2016 Tonga Rally preview - Departure planned from Opua
by John Martin on 10 Jan 2015
Sunset in Tonga David McKay
The Tonga Rally will again run in 2016 with departure planned for Saturday 7th May 2016 from Opua, subject to weather.
Recently we asked a group of around 100 cruisers if they’d be interested in a rally with a greater emphasis on the sailing side of both passage making and cruising.
Well the answer was a resounding YES.
With that in mind we went forward with planning, developed a program and secured a sponsor that could bring some great prizes to the event; the result is the'2016 Doyle Sails - Performance Cruiser Rally'.
There will be more detail released over the following months but the jest is, this rally is aimed at the cruiser that wants to sail and would prefer not to turn the key if they don’t have too.
There will be various classes in the rally so everyone has a chance of taking out one of the great prizes.
The Preliminary Program sees a start Date in early June 2016. Start - Saturday 4th June at Opua - Bay of Islands - Northland NZ - subject to weather.
First Leg - Opua to Vuda Point Fiji (via the Minervas if the weather permits).
Clearance will be handled at Vuda Point Marina as will the arrival festivities.
There will be a number of fun events programmed including a Beachcomber Pirates Race, Hobby cat challenge at Musket Cove and then to Robinson Crusoe Island for their world renown South Pacific Dinner and Show. If the girls don’t want to take part in the strenuous events there will be plenty of activities planned to keep them out of mischief too.
Boats are then on their own to explore Fiji before the start of Leg 2.
Leg 2 - the '2016 Musket Cove to Vila Race'.
Departure is planned from Musket Cove Saturday 6th August 2016. The course leaves Fiji for Anatom, Vanuatu’s southernmost island where Clearance will be done at Anelghawhat, the fleet will regroup and after some fun on Mystery Island, just south of the anchorage, will head to Port Resolution a 40 mile sprint. Mt Yasur on Tanna is a must see before the fleet heads to Vila to be Welcomed by Yachting World Vanuatu and the Waterfront Bar and Grill.
Boats are then free to explore Vanuatu. At this stage Leg 3 is planned to depart Vanuatu to NZ on Saturday 10th September but if there is enough interest we will include a leg to take in New Caledonia as well.
To register your interest and receive more info on the rally, click
here.
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