Despite the filter of memory, the early part of the race had less than perfect sailing conditions for most people, with strong headwinds and steep lumpy seas that beat on the fleet during the first 18 hours of the race. At 2:00 Saturday morning, 70 miles south of Galveston and 5 miles west of the rumb line, the lead monohull in the fleet, Bill Zartler's J/130 Bonkers, was forced from the race when the rig went over the side. The rig was cut away and the boat has returned to Lakewood. Allan Garvin's Diva 39, Mystique, was also forced to retire after pulling a chainplate at about 90 miles out.

A number of other boats faced mechanical problems of various types and were forced to retire from the race. However, there was a group of people from at least one of the boats that were determined to get to Veracruz. They took an Americano Bus, $79 and 23 hours one way.

During the middle part of the race, some of the crews on the heavier boats may have been looking back fondly on the early conditions, once the green pallor had gone away and the wind in the North and Central Western Gulf became light and variable.

Relief from the variables came soon enough for most of the fleet in the form of forcasted winds of east and southeast winds at 10-15 knots for Tuesday and Wednesday in the SW Gulf. The forecast came through and got the fleet moving again.

The first boat to finish the Regata de Amigos for the year 2000 was Andy Green's multihull Bird. Bird crossed the finish line at 7:38 Tuesday morning, winning their class and first multihull to finish honors. Bird reported spending a fair amount of time parked in a hole, nothing unusual for this race.

The first monohull to finish was Lee Demerest's Allegro. After handicapping, Allegro finished first in class and first in the PHRF fleet, and was winner of the Carrington Cup. Kekelee II picked up honors as winner of the Cruising fleet.

The Navigators Award for the year 2000 running of the Regata de Amigos went to the Navigator of Sooner, who missed his ETA by only 33 minutes and 22 seconds.