Blue Water Rally sails into the sunset

by Nancy Knudsen on 12 Mar 2011 For the last fourteen years, Blue Water Rallies have themselves rallied to the complex task of organising World Circumnavigating Rallies for yachts of all nations.

Conscientious readers will remember that is was the Blue Water Rally that the four Americans had just departed when they were killed by Somali pirates as they made their independent way across the Indian Ocean.

While they were not part of the rally at the time, they were well known to all current members as recent participants, and the cruisers on over 20 yachts, embarked on a cruise that was meant to be a life highlight, found themselves, in Salalah in Oman, at a memorial services for their lost cruising partners.

Just prior to that event, Blue Water Rallies had announced that their forthcoming rally would be cancelled, due to both the piracy situation, which was already worsening, and to the world economic downturn which left cruising unaffordable for many.

Now, sadly we have received the following formal notification:

'It is with great regret that Blue Water Rallies Limited announces that the Company will cease trading in its current form on 30 April 2011 at the end of its current Rally.

Since its formation in 1997, Blue Water Rallies have organised eight world rallies and take great pride in having enabled over 200 owners and hundreds of crew members to realise their dream of a circumnavigation.

The current economic downturn and a dramatic rise in piracy in the Indian Ocean (which shows little prospect of resolution) however, have led us to make this disappointing, but we feel realistic, decision. '

Vale Blue Water Rallies, and on behalf of all the cruisers who benefited from the organisation by the great experiences, conviviality and life long friendships that are often formed during rallies, thank you.