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.

The ceremony included a service conducted by Douglas Leonard and two beautiful songs from Lisa Morris (Sol Maria), an eulogy on the lives of Scott, Jean, Phyllis and Bob plus personal recollections from Glenda Sales, Gillian Fairbrother, Virginia and Peter Dimsey, a summary of events as reported by the military read by Tony Diment plus the recital of the John Masefield’s poem `I must go down to the sea again’ suggested by members of the 2007 Blue Water rally and read by Tony Diment.

A very touching portrayal of the lives of Scott, Jean, Phyllis and Bob was given by Charlie and Annie Norton (Miss Tippy) who illuminated their memories with a lovely display of projected photographs. After the ceremony and one minute silence a flower litany was conducted and each lady of each yacht came forward and collected a single white rose that could be returned to the sea in tribute. It was a sensitive, very sad, yet appropriate farewell to these wonderful sea loving people. Refreshments were taken after the service.