All new Port2Port Down Under Rally announced

by John Hembrow on 24 Jul 2015 2015 Port2Port Down Under Rally - Back in 2009 Aussies John and Leanne Hembrow “cut the lines” and joined the community of Nautical Nomads (also known as cruisers or yachties) in search of adventure and new experiences and they found both!

Having now returned to the western side of the date line they have embarked upon their next journey and created the Port2Port Down Under Rally for Cruisers.

The 2015 Port2Port Down Under Rally is a destination rally the purpose of which is to promote Australia as a destination to the world cruising community.

The rally departs Noumea, New Caledonia in late October with the goal for participants to arrive in Newcastle Australia on or before the 15th November. The Newcastle Cruising Yacht Club (NCYC) is hosting the rally and offering all participants of the rally up to 12 nights free berthing for their vessel in the NCYC.

Participants and Sponsors of the rally will then join in the celebrations during “Welcome Week”.

“Welcome Week” commencing on the 15th of November offers a program of social events and activities that will take place in and around Newcastle and promises to be a week of fun, frivolity and facts. Information sessions focused on the sharing of local knowledge, cocktail parties, “Aussie Barbie’s”, dock parties, vineyard visits and even free Yoga classes are just some of the events and activities planned for Welcome Week. Participants of the rally will qualify to win some of the prizes in our rally prize pool which at the moment is valued at just over $2000 and increasing!

For more information, please visit Port2Port Down Under Rally website

Here is John and Leannes story of how the rally was born!

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Six years, four boats, more than 15 countries and over 25,000 nm miles later we have experienced many of the highs and lows that go with the lifestyle of the Nautical Nomad.

We have made some wonderful and enduring friendships with like-minded people from many different countries as a result of our voyage many of which have originated as a result of our participation in various yacht rallies.

As we voyaged we chose participate in some of the yacht rallies that were being offered along our route.
The Baja Ha-Ha from San Diego to Mexico, The El Salvador Cruisers Rally from Mexico to El Salvador in Central America, The Pacific Puddle Jump from Panama to Tahiti, The All Points Rally that departs from various ports in the SW Pacific to New Zealand. This was not our intention when we departed however having joined our first rally we found that we really enjoyed the opportunity it presented to meet lots of other cruisers in a social and fun environment and we also received many benefits that the rally organisers offer participants such as local knowledge on all sorts of topics from formalities and procedures involved with clearing in and out of countries, danger areas, weather events, what the must see places and attractions, discounted moorings / marinas, boat parts and services, tours, meals and more

It has been the experience of a lifetime;

We have climbed the rim of an active volcano,

Spent days and weeks at anchor in those idyllic Pacific islands

Attended more than a few beach parties,

Enjoyed magical moonlight nights alone in the middle of the ocean,

Prepared for and rode out a category four cyclone in Fiji.

Survived a few storms at sea and as icing on the cake had a lightening strike to our vessel so severe that the insurance company deemed it a total loss. But all that is a story for another time..

Before we were Nautical Nomads we cruised ‘in our backyard’, the east coast of Australia in various craft from launches to yachts and covered most of the coast from Sydney in the south to Lizard Island in the north.

We also ‘Land Cruised’ our country and have seen much of our ‘Land Down Under’.

Having recently spent an extended period back in Australia we once again found ourselves cruising in our backyard and we realised thanks to our time offshore just how unique and cruiser friendly Australia really is.

We have also become aware that in recent times Australia has become overlooked or discounted as a destination by the cruising community for many reasons, most of which are the result of misunderstanding and/or misinformation. In part we believe the reason for this is that there is no readily available up-to-date information that provides cruisers with an overview about visiting Australia.

As cruisers ourselves we believe Australia is a must see destination for all Nautical Nomads so in an effort to have Australia added to their cruising itineraries we have created the All New Port2Port Down Under Rally and look forward to sharing with the participants of the rally all that Australia has to offer.


Go West

As most would know 'Go West - A cruisers guide to a Summer Down Under ' has been published.

The feedback we have received to date from all has been nothing short of spectacular and it seems we have may have hit a home run!

Thanks to all of you who have downloaded a copy and emailed us with your flattering compliments :)

If you have not yet download a copy of Go West you can get it here

We have printed a limited number (200 only) Hard Copies of Go West.

We would love to have printed a lot more but we are working within our budget.

Some have been delivered to Vuda Marina Fiji and Port Denarau Marina Fiji. Musket Cove Marina Fiji will also have some early next week.

If you are in or headed to Vanuatu or New Caledonia keep and eye our for Go West Hard Copies as we will be delivering them to the Waterfront Bar and Grill in Port Villa and the Port Moselle Marina office in Noumea New Caledonia.