Hobie North Americans in Sea of Cortez

The 2016 North American Championships for the Hobie 16 and 18 classes will be held off the beach in Puerto Peñasco, Mexico. Sailors from all over North America, from Guatemala to Puerto Rico to Canada, will compete in this international five day regatta from October 10th to 14th.

Hosted by the Arizona Hobie fleets – Fleet 514 in Tucson and Fleet 66 in Phoenix – the venue is home of Hobie racing for Arizona racers. Both fleets have been hosting Hobie regattas in Puerto Peñsaco for the last 30 years. In 2015, over 75 teams competed at the event in Florida and the 2016 event expect to accommodate a similar number.

An easy 4.5 hour drive from both Phoenix and Tucson, the regatta site is just an hour south of the border. A working port, this small Mexican fishing village boasts warm water, consistent winds, 350 days of sunshine, a sheltered harbor, wonderful downtown and a beautiful sandy beach. The racecourse is in the Sea of Cortez off of Sandy Beach near Playa Bonita.

Leading up to the championship, Fleet 66 will host the Cinco de Mayo regatta April 30th/May 1st and Fleet 514 will host their Piñata Regatta October 8-9, the weekend before the Championship. Both regattas consistently have over 25 boats each year, and have hosted 100+ boat regattas in the past.

All levels of lodging, from tent camping and RV hookups at the Playa Bonita RV Park, to hotel rooms at the Playa Bonita Resort, to deluxe condominiums, are within walking distance of the regatta venue. There are multiple food options within walking distance, and many more restaurants and shopping opportunities just a short 5 minute drive into town. For the non-sailors, there is plenty to do including shopping, fishing, four-wheeling, jet-skiing, or a cold Tecate on the beach.

Event website – Facebook