Buy a Yacht, Sail it Home- Trans Pacific Rally '09
by Ani Linton/Sail-World on 9 Nov 2008
Rum punch time SW
Comparison of yacht markets between the USA and Australia reveals that similar yachts are much less expensive in the USA. Would-be boat purchasers are flying to the States in ever increasing numbers, purchasing a boat and then sailing it back, enjoying a romantic and exciting holiday on the way. Now there's a Transpacific Rally to make the process much easier.
Yes, YOU could buy your boat and then join a flotilla of yachts sailing the trade winds across the indigo blue waters of the Pacific Ocean. The idea of sailing in the Pacific Ocean has an allure which will forever pull at the hearts and minds of many -
exotic islands, riddled with secluded tropical islands and unexplored coral atolls. The diving is exquisite, the cultures are unique, the waters are crystal clear, and the fresh foods and tropical fruits to re-provision with are tantalising. The same warm trade winds that pushed the early traders in their windjammers, still blow reliably and consistently.
The organised cruise is being operated by a boutique international yachting importer with the whimsical name of Yarra's Edge Yachts (YEY) who saw an opportunity to assist their clients with a charismatic and inexpensive way of importing their yachts.
Added to the lower prices in the US, there are
other reasons to think of acquiring a boat this way - no import duty as a result of our trade agreement with the U. S. and and a much larger selection of vessels to choose from.
Organiser Graham Stephens from YEY says, 'Most people would rather sail their yacht back, but they rarely do, because they’re not confident to embark on the journey by themselves.'
It therefore just seemed a natural response for YEY to organise a ‘Trans Pacific Rally’ for yacht buyers to make the sea crossing with the guidance and support of an experienced team of yachtsmen.
But Graham acknowledges that there is an ulterior
motive. The cruise allows the YEY team to indulge their passion for sailing and exploring in the Pacific.
Among the experienced team is Graham himself, who is a third generation seaman, a highly experienced wreck diver, a graphic surveyor and also a coastal and celestial navigation instructor. He has also run ecotours throughout the Pacific, and will be an ideal colleague for such a cruise.
Then there's marine scientist, Jake van Oosterom, who will also be part of the team, sailing on some of the legs. Jake’s fields of interest, other than ‘avid diver and keen sailor,’ include exotic topics such as ‘tropical biology, marine ecology, plate tectonics, volcanic hotspots, and physical oceanography’. He has been involved with BOM in Coral Sea projects, and coral research in
the Great Barrier Reef with the Australian Institute of Marine Science. His wide knowledge will be a considerable asset to the Rally
The Trans Pacific Rally will begin on February 14 in Mexico’s Sea of Cortez, one of the world’s most famous whale watching locations. The route is planned to utilise the trade winds, taking the shortest path across the Equitorial Convergence Zone (Doldrums). Three weeks has been allowed for the fleet to sail from Mexico to the Marquesas. This is the longest open ocean stretch. Two weeks has been set aside to reprovision and explore the dramatic landscape of the Marquesas with its mountainous pinnacles descending into a dramatic seascape of caldera and underwater caves. It also offers the possibility of encounters with a variety of large sea creatures, like manta rays, and huge schools of hammerhead sharks.
The path takes the rally from the Marquesas, to the Tuamotus, Tahiti, The Cook Islands, Tonga, Vanuatu, and New Caledonia before arriving in Queensland, 11th October.
Bruce Crump, YEY’s logistics expert, has allowed for the greatest possible flexibility for rally participants. 'Some people may wish to fly home at various stages or change crew, which has all been considered in the route planning.'
The route is also timed for various other reasons such as humpback whales breeding season where they gather in their hundreds around the protected and remote waters throughout Tonga.
You don't have to be planning to purchase a yacht to participate. Photographers, or anyone interested in crewing, are welcome to register their interest with YEY Blue Water Cruisers.
Naturally, if you do wish to investigate purchasing, YEY are there to help. The YEY crew search the global market constantly and are able to assist in locating appropriate vessels. A list on the YEY website shows blue water cruisers available in the US that would be suitable for the journey and are excellent value. The range includes modern light displacement vessels through to traditional heavy displacement vessels and sizes from 36’ to 60’. Prices vary from US $47,500 to US $350,000. Only vessels that are excellent value and meet the requirements of such a journey have been listed in this section of YEY’s website.
You might even be able to pay for your journey by selling your yacht after you arrive back in Australia - YEY also provide facilities for selling vessels upon return.
For more information on this venture go to http://www.yey.com.au/tpr.html
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