The most enduring race to mainland Mexico at a distance of some 1,125 nautical miles, the Del Rey Yacht Club's International Yacht Race starts February 16. And it finishes right in front of the Westin Resort & Spa at the newly modernized Opequimar boat yard, which now offers meal service, satellite TV, and computers with high-speed Internet connection, as well as slips right on the channel. Race segments will be Marina del Rey to Ensenada (159 nautical miles), Ensenada to Cabo San Lucas (669 nautical miles), and Cabo San Lucas to Punta Mita at the entrance to Banderas Bay (280 nautical miles).

From Punta Mita the boats continue the final 17 miles to the finish line in Marina Vallarta. Satellite technology will record the exact time each vessel crosses each of these three segments — which are mini races in themselves for those in the Salsa Division, Racing Division boats not stopping until reaching Vallarta. Prizes awarded to the top overall finishers include the traditional trophies and Corum watches. Currently, the record is four days, 23 hours and four seconds achieved by "JOSS," a MacGregor-65 owned by the late Richard Daniels and his wife Camille in 1985.

For more information see www.dryc.org, race entry packets available online at www.pv07.com.