The yachts that were on the 2009/2011 Blue Water Rally, which became stranded in Oman, have finally arrived in Marmaris, Turkey after being in Oman for the past 3 months. The 20 yachts were shipped on MV Palmerton, owned by Combi Lift, a Danish owned corporation, and organised through Dockwise Yacht Transport LLC. Significant shipping delays resulted in the yachts finally being shipped from Salalah, Oman on May 31, 2011, arriving in Marmaris, Turkey on 8 June 2011.
The skippers and crew of all of the yachts organized and attended an end of rally party in Marmaris, Turkey. The farewell evening was highlighted by a poignant, fond and moving toast to Phyllis, Bob, Jean and Scott of the sailboat Quest.
For all except one yacht, the 2009-11 Blue Water Rally has effectively come to an end in Salalah, 17 months after the fleet left Gibraltar to sail around the world. The original rally plans concluded in Crete at the end of April, however the remaining skippers have decided to ship their yachts directly to Marmaris, Turkey.
We have still learnt nothing more about the situation on Quest. The navies are still tracking progress, but we do not know where they are. Let us hope that we get some good news soon. Elswhere there have been a few trials with entanglement with fishing nets and shortage of fuel. But these are getting sorted. There are a few unservicablities, poor Bali Blue are still hand steering after an autohelm failure. Tony has 50Kg of spares for various yachts. Generally the fleet are doing well and waiting for news of Scott, Jean, Phyllis and Bob.
Saturday, 19 February 2011 20:39 | By Richard Bolt
The Blue Water Rally is very distressed to learn of the hijacking of SV Quest on 18th February. Scott and Jean Adam joined the Oz-Med section of the Blue Water Rally just before Christmas and had been sailing with the rally from Phuket as far as Mumbai. Quest had taken on board two well known rally participants: Phyllis Macay and Bob Riggle. However, Quest chose to take an independent route from Mumbai to Salalah, leaving the Rally on 15 February. All information is now being handled by the US Central Command and their spokesman in Dubai.
We feel desperately sorry for our four friends onboard and our thoughts are with them and their friends and family. All the yachts still on the rally are fine and well
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 Round the World 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.
Monday, 28 February 2011 06:37 | By Tony Diment, Rally Director
A Remembrance Ceremony was held at 1100 am yesterday, Sunday 27th February at the Hilton Salalah Resort Hotel in Oman to remember and celebrate the lives of the four Blue Water Rally participants that tragically died at the hands of pirates in the Indian Ocean on 22nd February 2011. 65 participants from the Blue Water Rally plus independent yachtsmen that knew those aboard the `Quest’ attended the ceremony.
The Guest of Honour was the US Ambassador to Oman, The Honorable Doctor Richard K Schmierer. Also in attendance were US Coast Guard Captain Mike Lodge, Maritime Liaison Officer MARLO, The Minister of Tourism Dhofar Province Salalah, Khaled Al – Rasawi and the Officiating Chaplain Douglas Leonard from Muscat.
We at Blue Water Rallies are stunned and devastated by the news of the loss of four friends who have had their innocent lives taken away from them by the pirate menace which is plaguing the Indian Ocean. Our hearts and prayers go out to the families of Jean, Scott, Phyllis and Bob. We know that all their fellow participants are deeply affected by this appalling tragedy.
Our prayers and hopes continue to be with Scott, Jean, Phyllis and Bob on SV Quest. We have no more news of them since the authorities have taken control of the incident.
Meanwhile, there are still some elements of the rally who are at sea. They are making good progress and are carefully following the safety procedures we have put in place for them.
The rally have been having some interesting times in India over the past 2 or 3 weeks. Yachts who went to the Maldives have now reunited with the rest, except for Talismano and Spirit of Nina who are continuing to do their own thing for a while. Poor Nautibuoytoo is still suffering with engine troubles, but we sincerely hope Paco will soon catch up.
There will be a shortage of news for a while. However, I can tell you that all yachts are safe and well this morning, St Valentine's Day, 14 Feb 2011. We will keep you updated, so watch this space.
Monday, 13 June 2011 12:03 | 
By Richard Bolt
