BWR 98 - BACK TO THE MED AND THE LAST LAP TO THE FINISH

The arrival of skipper Ray Purvis on "Lady Rosemary" on 21 April completed the gathering of the BWR 98 fleet at Aghios Nikolaos, Crete. Like most of the fleet, Ray had to struggle against strong headwinds from the Suez Canal, compounded by a blown headsail and mainsail. Ray's arrival was perfectly timed to coincide with the major social event of the week - the Rally's Cretan night at the local Almiros Taverna.

The previous 7 days had seen a steady flow of arrivals from the Suez Canal. First to berth at the Aghios Nikolaos Marina, the Carlow family on their yacht "Matata" were soon settled in. For the youngest member of the family crew, Joanna, it also signalled the end of her world voyage and her return to the traditional Scottish school system. All arriving yachts of the rally fleet expressed delight at their return to "civilisation", having left behind the baksheesh and begging demands of the Egyptians at the Suez Canal.

Aghios Nikolaos has provided the perfect tonic - warm Spring sunshine, the friendliest of welcomes, good eating and drinking and much to do and see. The busy little town, with its pretty harbour-side cafes and restaurants, has given ideal opportunities to Blue Water crews for relaxation and for reunions with families and friends. The Cretan night, in particular, proved to be a great success, with Cretan dancing and music and active participation by Rally crews. Few will forget Tony "Spiros" Manzi and his athletic attempts to emulate the local professional dancers!

Most crews, attracted by the warmth of their welcome and the chance to relax in such beautiful surroundings, will be staying at least 2 weeks before the last lap of their circumnavigation towards Gibraltar. Their extensive stay coincides with local celebrations of the Greek Orthodox Easter, with its candlelit vigils, processions and Easter Sunday activities.

BWR 99 TAHITI AND MOOREA - from Tony Diment

Having independently cruised through the Marquesas from Nuku Hiva to the Tuamotu Islands and on to Tahiti ( in all about 600 miles) for the past month the Rally fleet re-united in Papeete Harbour Tahiti. Although 4 yachts managed to squeeze into the crowded Quai de Yachts the remainder of the rally enjoyed the exclusive use of the adjacent Quai d'Honneur ( or Quai de Paquebots as it is sometimes called). The use of this quay, reserved normally for cruise liners, was generously allocated for the use of the rally for the 6 day stay in Tahiti by the Harbour Authorities free of charge. With water specially laid on and an ideal position right in the centre of bustling Papeete the foundation was laid for a successful stay. The programme included a free guided tour of the island, courtesy of the Tourist Board, an unforgettable cocktail party in the private gardens of the French Navy Commandant's residence and a superb lunch-time barbecue at the Tahiti Yacht Club. Papeete with its marvellous market and shopping areas offered all the amenities of a modern city. The boisterous nightlife came as a marked contrast ,and for the younger rally members, a welcome diversion from the quieter cruising through unspoilt and beautiful natural surroundings of the previous couple of months. Having spent one year out from the 98 Rally in French Polynesia Dominique and Danielle Planchon and their yacht "La Billebaude" joined the 99 Rally for their return to France. Through their magnificent generosity they organised local friends to lay on shopping runs in their private cars to the nearby `Continent' hypermarket and also showed people around town. It was through them that the cocktail party and the later Tahitian feast in Moorea were to be organised. It's great to have them back on the Rally as true friends.
 
After the hectic time in Papeete, the Society Islands beckoned and after the normal Rally Briefs were complete it was time for the fleet to move over to Moorea and the spectacular Cooks Bay and Oponuhu Bay. Many thought this to be the most beautiful part of the world visited so far and with the fleet anchored beneath towering mountain peaks outside of the Club Bali Hai it was easy to see why. Most yachts made daily excursions out to the lagoon where snorkelling in `aquarium' clear waters was unsurpassable and returned in the evenings to the hospitality of the Bali Hai Club who threw open their amenities and swimming pool to the Rally. Notable was the children's joint birthday party barbeque that was conducted on the hotel lawns (see picture gallery). Everyone discovered `Alfredo's' restaurant at Cook's Bay and with the help of a visiting Scottish musician playing an electronic harp and mouth organ everyone spent several nights singing their hearts out to familiar sea shanties and home favourites. The social highlight, however, was undoubtedly the Tahitian feast on the west coast of Moorea where the Rally was entertained by truly exotic Tahitian dancers - more pictures in the gallery pages of this website! On Wednesday the 10th May most yachts started their private cruising towards Bora Bora where the Rally will depart for Tonga via the Cook Islands on the 19th May. Remaining in Papeete the yachts `Mango Tango' and `Alf-a Bet' are awaiting essential spares as are `Seventh Wave' who have succumbed to the charms of Moorea as a waiting area in preference to the noise and heat of Papeete. The yacht `Sara Jane' meanwhile is sailing direct for Fiji where Sarah is expecting the arrival of her baby - John tells me (15th May) that progress is fast in gale force winds! (a contrast to the gentle trade winds and blue skies experienced in Tahiti). Please see the latest Picture Gallery to see shots of the Rally crews enjoying themselves...   

Rally celebrates arrival of new crew!

 Its a boy, weighing in at 3.3Kg and born at the Labasa Hospital in Fiji ! John Coxon (Yacht `Sara Jane') tells us from Savu Savu that Sara and the baby are both well. Final decisions on names are yet to be confirmed.

John also adds that everything in Savu Savu is peaceful and that the only consequence of the attempted coup in Suva a month ago is the lack of fresh chicken! Best wishes go to Master Coxon, may his forthcoming initiation to the oceans of the world be blessed with fair winds and gentle seas.

THEY'RE BACK - BWR 98 FINISHES AT GIBRALTAR

With perfect timing the first 12 of the 1998 Blue Water Round The World Cruising Rally yachts arrived together at Marina Bay, Gibraltar at 1400 hours on Monday 26th June 2000. As each yacht berthed they were greeted with a bottle of champagne from the Rally Support Team and a huge welcome from friends, families and well-wishers on the quay.

Amongst the first group of arrivals were the oldest and youngest participants. The oldest participant is Ray Purvis, now in his 80th year and a resident of Portsmouth. Ray completed his circumnavigation aboard his Transworld 41, "Lady Rosemary". "It's been a life-long dream and a fantastic experience", said Ray, "but it's great to be back. It hasn't been easy, but rally participants and the Blue Water organisation have provided enormous support when I've needed it."

The youngest crew member, Corrie-Anne Mansfield (11) sailed round the world with her 2 sisters, Danielle (13) and Samantha (15) and their parents, Martin and Julie. The girls have spent their 20 months on the family's Oyster 45, "Rainbow Spirit". The family is now heading for the Caribbean, where they will be settling down - at least for a time!

Another family, the Carlows of "Matata", a Swan 48, also completed their voyage at Gibraltar, where they welcomed back daughter, Joanna, who had returned to the Scottish schooling system from Crete in April. Bill and Shian, together with sons, Charlie, Rob and Alistair, and Joanna will be leaving Gibraltar to race in Cork Week. Now officially able to race instead of cruise, they hope to repeat some of their successes in the Raja Muda and King's Cup Regattas in Malaysia and Phuket respectively.

Crews were soon in party mood with a week's programme of "welcome home" activities ahead of them. These include a Blue Water party with presentations at the Royal Gibraltar Yacht Club, a party given by Marina Bay and a Government Reception hosted by the Minister of Tourism, the Honorable Joe Holliday. To round off the week a Survivors' Party will be held, with crews asked to dress in items that they have bought around the world. Crews take this event seriously with arrivals expected to include groups dressed in Fijian sulus, Indonesian sarongs, Australian bushman gear and even more exotic modes of dress, which will, no doubt, draw more than a passing stare from other inhabitants of the marina.

The Rally Noticeboard is full of messages of congratulation and good wishes from fellow-members of the Rally, still "downunder". A feature of the 1998 Rally has been the ability of participants to "opt out" for a year to spend more time in the Pacific, and in particular New Zealand and Australia. Some 14 yachts from the original departure group are to join the 1999 Blue Water Round The World Cruising Rally in Australia later this year to complete their circumnavigation at Gibraltar in June 2001.

PHOTOGRAPHS OF THE WEEK WILL BE PUBLISHED IN "PHOTO GALLERIES".

FIJI STOPOVER NEWS

All yachts had safely arrived in Fiji by early July. Most managed to call at Savu Savu, where they were met by Tony Diment and there was a warm welcome at the Copra Shed Marina. There were few signs there of the political crisis in Suva and all enjoyed the idyllic surroundings and the "real" Fiji.

Yachts avoided the port of Suva and sailed next to Musket Cove Resort on Malololailai Island off the extreme west of the Fiji Islands. There they have been entertained by their generous host, Dick Smith, himself a well-known yachtsman and they enjoyed the outstanding facilities of his island resort. There has been a rally dinner with traditional entertainment by local villagers and the stopover has culminated with a Fun Day.

Vagalam and Sabbatical departed on 12 July for Vanuatu en route for Australia. The remainder of the fleet will be departing from 13 July onwards and most are expected to call at Port Vila, Vanuatu. There they will find a home-from-home at the Yachting World bar and restaurant and meet their hosts Bryan and Elsie Stoneham, who were so helpful to our 1998 Rally crews last year.

Most of the rally fleet are expected to undertake lift-outs and mid-voyage work at Cairns during the first 2 weeks of August.

NO WORRIES, MATE - THE BLUE WATER RALLY ARRIVES IN CAIRNS

By 7 August all but "Sara Jane" had arrived in Cairns. ("Sara Jane" has left Vanuatu and has an ETA at Cairns of 14 August.) Crews have reported outstanding service for their mid-Rally lift-outs and "make and mend" - in typical Aussie fashion "No worries, mate" has been the response to all their problems. Work has started in earnest and everyone is very happy with the standards, responsiveness and friendliness of the locals.

Cairns is also a great place for tourism. Once work is over, crews will be going on "walkabout" - visiting the local area and going further afield to Sydney and beyond. From 10-20 August the Rally will be hosted by the Yorkeys Knob Boating Club at Half-Moon Bay Marina just outside Cairns.

The Club has arranged a Welcome Reception on 11 August, a Golf Day on 13 August and on 16th crews will be taking part in a "Troppo Night" on the beach. On 12 August there will be a briefing on the route from Cairns to Darwin by Peter Seymour and Club Commodore, Guy Chester, to prepare participants for the next stage of their voyage. Yorkeys will also be the scene of the first of several reunions with 1998 Blue Water Rally members, who have spent a "year out" in the Pacific.

Booked in for the fun from BWR 98 are "Yo Ho Ho of Sark" (Stephen and Alison Yeo), "Wayward Wind" (Larry and Eileen Murphy) and "Akwaaba" (Mike, Chris and "Jez" Smither). Also likely to be there are the first participants in the 2000 Oz-Med Rally - "Midshipman of the Seas" (Chris Chiles and Mandy Johnson).

"Cairns is a hugely popular venue for the crews and organisers alike," reports Peter Seymour, Rally Director in Cairns. "It's a great place for the yachts to have a mid-Rally service and anti-foul and our hosts could not be more friendly and helpful. The stopover will certainly be one of the most memorable of the whole circumnavigation."

CAIRNS STOPOVER A HUGE SUCCESS

Sunny days, good parties and great support in the locality made the Cairns stopover a huge success. Our main hosts, the Yorkeys Knob Boating Club, extended a very warm welcome to Rally participants, their families and friends throughout the stopover, living up to their reputation as the "best nautical address in the north". Commodore Don Cortis, Manager Tony Hearne, Committee Members and office staff took a personal interest in ensuring the stay at Yorkeys will be a highlight of the Rally circumnavigation. The Welcome Party brought together Club Members and members of both the 1998 and 1998 Rallies and the Club bar and restaurant soon became a home from home.

The Golf Day started with a very early tee-off at 0630 hours. Playing to the special rules of the Yorkeys Knob Social Golf Club Team, participants were followed throughout the morning by a beer cart and by lunchtime scores (luckily) did not matter! A BBQ at the Club rounded off a thoroughly enjoyable and alcoholic day. Later in the week the Club entertained the Rally to a "Troppo Night", loosely defined as a beach BBQ. Organiser, Phil Dry, excelled himself, even claiming that the full moon rising over Yorkeys Knob hill was also part of his plans! A bonfire, guitar music, community singing (!), great food and no crocs ensured there were plenty of headaches the next morning!

Participants also appreciated the excellent technical support and yard facilities which they found at Cairns. In particular, their thanks go to the Cairns Cruising Yacht Squadron, who hosted crews whilst their yachts underwent a halfway liftout and servicing. Crews were offered use of the Squadron's excellent dining and bar facilities, only a few yards away from their boats. Across the road the Big Boat Shed, with its undercover workshops and support facilities, was also much in demand.

Most crews, however, found time for local and more distant tourism. A number, such as Dominique and Danielle Planchon of "La Billebaude", made their way to Sydney and Tony and Jackie Parsons of "Solent Venture" travelled as far as Melbourne. Others enjoyed the all-round opportunities in the local area. Danny and Di Lawrence of "Alf-A-Bet", discovered the opportunity for visiting the outback with the Australian Postal Service and most travelled by skyrail and train to and from the mountain town of Kuranda.

The whole Cairns experience is best summarised in an e-mail sent to friends by Philip Giles of "Giveusabuzz", headed "It's Fantastic in Oz".

"Australia is brilliant and the natives are both friendly and extremely helpful. The boat has been out of the water for 2 weeks for anti-fouling and other bits of maintenance, like torn sails and broken toilets. So now we have manual toilets and the noisy, and always, broken-down electric ones have gone - so have lots of other bits, which the sun has rotten and we have replaced. At least here they have the parts and, even if they haven't, they will get the bits for you over the next day or so. And sometimes, there is even a choice (of bits).

Supermarkets are full of food and huge steaks. There are cold beers in the pubs and yacht clubs and everyone is so friendly.

The family have all been sky-diving from 14,000 feet and I watched and videod them - not for me, jumping out of planes - sailing's much safer. We all went white-water rafting, which was excellent fun. We've been to the beach, Fitzroy Island for diving and snorkelling and into the rainforest with Peachy and his 4x4 - the original Crocodile Dundee. Crocs and snakes have fortunately been observed in the safety of the zoo.

The temperature is a steady 28C during the day, which warms up from 0600 hours and cools down to a comfortable 18C at about 1930 hours. The only sad thing is that it's a bit tricky swimming in the sea due to the crocs, who are partial to a portion of fresh protein and are not too selective about their menu!"

Rally yachts started to leave Cairns for Darwin in late August. Most crews will spend around 3 weeks travelling, spending much time day sailing inside the Great Barrier Reef on their way to Cape York and the Gulf of Carpentaria. All have benefited from the excellent briefing provided by Yorkey's Sailing Club Commodore, Guy Chester, whose local knowledge of the route will ensure both safety and maximum enjoyment.

At Darwin crews will be met by Tony Diment and will prepare for the next leg of their voyage through Indonesia to Singapore and Malaysia.