South Pacific Rallies- remote cruising in company

by Lee Mylchreest on 10 May 2011 They just love rallying in the South Pacific, so visiting yachts from the northern hemisphere need to make time during their travels to enjoy cruising in company and sometimes visiting rare places. Time is fast approaching for the fifth Annual Brisbane to Vanuatu Yacht Rally, there's the Louisiades Rally in September and the annual Port2Port (Port Vila in Vanuatu to Port Bundaberg in Australia) is promoting well in advance of their October departure:

Brisbane to Vanuatu:
Supporting Health and Education in Vanuatu, the Brisbane to Vanuatu Rally is departing on Saturday May 14th, with an expected arrival before 28th May at Luganville , Espiritu Santo Northern Vanuatu.

Thirteen yachts are currently registered to depart, ranging in length from 28 ft to 50 ft. A stopover at beautiful Huon and Chesterfield Reef en route to Luganville, Vanuatu is planned.

The celebration of arrival on 28th May will be a fun filled day of amazing experiences, with Banks Islands and Pentecoste Island dancers, String Band and local Island food. The organising body is the Aore Island Yacht Club.

The Rally will then depart for the remote Banks and Torres Islands early June for two to three weeks, a really exotic experience in the more remote and beautiful islands of Vanuatu

For more information contact Dr.Alan Profke. Phone: +61407743771, or email adprofke@bigpond.com

Louisiades Rally:
The fourth Louisiades Rally from Cairns in North Queensland to the Louisiades Archipelago will operate again in September this year. This is an opportunity for yachts to experience some of the South Pacific's most natural untouched islands, lagoons and coral cays and the communities who live on them.

Ideal both for local Australian yachts and for long range cruising yachts, it is an opportunity to be introduced to the remote archipelago in company with an experienced hand - Guy Chester, who has run the first three rallies.

The Louisiades Archipelago is 100 nautical miles east of 'mainland' Papua New Guinea, 520 nautical miles north-east of Cairns. They are truly paradise found, 100 beautiful islands with a friendly people living a very simple life who welcome cruising yachts.

The Louisiades comprise sand cays, lagoon reefs, limestone outcrops (up lifted coral reefs) and continental islands with many safe anchorages. With abundant coral reefs there is snorkelling, diving and fishing galore. The local people are exceptionally welcoming to yachts and will paddle out to welcome yachts and, of course, trade.

The Rally leaves Cairns 17 September 2010, yachts muster a week prior at Yorkeys Knob Boating Club for briefings and preparation. Sail, power, mono and multihull are all welcome.

Further information www.louisiadesrally.com
Contact Guy Chester Phone: +61 (0)7 40558132, mobile: +61 (0) 407 391211 Email: LouisiadesRally@EcoSustainAbility.com

There are also opportunities for crew wanting to join the rally, and currently volunteer places are available and needed to assist in rally management

The Port2Port Rally:

The Bundaberg Cruising Yacht Club is offering a lure to yachts heading for Australia later this year in the form of an attractive subsidy.
If you make Bundaberg your entry port into Australia during October and November 2011 as part of the Port2Port Yacht Rally from Vanuatu to Bundaberg, the club will refund your Australian Quarantine fees, currently at $330 (conditions apply).
The move is designed to bolster support for the already popular Port2Port Yacht Rally, which will also be spread over two months allowng boats to clear in, stay or sail south for the 2011/2012 cyclone season.
The rally consists of cruisers from many nations, many of them circumnavigators who use the rally as a fun way to finish their Pacific crossing, with many children taking part as part of a family adventure.
For further details visit http://www.bcyc.net.au/Port2Port.html!click_here.