang out quietly by ourselves or with friends. Sure, we have lots of options to go to restaurants that might have better menu selections, faster service, prettier décor, or better location. But we can’t just go there and be – knowing that we are in OUR space. We know that OUR place will always be filled with people who share common interests and values. Some we have known for years. But we also feel comfortable introducing ourselves to other members and guests that we haven’t seen before, knowing they will become new friends. And then there’s the Club’s staff. They only seem to care about whether we are happy, not whether we are buying something. No pressure. Good feeling. Wow.

So this year, more than ever before, we find ourselves feeling very lucky – and proud – to call ourselves members of the Vallarta Yacht Club, truly our home away from home. The Club has been, and still is, a special highlight in our lives.

Want to join us? VYC's half-price initiation offer continues to the end of January.

Want to tell us why you joined VYC? Comment below.{jcomments on}