2011-2012 Around Australia Ocean Rally planning well under way

by Ocean Events on 4 Aug 2009 Planning for a big fleet in the 2011-2012 Around Australia Ocean Race & Rally to visit ‘outback Australia’ is well underway.' reports Event Director Bob Williams.

The Around Australia Ocean Rally for Cruisers is a circumnavigation of Australia spanning 12-13 months starting in early 2011 with yachts from Western Australia being the first to start and heading east keeping ‘Australia To Port’ to meet with yachts joining the Rally as it progresses up the east coast of Australia before going ‘across the top’, around the west coast, back across the Great Australia Bight, and back up the east coast until all yachts participating have completed their start/finish port-port circumnavigation.

One big adventure!

Says Williams 'I've just spent the last four days in Broome, Western Australia – ‘Around Australia Ocean Race Stop-Over Port’, and one of the principal ‘Rally Rendezvous Ports’ around the coastline of Australia in the course of visiting and briefing people at our principal stop-over rendezvous ports around Australia and I couldn’t be happier.

'I met with the Shire President of Broome Mr Graeme Campbell, the Broome Port Harbour Master, Captain Vic Justice, Pilot/Deputy Harbour Master Ken Burleigh, Operations Manager Rob Wilkinson, several of Broome’s leading business people, sporting club people, and was able to give an address on the Race and Rally event to Broome resort hotel people and Western Australian Tourism people. The response from all quarters was extremely positive.

With its proximity to the Kimberley archipelago region Broome is no stranger to visiting yachts of all descriptions. Combined with a 10 metre tidal range the logistics for safe anchorage of a big fleet of visiting yachts are not to be underestimated but is a challenge the Broome Port people are willing to help resolve.

Harbour Master Captain Vic Justice commented - ' we badly need a commercial marina in Broome to accommodate the ever increasing number of yachts visiting Broome' and we agree!

Williams continues ;One of the key benefits of a large crusing fleet visiting such isolated ports, is that it should be a catalyst for the improvement of facilities for cruising sailors all along the Australian coastline,

'I have no hesitation in saying that Broome will be one of the highlight experiences of yachtsmen and yachtswomen participating in the Around Australia Ocean Race and Rally.

'I was particularly pleased to meet the Commodore of the Broome Sailing Club, Sally Ogg, and a number of Sally’s colleagues, at their transportable ‘Club headquarters’ on Broome’s famous Cable Beach. The BSC has only been established a few years and, as is always the case, is being developed by a devoted group of keen sailors for the benefit of kids and adults in Broome and the Kimberley region.

'Sally was a little stunned when I invited BSC to be part of the Broome support group for the Race and Rally 'but we are only a tiny club and you have so many big and prestigious clubs involved' but after some reassurance 'we would love to be involved – we can’t believe such an event is coming to Broome – we can’t wait to be part of the welcoming team and make our contribution to it all being a great success'. (Its a wonderful climate- you will see the overdressed southerner in the right of the picture)

'Broome is one of the treasures of the Australian outback being founded in the mid 1800’s on the back of an abundant pearling industry. Pearling is still Broome’s major industry with the best pearls in the world coming from Broome. Broome’s population, 15,000, has a rich cultural diversity with Asia, European, and indigenous Australian culture blending to make Broome one of the most alluring places on earth. Broome’s population doubles during the famous Broome Cup horse racing carnival held in August each year.

'Participants in the Around Australia Ocean Race and Rally, all those following and supporting, and the world yachting media people, are not going to forget Broome in a hurry and I bet many will return.

In planning the rally, the coastline of Australia is divided in eight Rally Sectors with each Sector being sailed during the optimum weather period for that Sector. Each sector links to another to allow the complete circumnavigation to take place during what is considered to be the optimum times to undertake this great adventure.

Participants elect the rendezvous port they wish to start/finish from. The Rally fleet gathers as yachts join in as the fleet makes its anticlockwise circumnavigation of Australia – ‘Australia-To-Port’.

Much more Rally information and the above diagram can be found on the event web site www.sailaroundaustralia.com.au.

Rally participants may select one of many Rally Rendezvous Ports around the coastline of Australia to start and finish their Rally participation. Rally Sector Captains will be appointed to coordinate yachts that start/finish in each Sector with an ‘Admiral-of-The Fleet’ keeping a weather eye on the overall proceedings.

Event Slot Reservations can be secured now by going to the event web site and completing a Slot Reservation Form and paying the Slot Reservation fee. www.sailaroundaustralia.com.au

Williams continued with this update today 'With a little over 19 months before the west coast boats being the first to start in the Rally leave port - forty seven (47) Rally Slot Reservations, including many from overseas yachts people have been lodged.

'We are receiving regular inquiries and have a feeling there are a lot of cruising boat owners out there on the cusp of joining the Rally. Many are considering doing specific Sectors only and that is fine with us.

'The maximum number for the Rally fleet is 150 so people interested are encouraged to get their Slot Reservation in early to avoid disappointment.

'We are receiving Slot reservations from outside Australia and expect as the word spreads around the cruising world that we will have yachts from many countries joining the Rally. We are looking forward to welcoming our overseas participants.'

'Jump-To-It’ Discover Australia.

www.sailaroundaustralia.com.au
info@sailaroundaustralia.com.au