The comraderie of many teams helping each other with spare parts or tools was evident in order to get everyone through the tedious and anxiety filled process. Globalstar Mexico sponsored the first of many shoreside parties on Thursday night at the Competitors Village set up in front of Vallarta Yacht Club  Regatta Organizing Committee Chair, Peter Wiegandt, welcomed the competitors and provided a presentation explaining the Globalstar tracking system and the "black box" that was to be placed aboard all racing boats to track their positions throughout the week's races.  

By Sunday's practice race, 65 boats made it into the water and out to the race course.  Winds lightened up from the 10-12 knots seen earlier in the week, as did the wave action. Most boats were happy to have crew weighed in, get a practice start and some tuning with other boats.  Sunday evening's Opening Ceremonies brought a wonderful display of Mexican heritage and culture through various native dance performances, presentation of the names of each country represented, and greetings from the governor of the state of Nayarit Ney Gonzalez Sanchez and president of the Mexican Sailing Federation Ralph Nelles.  The ceremonies ended with a bang with fireworks off the marina followed by a beach party sponsored by UBS.