Down Under Rally heading to New Caledonia from Gold Coast's Southport Yacht Club
by Bronwen Hemmings 26 Apr 2018 15:01 PDT
14-21 May 2018
Leaving the Seaway Go East - Down Under Cruising Rally © Bronwen Hemmings
Departing Southport Yacht Club (SYC) on May 14 2018, the 780nm Down Under Rally voyage will commence, heading for New Caledonia, with an estimated arrival date of 21 May 2018.
The Go East Rally provides participants with the opportunity to make the voyage to New Caledonia in their own vessel and to do so in the company of likeminded people as part of a fleet of vessels.
This year 42 Yachts hailing from Queensland, New South Wales, Victoria, Tasmania and Western Australia have joined the 2018 Go East rally and gathered at Southport Yacht Club with the intention to set sail for New Caledonia on May 14th, 2018 subject to suitable weather conditions being forecast for the voyage.
Over 100 people who are the owners and crews of the participating vessels will assemble at Southport Yacht Club at 07:30am on May 14, at which time the Australian Border Force will process their outward departure and issue certificated of clearance to allow the yachts to depart the country. Once clearance has been issued the fleet will depart the Southport Seaway on the first suitable weather and begin the ocean voyage to New Caledonia which is expected to take 5-6 days. For the majority of participants this will be their first time sailing a multiple day / night ocean voyage.
The majority of the vessels who participate in the rally will spend six months sailing and cruising in New Caledonia and Vanuatu before returning to Australia in late October.
For further information please visit the Down Under Rally website via www.downunderrally.com/about-go-seat or alternatively contact rally organiser, John Hembrow via 0417 833 337 or