Cost can be as little as $800 per person plus air fare but depends how many people and the kind of boat.  Call Bob Diamond at Spinnaker for a quote. Unlike other trips, participants will be doing this one without supervision from Bob.

Spinnaker provides bareboats and crewed yachts at these and other locations in the South Pacific, Caribbean, Mediterranean and Indian Ocean.  Join us on any of our group cruises or let us help you book your own private cruise with Sunsail, Sun Yachts, Footloose, or The Moorings.

For more info, Contact Bob 650 363 1390 or e-mail us

December is a wonderful time to be sailing in The Sea of Cortez. The summer heat has moderated to the most comfortable temperature for both air and water. The scenery is spectacular and the sea life is amazing.

It's a great way to get out for some fun competition and see what it's like sailing in a wonderful cruise location.

The Boats
Cortez Cup race week takes place on the same 40 to 50 foot Beneteau yachts that The Moorings uses for bareboat chartering.  These boats are designed primarily for comfort rather than racing performance but, due to the similarity of the boats, we'll be able to have great competition anyway.

There is a handicapping system to make it possible for the boats of different size to compete with each other.  This is a "time on time" system that gives the smaller (slower) boats a certain number of seconds off for
each minute of racing.  This way, the competition will be as fair and fun as possible.

Unlike other Spinnaker.vacations, this one isn't supervised by Bob Diamond. Participants must get their own crews together and Bob will help with the arrangements.

Dining
The Moorings provides  a full provision package and we'll have barbecue grills set up at at least one of the beach parties. Each boat is equipped with a complete galley and a transom barbecue grill as well.  Everybody
helps out with the cooking and the cleaning up.

Diving & Snorkeling in Mexico
The Sea of Cortez has beautifully clear water with an amazing variety of sea life.  Besides racing, we'll have some time for beach-combing and snorkeling. During the lay day (probably on Thursday), there's time to go scuba diving.

Snorkeling equipment is provided with the boats and scuba equipment is provided by the dive company.  The dive boat will come out to pick up divers at our anchorage at Isla San Francisco and take them to the dive site.  In 1997 we got to dive with the sea lions.  Juvenile sea lions played and cavorted with us under the water.

This is one of the best places for enjoying natural beauty both above and below the water.

Suggested Itinerary
                  9 days sailling

Sunday, December 5:   Leave San Francisco on a mid morning flight to Los Angeles for the Aero California flight to La Paz, Mexico.  Arrive at Marina Palmira where the Moorings staff will host a welcome cocktail party.

Monday, December 6: Breakfast, then chart and boat briefings. Check out the boats and put away the provisions. We'll get a little sailing practice and drop the hook at Bahia Balandra for a beach party.  The overnight anchorage is nearby at Lobos Cove.

Tuesday, December 7: Race #1 starts at Roca Lobos and finishes 12 miles away at Isla Ballena near Isla Del Espiritu Santo.  We'll anchor at Partida and have a beach BBQ.

Wednesday, December 8: Race #2 starts at Los Islotes, just north of Isla Partida and finishes at Isla San Francisco, about 18 miles to the north.  Dinner aboard the yachts.

Thursday, December 9: This is a day off from racing for exploring,  snorkeling, scuba diving, rest and relaxation.  We'll stay the night at Isla San Francisco for a chili cook-off and beach party.

Friday, December 10: Race #3 starts at Isla San Francisco and finishes back at Isla Partida after rounding a mark at Isla San Jose.  Dinner aboard the yachts at Ensenada Grande.

Saturday, December 11: Race #4 starts at Isla Partida and finishes at Lobos light.  If there's light wind, these courses can be shortened.  Continue on to the Moorings base for the awards celebration and dinner in La Paz.

Sunday, December 12: Officially the Cortez Cup is over but an extra day can be booked for free time to explore and shop in La Paz or go on a full day scuba diving trip. Dinner in town.

Monday, December 13: (optional)
Breakfast, then taxi to the airport for the flight home.  Arrive in San Francisco in mid-afternoon

There are four race days organized by The Moorings within a six day charter period. When not racing, contestants can do cruising activities such as snorkeling, diving, beach-combing and  kayaking. There is also a beach party and barbecue hosted by The Moorings along the sailing route which consists of the waters from La Paz to the fishing village of San Evaristo about 50 miles northward.

The Cortez Cup Regatta was started by The Moorings in 1996 as a way to get sailing schools and charter companies out together for fun and racing with the emphasis on the fun.  The one-week event takes place at the Moorings charter base in La Paz, Baja California near the southern end of the Gulf of California.