The second Vasco da Gama Yacht Rally starts with 23 yachts from Kekova in Turkey at 30 September 2007 to Setur marina in Fineke who surprised us with a 3 days free stay and a nice welcome. From here we take the new route along the beautiful Coast of South East Turkey to Mersin. As guest of the municipality, with 5 days free stay in the Fishing Port in the middle of this bustling town, celebrating the end of the Ramadan we had a great time.

Cyprus
Also a new destination Larnaca, as guests of the Larnaca marina we have spend one week here. The efficient and friendly Marina staff, gives us a warm welcome, helping with the clearance, organized in cooperation with the Yacht Club, Governement, Municipality and the Cyprus Tourist Organisation a lot of activities as BBQ, diner, Dance evening in the Castle a bus trip over the island and a sightseeing in Larnaca. And as last but not least the regatta at Sunday, several of our yachts have participate in this. With the marina in the centre of Larnaca and big shops, supermarkets and good restaurants nearby it was great.>p? Egypt 2005 and 2007
In Port Said, Mr.Nagib Latif (Director of Felix Agency) arranged special prices and discounts for several harbours within the Suez Canal Authorities. All yachtsman were treated to a very nice dinner, with traditional music and dance.
From Ismaylia, our first tour was to visit the Cairo museum, Pyramids and Sfinx.
Sharm El Sheikh 24 November till 2 December 2005
A large part of the group went to St. Catharine Monastery and National Park Sinai.

El Gouna
Several yachts visited Abu Tig marina and enjoyed the luxury and ambiance greatly.
Philip Jones, the marina manager, provided excellence service to the visiting yachts.

Hurghada 2007
The new Hurghada marina in the middle of Town near all the shops and restaurants is perfect for a longer stop. In the marina a good supermarket with the same prices as in town, ATM, boatshop, several restaurants and more shops all make it pleasant. Captain Sherif N. Shami and his friendly and helpful staff can provide all excursions, gasfilling, fuel, repairs and a lot more. Due the enormous interest for this marina by yachties, I advise to make a reservation in advance. ( See link under sponsors)

Safaga
The new Kiriazi Marina and the near anchorage, surrounded by wonderful coral reefs is a must for diving or snorkeling enthusiasts. Only some yachts have visited this marina and the Marina Manager has kindly invited all the yachts to visit next time.
A usefull man for yachts in Safaga is Nagib Travel Taxi No. 8666. tel. 0105251639

Port Ghalib
Port Ghalib Marina 15 till 23 January 2006 and 15 December 2007 till 2 January 2008, host the Vasco da Gama Yacht rally of the beginning.
This new marina, still under construction, is situated in a huge holiday resort and built in the style of Port Grimaud in France. The management invite us to a free stay including an exclusive dinner in the new Coral Beach Diving Hotel. Camper and Nicholson, advisers for this marina, were also extremely hospitable and gave us a welcome reception. From here we made an excursion to Luxor. As Port of Entry and the last port in Egypt, the efficient working marina staff did a great job. Mr. James Pringle, Senior Counselor from the M.A. Kharafi Group, and Capt. Sherif Fawzy, the Marina Manager, gave all the yachties a wonderful time in their marina. During our last stay several restaurants and shops have opened and provisioning must now easy direct near the yachts. The extension of the marina must be ready now and for yachts coming from the South the first Port of entry in Egypt and very important to check in here and avoid the expensive agent fees in other harbors.

Jordan 7-17 December 2005
In Aqaba, the yachtsman participated in the opening of Talabay Marina. It is situated in a very luxurious resort. More than 10 reporters from almost all the Jordan News papers and 3 television teams worked together with the Vasco da Gama Rally to make an unforgettable opening for this marina. We appreciated the hospatility of Talabay Chairman Mr. Ziad Abu Jaber, the Marina Manager Ahmed Qatawneh and Nikky. During our 10 days free stay, we went on 2 excursions, one 4-day trip to Petra, Wadi Rum and the Dead Sea, and a 1-day trip to Petra.

Israel 17 December 2005 till 4 january 2006
In Eilat Mr. Doron Heler the Marina Manager and his staff did a great job finding places for all the yachts in this crowded marina. From here many yachties visited Jerusalem and other holy places.

Sudan 2- 8 February 2006 and 14 - 22 January 2007
During our 1-week stay in Suakin, the oldest natural harbour in the Red Sea, we made a trip through the dessert to Port Sudan. Mohammed the agent will help yachties with the shorepasses and refilling water, fuel and gas.

Eritrea 15 Februari - 22 Februar1 2006 and February 2008
Anchoring in the well-protected harbour of Massawa, the majority of yachties enjoyed a trip to the capital Asmara, situated in the mountains, at an altitude of 2.200 metres. The water in this part of the Red Sea is not as clear as in the North, but there are still many beautiful reefs.

Yemen departure 20 March 2006 and 3 March 2008
In Aden , the rally organisation had several meetings with the harbour authorities, Coastguard and the Navy for organise the safety aspects of the trip in the areas of the Gulf of Aden affected by pirates.
All the yachts filled up with diesel at very reasonable prices to prepare for the coming dangerous trip. Now there is in town a very big supermarket (Lulu), Taxi drivers as Saeed and Omar went very helpful for us.

Oman 31 March - 7 April 2006 and 10 march 2008 - 3 April 2008 Salalah Port the biggest Container Harbour in the Arabian Sea, still has a good anchorage for yachts inside the harbour, but space is limited. The harbour authorities (Mr. Bart Noothoven van Goor, Mr Rolf van Strijbos, Mr.Mohammed Hardan and Mr. Cyril van der Merwe) organised, in co-operation with the tourist office, a very good folklore show and a very nice evening in the Club. From here visas were arranged for India and we started the longest trip in this rally, the 1100 miles to Mumbai.

2008
The extension of the new breakwater is almost ready. Our agent Mohammed Saad did a good job, also with organizing rent a cars for a reasonable price. In Salalah town are now several more big supermarkets. L,Oasis just outside the Port is the Port Club with good foods and drinks special for the non alcoholics. And Cyril and his staff have given us a great time.

India Arrival 16-22 April 2006
In Mumbay, a very festive welcome was organised by our sponsors H2O, Mr. Somani and his staff, Marine Solutions ( Gen. Maj. S.Dutta VSM retd and Mr Gautama Dutta and his wife Anju) and Drishti Marina, with Commander Patil and the staff in Goa. The flag in ceremony held by Vice-Admiral S.S.Bais and the following dinner were great. All the Rally participants were given honourable membership of the Royal Bombay Yacht Club (the oldest Yacht Club in the Far East), allowing us free use of all their facilities. Our thanks for this and the nice dinner party in the club, specially to the President, Mr. Gulshan Rai.

In 2008 Arrival in the anchorage near the Gateway of India, despite any facility for yachts, our sponsors Marine Solutions and the Royal Bombay Yacht Club gives us a perfect time. Arranged all the paperwork, refilling fuel and water, taxi boats for bringing to the shore and a lot more. A new regatta to Goa was organized with the new name FORTS CUP OF INDIA referring to all the old Portugees forts along the Indian Coast. It was an amazing experience. Thanks General Dutta and Gautam and Anju Dutta from Marine Solutions, together with your staff.

Vasco da Gama Cup 23 April- 30 April 2006
A special cup was created in co-operation with the Maharashtra Bureau of Tourism, our sponsors. It included our rally and 4 sailing boats from the Indian Navy. The route led along the coast to the first stop in the fishing harbour of Jaigarh. And the second leg was to Panjim in Goa.
Mr. Pratapsingh Rane, Chief Minister of the state of Goa, attended the welcoming ceremony and he presented the Vasco da Gama cup to the winning boat of the Indian Navy. Due to newly formed relations, a small new marina in the Mandovi River in the centre of Panjim city was established. The first marina in India.
The Vasco da Gama International yacht Rally is now recognized as the most important activity of the yachting community in the Middle-Far East. With it's successful completion, the missions has been achieved, with a colorful character and rich social content.

Look at www.markara.com the site from Mark Aranha, guest on board of JUWIN during the Vasco da Gama Cup.