New Series of Fun Rallies on Chartered Yachts

by Trevor Joyce on 13 Oct 2009
On line yacht charter company Boat Bookings introduce a series of yacht rallies for clients seeking to add an extra dimension their sailing holiday. Operated by Australian rally specialist Mariner Boating Holidays the events are billed as the only yacht rallies in the world where there are more lay days than races - where even the racing is optional.

The Mariner events offer a number of unique features:

• A series of fun races along the rally route

• World’s ‘must do’ cruising destinations

• The program set up on a one way basis reducing overall mileage and increasing the time spent at each stop along the way.

• A social program featuring inclusive dinners after each race, adding an important social dimension to what could be a solitary experience.

• Pre-booked and pre-paid marina berthing at the end of most races

• Race day newsletter of updated rally information, stopover information and lay day suggestions

• A complete lay day between each race to allow time to explore each destination along the way

• Access to local knowledge for information on where to go and what to see and how much to pay

• 24/7 technical support for the yachts so that problems that may arise are dealt with promptly

• Host and/or hostess to ensure the success of the cruise

• Careful selection of the best yachts from 40 to 54 ft. from the fleets from reputable operators in each location

• Opportunity to join a rally as a complete crew, single or couple regardless of previous sailing experience

• Travelling as a group also adds a security dimension


The 2010 programme commences in January with a one way rally between Phuket in Thailand and Langkawi in Malaysia. The itinerary takes in the beautiful remote islands of southern Thailand that are inaccessible on a Phuket return charter.

The program will then continue as follows;

April/May-The Caribbean Canter between Guadeloupe and St. Martin in the Caribbean. Stops along the way include Antigua during race week, Nevis and St.Kitts, the French island of St. Barts and finishes in St Martin.

May - The Aegean Rally; a unique combination of the Greek Islands of the Eastern Aegean and the coast of Turkey between Bodrum and Marmaris.

June/July – The Italian Job along the Amalfi Coast and through the islands of the Gulf of Naples in Italy

August/September – the Bonifacio Yacht Rally combing southern Corsica with the world famous Costa Smerelda in Sardinia – the playground of the rich and the famous

September – the Croatia Yacht Rally a one way rally from Sibenik to Dubrovnik through the islands off the Dalmatian coast of Croatia including Vis and Lastovo.

The rally packages, offered on a per person basis, include the yacht charter and most of the expenses normally incurred during a sailing holiday but without the hassles associated with foreign exchange and negotiation of prices.

For more details click on the event page on the boatbookings website www.boatbookings.com website, go to the events page, from the there to the Mariner Boating Rallies and from the there to the brochure for each event.