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Report on the Galle , Sri Lanka Stopover - by Tony Diment

Whereas yachts for the past 15 months have had to anchor outside the inner harbour in Galle due to extensive redevelopment inside the harbour, the Blue Water Rally were the first users of the new pontoon facility in the inner harbour. This in itself is only a temporary facility pending the completion of a `marina' within the next year, but it provided the rally with completely secure and comfortable berthing during the 2 week stopover. This security from both the effects of weather and access by the general public provided comfort to everyone who wished to explore Sri Lanka. Having settled into the pontoon berths and sampled the delights of the Rally "beer garden" which had been specially set-up for the Rally together with on-the-spot Immigration, Customs and Port Authority officials and a Rally Office complete with information on excursions most ralliers managed to get away for 4 or 5 days to the tea plantations and mountains of Nuwara Eliya and Kandy. As always the elephant orphanage and the Hill Club proved popular but many people also visited the ancient hill fortress of Sigiriya and the caves of Dambulla further north which they found fantastic.

Special thanks must go to Vinodh de Silva, owner of the Unawatuna Beach Resort, and his extremely helpful staff, particularly Indika who organised tours for many and ensured that there was a twice daily complimentary transit van trip into Galle to visit the old town and banks, market etc.

Having returned to Galle from their trips `up-country', a busy three day programme in Galle kept people on their toes. The Rally brief was held on the 19th January in the ex- Governor of Galle's delightfully colonial residence - the Closenberg Hotel - and this was followed by the Rally children's Christmas Play entitled `Under the Sea'. It was particularly well received especially as great effort had been made to provide customs ( Ben Curtis was `Sebastian the shrimp') and 3 of the children , (Charlotte, Christina and Emma) wrote the play themselves. The play was followed by a Curry lunch and that evening by the Sri Lankan cultural Show at the Unawatuna Beach Resort (UBR). The Tourist Board very kindly provided one of the best dance groups in Sri Lanka to drive down from Colombo and perform to the Rally. This was followed by a `Jungle Barbecue' so it was a full, action packed day.

The next day was the international `Cricket Match' held at a local ground. The Rally side put on a creditable performance but their bowling was punished by some really good batting from the Sri Lankan side. The final score didn't read well :Sri Lanka 175 for 9 dec, Blue Water Rally 57 all out and 50 all out in two innings! Everyone had a great day, however, and many regretted that they would not be in Sri Lanka for the forthcoming Test Match in February. Maybe they were seeking selection...? That evening the Scots beckoned, and the Rally had a traditional Burn's Night Supper in the gardens of the Closenberg Hotel. John Boyd (Athena) resplendent in the tartan of the Argyl and Sutherland Highlanders, piped in the Haggis ( a `highland chieftain ' from McSween's in Edinburgh) and his crew member and long-term friend John Beaton presided over the dinner. Following the traditional sequences of Address to the Haggis, the Selkirk Grace, and the Immortal Memory, Linden Astill gave an excellent `Address to the Lassies' followed by an equally eloquent `Reply from the Lassies' by Hazel Gillett.

It was a fitting end to a great stopover in which I felt everyone appreciated being together in their own mini-marina which although at one time suffered from a minor oil spill , was enthusiastically cleaned up by 30 sailors who having had their leave cancelled to clear up the mess jumped into lifebuoys immersed in the oil and scrubbed the waterline's of every yacht! Well done the Sri Lankan Navy (and their Commander - Piyal de Silva) who turned a would-be disaster into a credit to themselves. Finally, thanks must go to the Galle Harbour Master ( Captain Hewavitharana) who so valiantly tended his new pontoons and built gangways to the shore in next to no time for us and cleared the whole area for the Rally.

Roger Bonham of "Nakatcha" reported on 15 February:

"Following Blue Water Rally's hammering at the hands of the Unawatuna Beach Resort Cricket Team in Sri Lanka, a representative team narrowly lost 4-1 to a Maldivian national football side at Madivaru on Rass Dhu Atoll recently. Despite a combined age of over 300 years against under 100, the Geriatrics managed to inflict some punishing tackles on a very fit and capable local side, which does not explain how we received all the injuries!

A night's fishing with the locals was followed by a moonlit fish barbeque on an uninhabited coral island, where we beat them at drinking and singing! Fabulous - the stuff dreams are made of. From "Nakatcha" (sadly homebound after fabulous trip).

SUCCESSFUL AND ENJOYABLE STOPOVER IN DJIBOUTI by Peter Seymour

The last day of the Djibouti stopover was marked by a generous invitation to Rally participants from the French Navy and the Admiral of their Indian Ocean Fleet for a cocktail party on board the "Jules Verne". Throughout the stopover and for the whole of the transit of the Gulf of Aden the French Navy had liaised closely with the Blue Water Rally organisers and the event also gave the opportunity for skippers to express their thanks for the assistance in monitoring the progress of Rally yachts and liaising closely with the UK Rally Office they had received.

On the Saturday the Club Nautique also hosted a cocktail party for the Rally. Rally skippers and crews met members of the Club, which had provided a home-from-home for them throughout their stay. Throughout the stopover the Club staff had given tremendous support in co-ordinating the complex bureaucracy involved in obtaining clearances, fuel and water and the many other demands of Rally participants. The excellent restaurant and bar had also been kept extremely busy during both lunchtimes and evenings throughout the stay.

To mark the visit of the Rally and to express their appreciation, Peter Seymour presented a plaque to the Club President (and Honorary British Consul), Alain Martinet, and John Gillett of "Vagabond" presented a signed battle-flag to the Club on behalf of the Rally skippers.

By 24 February some yachts ("La Billebaude", "Samen" and "Vagalam") were already on the move northwards into the Red Sea. "Vagalam" made a brief return to Djibouti for a temporary technical difficulty, but on 26 February the first group of yachts were reporting their arrival at Massawa. Since the last Rally the political situation in countries bordering the Red Sea has much improved and, whilst there are some sensitivities remaining, Rally skippers are expected to visit Massawa in Eritrea and Suakin and Port Sudan en route up the Red Sea.

RELAXED STOPOVER IN EILAT

Although the Red Sea presented few weather problems this year, only a small number of Blue Water yachts chose to visit Eilat. Usually a highlight of the voyage, Eilat only attracted "Midshipman of the Seas", "Rhapsody in Blue" and "Wayward Wind", much to the disappointment of our local hosts, who had in previous years done so much to welcome a large Blue Water fleet.

Those who voyaged to Eilat were not disappointed. Yachts were met at the Israeli maritime border by the Israeli Navy, who were most courteous and professional during their arrival procedures, and Customs and Immigration were equally helpful as yachts cleared in at the commercial port of Eilat. Following these clearance procedures, yachts made their way to Eilat Marina in the centre of the town, entering via the lifting-bridge. Welcomed by Harbour Master, Doron Heller, and his team, yachts were efficiently berthed stern-to with mains power and water made immediately available. The sun shone and, with clear skies and temperatures in the high 80s, crews were quickly ashore to avail themselves of the outstanding resort facilities of Eilat. These include an enormous range of bars, restaurants, hotels with swimming-pools and beach facilities - with clean streets and no flies!! Eileen and Larry of "Wayward Wind" quickly discovered the Americana Tex Mex, whilst the crew of "Midshipman" soon found an English pub! For "Rhapsody in Blue" engine-maintenance and sail-repair were soon achieved before the arrival of new crew.

Set on the Gulf of Aqaba, with the Egyptian and Jordanian borders only a few miles to either side of the town, Eilat offered crews a huge range of opportunities for exploration and tourism. The in-town airport gave crews the opportunity to fly to the north of the country for visits to the Holy Land and good local relations between the three countries enabled road visits to Egypt and Jordan. Top of the list for such trips was the day visit to Petra ("the rose red city half as old as time") and to Wadi Rum (Lawrence of Arabia) and Aqaba. Despite negative PR because of the troubles on the West Bank, crews hugely enjoyed the stopover and Eilat seemed so far away from the bad news.

Crews were not only made warmly welcome by all they met but, in particular, were indebted to Isrotel and its owner, David Lewis, a long-term friend of the Rally and its organisers. Special concessions for the use of the Isrotel chain of hotels and their facilities were most generously given to participants and before their departure they were hosted to a dinner in their honour. It was, therefore, with great pleasure that Rally Director, Peter Seymour, presented David with a plaque to express their gratitude and to mark the visit of the Blue Water Rally 1999. Eilat was voted a huge success and a promise was made for a visit by the 2001 Rally in two years' time.

A PHOTOGRAPHIC RECORD OF THE VISIT IS LOCATED IN THE GALLERIES SECTION OF THIS WEBSITE.

DRAMATIC RESCUE OF BLUE WATER SKIPPER!!??

Despite mixed weather crews were delighted to find themselves back in "civilisation" in the beautiful port of Aghios Nikolaos. Yachts were berthed comfortably in the yacht marina and both the crews of "Athena" and "Wayward Wind" left their yachts there in safety as they made long trips back to Scotland and the USA respectively for reunions and family events. For many the Crete stopover provided an opportunity to meet up with friends and relatives and to join in the celebrations of the Greek Orthodox Easter. In Aghios Nikolaos the celebrations are a spectacular affair with candlelit processions from the local churches to the "lagoon" in the centre of the old town and the burning of an effigy of Judas Iscariot at midnight. All this accompanied by a spectacular and explosive display of fireworks. Crete, of course, has some of the most beautiful coastal and mountain scenery in the Mediterranean, particularly in the early Spring with flowers and trees in bloom. With cheap car hire to hand most crews travelled throughout the island visiting archaeological sites and the countryside. Local tavernas provided the venue for "get-togethers", including a Rally dinner at the beachside "Faros Taverna", not far from the marina. Another highlight of the social scene was a gathering of England rugby supporters to watch video tapes of the last 3 England rugby games. Whilst the atmosphere was not strictly "Twickenham", the Sorrento Bar provided not only a friendly venue, but copious quantities of beer, local raki and other drinks as "forfeits". One thing led to another and a certain skipper, who will remain nameless (Northampton and England supporter and owner of a Nauticat 42), had a certain amount of difficulty in navigating himself along the "now apparently narrower than usual" marina pontoon and onto his yacht. Ever ready to assist in an emergency and to save loss of life, the crew of the Hellenic Coastguard Lifeboat, moored in the marina, made a dramatic dry-land rescue of the said skipper late that night!! By the time of Peter Seymour's departure on 23 April several yachts were preparing to depart for further Mediterranean cruising. Messages of farewell have been received from "Anthem", "Athena" and "Samen II" as they will be staying in the Eastern Mediterranean and not returning to Gibraltar in June. Dominique and Danielle Planchon of "La Billebaude" said their farewells in Aghios Nikolaos before departing for their home port of Toulon. However, a large number of the Rally fleet are expected to make a mass arrival at Gibraltar on Tuesday 26 June to signal the end of the 1999 Blue Water Rally and a week of celebrations. (No further updates to this page will be made until then.)

A WARM WELCOME FOR THE 1999 RALLY AT GIBRALTAR

MASS ARRIVAL

With perfect timing, 9 yachts of the 1999-2001 Blue Water Round The World Cruising Rally arrived together at Marina Bay, Gibraltar at 1300 hours on Tuesday 26 June 2001. As each yacht berthed they were greeted with a bottle of champagne by the Rally Support Team and a huge welcome from the 2 early arrivals ("Alf-a-Bet" and "Solent Venture") and friends, families and well-wishers on the quay.

Amongst the arrivals was the youngest participant - Harry Coxon - born in Fiji during the Rally in June last year. Harry had his first birthday party at a gathering of Blue Water yachts in Mahon (Menorca), having sailed over halfway round the world with his sister, Charlotte (aged 11) and his parents (John and Sara) on their yacht, "Sara Jane".

The Blue Water Rally 1999-2001 has been very much a family event, with 2 other families sailing with small children. Ben (11) and Emma (13) Curtis have sailed around the world with their parents, Dane and Sylvia, on their yacht, "Seventh Wave" and Christina (10) and Daniel (8) Sawyer also completed a circumnavigation with their parents, Andrew and Tabitha, on their 36-foot yacht, "Ten-K".

For the crew of "Solent Venture" the Rally was also a family event. Parents and owners (Tony and Jackie Parsons) returned to Gibraltar, having sailed around the world with their 2 daughters, Carli and Leigh, and husbands (Mike and Ed).

For the crews of "Vagabond of Bosham" (John and Hazel Gillett) and "Yo Ho Ho of Sark" (Stephen and Alison Yeo) this was a delayed return. "Vagabond" and "Yo Ho Ho" were participants on the 1998-2000 Rally, but chose to spend an extra year in the Pacific before joining the 1999-2001 Rally in Australia to return to home waters.

PARTY PARTY PARTY

Crews were soon in party mood with a week's programme of "welcome home" activities ahead of them. The first official event was a Government Reception hosted by the Minister of Tourism, the Honourable Joe Holliday. Each owner was presented with a "coffee-table" book on Gibraltar and their logbooks were signed by the Chief Minister of Gibraltar. The children also received gifts, with a special presentation to Harry of a Gibraltar ape (no, not a real one!).

The next evening partying continued with a Blue Water Party and presentations at the Royal Gibraltar Yacht Club. Each owner received a plaque marking the route of their voyage and there were certificates for crew members. Some of the presentations were unexpected, including a large number of badges for those joining the "Dippy Club" - this year's Rally seemingly having had more than its fair share of crew falling off yachts, dinghies and pontoons! Badges were also presented by "Ten-K" to a number of yachts who had towed them during their various breakdowns!

As usual there was a Rally party at Marina Bay, hosted by its Managing Director, Eddie Sauer. This popular event includes live music in a pleasant, quay-side setting. To round off the week crews were invited onto "Vagabond" for farewell drinks before a memorable lunch at Bianca's Restaurant. Locals were somewhat surprised to find themselves next to a group wearing Fijian sulus, Indonesian sarongs, Arab djellabas and even more exotic modes of dress.

Early the following week most crews had dispersed towards home ports. At the time of writing, however, rugby fanatic, Roger Bonham of "Nakatcha", remains at Gibraltar, where he can follow on TV the British Lions on tour in Australia! Further reunions remain as yachts reach home ports and there will be gatherings of ex-participants in the future. However, Gibraltar has yet again provided a memorable occasion for those celebrating their circumnavigation with the Blue Water Rally.

THE FUTURE

The next Blue Water Round the World Cruising Rally starts from Gibraltar in October, when the event will have an even greater international flavour with the participation of 8 nationalities amongst the owners.