Third Vasco da Gama Yacht Rally
NEWS

Update 11 May 2009 :

After a windy passage in the Red Sea with strong Southerlies till Sudan and strong to very strong Northerly winds in the Northeren part, the most yachts leave the Red Sea. The situation today:

5 yachts are sailing westwards in the Med, back to their home countries

9 yachts are in the new Antalya Marina

1 Yacht is in Herzlya Israel

1 yacht is in Fineke Marina

1 Yacht in Larnaca Cyprus

6 yachts in the Suez Canal

2 yachts in Hurghada

1 yacht with engine problems in Port Ghalib

Except the accident of Cool Change with the rock Island in Sudan, read Leonie from Island Fling their story, broken sails and some small damages all the yachts where happy to be in Port Suez.

We publice also the mail about the piracy in the Gulf of Aden written by Elaine Bunting in Yachting World on the homepage under Piracy and an other publication from a Indian News paper about Cochin under latest news.

After several discussions with marina managers in Egypt, we are now working on a program for sailors who like to spend the winter in the Red Sea and take part in the fourth rally, having the profit of the well organize Suez Canal passage and prices,discounts in marinas and the experience of the rally organization. Later this month we will publice this on the website.

Also there is a update on the fourth rally participants list, because the bad internet connection in the Red Sea it’s unsure or all your mails are arrived, if you have send your entry form and you are not on the list please contact us. The good news for the next rally, Suakin in Sudan have now electricity a nice internet shop direct on the anchorage is now under construction and will be open later this year. In the third rally there is an update on the foto gallery.

Aden, March 07, 2009
Rally starts from Aden to Sudan.
March 08 the rally starts from Aden to Suakin in Sudan, 700NM. On this moment there are very strong winds in the Street of Bab el Mandeb. Until Port Ghalib in Egypt there are not of limited email possible.
Oman, march 2, 2009
Vasco Da Gama rally safe and sound in Aden Today 03 March 2009 at 07.00AM the rally with 24 yachts arrived in Aden. The crews of all the 24 yachts are fine and happy to be here in the Port. The rally sail with light winds by day and motoring in the night the 600 NM. Problems with te propeller of the Sparrow and a shortage of fuel by some yachts need to stop in the fishing Harbor of Suhair in Yemen. The extreme friendly staff organized the boatlift and refill the yachts very quick and after 7 hours the fleet set sail again for the second halve to Aden.Sailing in Yemen waters is safe and without any problem we arrived in Aden.The happy officials of Immigration, Customs, Port Control and harbormaster did the check in for all the yachts in a short time with special facilities for the rally members. On this moment 2 yachts are still on their trip to Aden. Tulipano his skipper admitted with Kidney stones in a hospital in Goa and delayed his trip fot 12 days. In Salalah stuck the InvictusIV with engine problems. The latest news is the problems are salved and they will start tomorrow. The Schoggelgaul returned with several technical problems back to Cochin and quit the rally.
Oman, februari 23, 2009
Farewell Lloyd.
Lloyd, one of the 2 dogs on board of the Mistral, died the day after arrival in Oman. He got sick in India. For 8 years he went sailing, more as 20.000 miles and was joining for the third time the Vasco da Gama Rally. He was very populair in the med, Red Sea and India.He is burried in the dessert close to the sea. The skipper and his running mate Yugo will miss him. Goodbye friend we never will forget you and thanks for all your support and friendship.
Goa, february 08, 2009
The Third Rally left Goa.
The Third Rally has left Goa on the leg to Oman. They will arrive in about 10 days. Pictures from the fleet leaving Goa can be found in the Fotogallery , thanks to Bernd Kaiser.
Cochin, December 17, 2008
Assistance for arriving yachts
After the departure of the Volvo Ocean Race and the India Boatshow 08, time for an update.
- Last week there where meetings with customs and immigration. To avoid the time consuming paperwork, they will send me a set of required forms this week. After scanning, I will mail these forms to the yachts coming to Cochin. I will also mail the procedure for arriving yachts and info about entryfee.
- Om arrival in Cochin, my Indian boatboys will assist by refilling fuel and water on the anchorage.
- The coming days there will be talks between Marina India and the Captain of Ports in Goa to replace the pontoons in the first week of January 2009.
november 30, 2008
Facilities for Yachts in Panjim (Goa)
Report from S/Y Mandarina.
With regard to Panjim Yacht Station mentioned in previous reports.
The pontoon and walkway have been removed by order of the Captain of Ports, Panaji. There are little or no facilities available in Panjim for cruising yachts, as the Verem Bay anchorage now has a Casino Boat moored to four large permanent moorings.
Panjim is off the chart for yachties now, the local Authorities are more interested in the revenues received from the gambling boats moored in and around the area than from cruising folk. Very sad, as the town had a lot to offer.
Regards,
Jerry & Caz Flint
Yacht Mandarina.
november 30, 2008
Galle Harbour, Sri Lanka
Having spent two periods of time here in Galle Harbour, I would like to post the following information for other yachts planning to visit Galle.
Our first visit:
We used Don Windsor as our agent. The people we dealt with were most unhelpful.
Electricity was available, but we had to lay out a 10,000 SLR deposit. We had electricity connected, the Port Electrician was efficient and courteous. Water was available, $10 per metric tonne, minimum quantity. Diesel, delivered in 205 litre drums, was 130 SLR per litre, (pump price 100 SLR per litre). We calculated that we needed 350 litres of diesel, so as it cannot be returned, ordered 325 litres, with a view of adding a jerry can to top us up. The diesel was delivered, hand pumped in, and I started topping up the tank from jerry cans. 170 litres later, the tank was full! I ordered another 170 litres to top up the jerries. Aproximately 150 litres was delivered. I had paid for 325 + 170 litres of diesel at 130 SLR per litre, 64,350 SLR, with no receipts. I paid for 495 litres, but received more like 305 litres. Our tank holds 400 litres, the maths is obvious. I visited Don Windsor to complain, after our electricity had been disconnected, no offer of the balance of the "electricity deposit" was offered, I had to ask, and the rupees were hurriedly put together from a variety of sources, the balance of the deposit was not ready at hand for me. Nothing in the way of apology was offered nor any offer of any sort of restitution for the diesel short fall (which I naturally couldn't prove). We left with a very sour taste in our mouths.
Our second visit:
We returned 5 days later (due to a very strong opposing current (4.5 - 5.0 knots)) from our attempt to reach Penang. We chose GAC as our agent, $225 c/w $200 for Windsor. The agent, Nuwan, was courteous and efficient. A receipt was given for the fees, without being asked for. Electricity was connected within 20 minutes with no deposit required. Diesel was delivered for 1000 SLR a load, in my jerry cans, at pump price (Diesel was reduced to 80.2 SLR per litre in a recent budget). I went with the delivery man and saw my diesel being put into the cans, and I paid the garage, not the agent!
Rumour has it that the official in Windsors office that we dealt with has been "removed".......We have not seen him in the port this stay. Nuwan can be contacted on VHF Ch 71 or by mobile phone (+94 7777 18007). We sent him an SMS, and he phoned us almost immediately at 07:30 hrs. Or you can contact him by e-mail, srilanka@gacworld.com.
Jerry & Caz Flint
S/Y Mandarina