Fourth Vasco da Gama Yacht Rally
NEWS

Update, 2010: On the 22th March 2010, our webmaster and friend Bob Suurhof passed away after a brief illness in the Amsterdam Medical Center. We remember Bob as a passionate sailor and always very interested in our rally, he did for us a good job and we will miss him very much. He was only 61 years old. Farewell Bob and thanks for all you did for us. Lodewijk Brust, Vasco da Gama Rally

Update Wednesday June 2, 2010:
For info about the new marina in Mumbai mail to the manager: jose.verghese@oceanblue.in

Update Monday April 19, 2010:
All rallyboats are safe in Mumbai, India. Yesterday the last two yachts arrived safely at the gateway of India after a long journey. The Vasco da Gama Rally now lies for anchor in Mumbai with the total of eleven yachts. Two boats are already in Goa and two others are sailing the Indian coast to the south. On behalf of all the participating sailers the rally organisation would like to thank the UKMTO, the coalition fleet and the Yemen and Oman coastguard. Their help and advice made a safe passage possible. Later this week a lot of yahths will be sailing to Goa and Cochin.

Update Tuesday March 23, 2010:
On Wednesday the 17th of march all of the fifteen Vasco da Gama Rally yachts arrived safely at the marina in Salalah in Oman. Lo from the Mistral said the journey went alright without any incidents. A lot of safety for the ships was arragend by two fregats. One from the Canadian and one from the Omani marine. Also there was a militairy helicopter that flew by on two occassions. All of the crews are enlightenend and relieved that all went well.

 Update Tuesday March 09, 2010:
Cautiously positive news about Paul and Rachel Chandler
On october 26 we informed the website visitors about Paul and Rachel Chandler, who participated in the second rally and are being held prisoners by Somalian pirates. There ius news about them, and it is positive news. We very much hope that the Somalian president is telling the truth!
On the BBC-news website we read:
Somali President Sharif Sheikh Ahmed has said efforts are being made to free a Kent couple held hostage by pirates at the "earliest possible date". He also stated:
"We understand there is no danger. They are not in danger."
Read the whole article on BBC-news here

Update Tuesday March 02, 2010:
The Rally arrived in Aden
Monday March 01 the rally arrived in Aden. The Cobble has engine problems but Anthea offered generous to tow them 200 NM to Aden.
Ten members have booked a trip to the capital Sanaa and others will make a day trip in the Aden area tomorow.
This morning the first yachts have start to fill up their diesel tanks and happily went to the big Lulu supermarket for stock up their ships with food and drinks for the first time in two months.
The plan is to sail to salalah next week.

Update Tuesday February 23, 2010:
The last 2 days we crawled 120 NM south with 5 to 6 Bf winds. Meanwhile the south wind blows 7 Bf, but we had good anchorage in Mersa Dudo. This morning however, we were dismissed by soldiers. We've tried everything to be allowed to stay, because we are legal in Eritrea with visa and sailpermits, but we could not convince them. When they started to threaten with their weapons, it was too much for us, so we left.
Under difficult conditions we searched and finally found a reasonably sheltered anchorage behind a rock island.
It rolls a bit but you can't have it all. February 27, the winds are supposed to turn the north and then we leave for Aden straight away.

Update Thursday January 14, 2010:
After some problems because we didn't have all the custom papers, we had to wait for several days before Capt. Sherif Fawzy, the marina manager, solved these problems. He and his staff did a great job and we thank them all very much! All the yachts left Port Ghalib last Tuesday and sailed and/or motored in very light wind conditions to Sharm Luli, a distance of 70 NM. The last yacht arrived there at 21.30. With the help of other yachtsmen they were able to arrive in the dark. The Divanty had a problem with her rudder. The crew, with the help of some other members, will try to repair this under water. All the skippers decided to wait here until the repairs are made. Because the authorities did not grant us to go ashore, the only option is to swim round the yachts...
(See also the last pictures in the photogallery) Update, Jan 12, 2010:
The Alondra crew spreads rumours in Thailand/Malaysia about the convoys in the Gulf of Aden. All yachts From the first and second rally arrived save and sound in Mumbai, incl. the Alondra. See the third rally/comments to read the comments of other rally-participants.

Update, Jan 04, 2010:
Rally left Hunghada Marina for Aden
This week 17 yachts will leave Hurghada Marina and set sail via Port Ghalib, Sudan and Eritrea to Aden. Nr. 100 Forever Freedom is still with technical problems in Cyprus and and have left the rally. The yachts Adelante and Medea have finished and plan to sail this winter in the Red Sea.
The last weeks we had a great time in Hurghada Marina with on Christmas eve a perfect diner in one of the restaurants here, the day after a lunch on the pontoons and New Years eve a nice karoke in one of the pubs in the marina.

This marina is the best option to spend the winter in the nice and warm Red Sea. Sheri Sami and his staff did a perfect job to give us a great time here in the Marina.Thank you very much.

Update, nov 26, 2009:
Vasco Da Gama Rally in the Red Sea
Today 25 Nov. all 14 yachts left Port Suez and are now sailing in the Gulf of Suez. The passage trough the Suez Canal was without problems. The yachts were split in two groups of seven yachts and did the passage divided over two days. On the other hand it was an unpleasant surprised to hear at the checkout in Ismailia, that the Suez Canal Authorities starting June 1, 2009 have increased the price with 40%. It is always difficult for the organization because when we're not informed, we give wrong info to the members and participants. Aspecialy as a bill is presented with the old prices still mentioned! Yachts up to 10 Meter LOA now pay USD 16 per day, Yachts up to 15 Meter LOA USD 21 and over 15 Meter LOA USD 30. For every month 25 days are charged. The yacht club in Port Said is now restored and can host 20 yachts using their own anchors and lines to the quay. It can be very turbulent, but a stop in case of bad weather in the med, is a good option. The staff of Felix Agency assisted in the marina. The Ismailia yacht club has also place for 20 yachts on the quay, but they only have a few moorings so most yachts have to use their own anchor. Felix Agency have no facilities here. Anchoring is possible and no charge.Port Suez Yacht Club has now a floating dock for approx. 20 yachts and Karkar the bosun of the club helps with his boat to the yachts mooring, also people of Felix Agency led by Mr Magdy the manager in Suez give good lap. All 3 clubs provide free water and electricity and in the Suez yacht club also free wireless internet (WLAN).

Piracy
The rally organization was contacted by authorities, as you cabn see in the following email:
Dear Mr Brust.
I understand that your organisation will shortly be arranging a yachtrally in and around the Gulf of Aden.
I would very much appreciate the opportunity to speak with you about this, and draw your attention to the serious risks associated with these waters, and explain the limits of the assistance we would be able to provide in case of an incident. I would also ask that your draw any participants' attention to the travel advice on our website
www.fco.gov.uk/en/travel-and-living-abroad/staying-safe/river-safety
which explains why the threat in the area is currently at a high level.
I look forward to hearing from you.
Best wishes,
Ailsa Latham
Head of Section | Country Casework Team for Africa and the Middle East | Consular Directorate | Foreign and Commonwealth Office | WH4.8 | King Charles Street| London SW1A 2AH | More information on the safety-subject: www.yachtpiracy.org

Update, nov 10, 2009:
Turbulent passage to Egypt
After a somewhat turbulent passage to Egypt Saturday Night, Sunday and Monday 14 boats moored at Port Said. Sunday and Monday are all measured and yachts thanks to the rapid settlement by our agent Felix and was the first group on Tuesday, November 10 ready for the first passage.S, At 6 AM, 7 pilots arrived in the yacht club to transit the Suez Canal to Ismailia. The weather was excellent providing a comfortable journey. The security measures in the channel are very strict and every 500 meter you see military posts on both sides of the channel. We were passed by southbound goiing convoy of 5 big ships. However, this ships were moored 20 KM North of Ismailia at Ismailia and waiting to the north convoy going to pass. Firms also our convoy were stopped because the first 4 ships of the convoy were warships, after the passage of these boats we could continue our journey and arrived at 13.00 hour in the Ismailia Yachtclub. Today Wednesday we expected the next group of 7 yachts here. For as Sunday we organized a trip to Cairo and the pyramids. Then the next week the 2nd trip to Suez canal is planned.
(Also see some new pictures in the fotogallery)

Update, oct 26, 2009:
Bad news
Paul and Rachel Chandler of sailingyacht Lynn Rival, who joined the second rally in 2007-2008 to India, are hyjacked by pirats in the Indian Ocean. After finishing the rally in Cochin they decided to sail in January 2008 to the African East Coast together with the Canadian rally yacht Alero. In May I received a mail from Rachel, she wrote that they would fly back to the UK because Pauls fathers health problems. She also stated that the Alero has left the Seychelles with some other yachts to the far East. They planed to sail later in the year to Thailand/Maylaisia. For more information see the information on the Noonsite- and The Sun-websites. If any one has any news please mail to Lo@vascodagamarally.nl. As the Indian Ocean is now the most dangerous place for piracy, I advise sailors who sail from the far East, to sail after passing Sri Lanka along the Indian West Coast to Goa and cross the Arabian Sea to Salalah and close under the Coast of Yemen to the Red Sea.
More info about the Lynn Rivel:
The Associated Press
African Press Organization
Noonsite
The Sun
Algemeen Dagblad (Dutch/Nederlands)

Update, oct 11, 2009:
Fourth Vasco da Gama Rally started
The fourth Vasco da Gama Rally starts on Sunday 11 October 2009 from Alanya marina to Mersin the last Port in Turkey with 6 participating sailing Yachts.We sail this trip with stops daily and plan to arrive in Mersin 16th October. In Larnaca join other 4 yachts in the fleet and 7 yachts in Port Said.3 participating yachts are also already in Hurghada.

Update oct, 2009:
Farewell Party Alanya Marina
Friday 9 October Alanya Marina organized a farewell party for the participants to the fourth Vasco da Gama yacht Rally, along with the crews of the other yachts lying in the marina and some reporters of Turkish Newspapers and a Dutch reporter of the Dutch Telegraph and Sailing magazine Nautique.

The President, General Manager and Deputy General Manager speech and expect the VDG Rally used Alanya marina as their home Port in Turkey, wished the participants a good and safe trip.Lo Brust replied, although the marina is not completely finished,wich given the high standard that this marina is build is not strange, but there is good progress and in the next months the marina will be completed. This marina is situated on the best place in Turkey for the yachtsman coming or going to the Suez Canal and one of the most comfortable and having the best facilities.

Alanya Marina, we thank you very much for your hospitality, help and service! We hope to see you back at the finish of the 5th VDG rally in 2011.
(Visit also the Fourth rally-website Fotogallery and see the update!)

Update july, 2009:
The rally route and dates are changed slightly. From Turkey the rally leads to Libanon and Cyprus to Port Said. Christmas and New Year are celebrated in the new Hurghada Marina. Participating yachts who join the rally only to Hurghada Marina or Port Ghalib have a discount for the rally of 150,- Euros. Paper charts of the Red Sea are on board of the Mistral and are free to borrow, and also there are two used Red Sea Pilots available. Remember you need courtesy flags for all the countries we will be visiting. Please also inform us about the sizes of your shirts! In august all the members will receive information about payments by your email.
Update june, 2009:
Currrently we are visiting Syria, Libanon,Israel and Cyprus doing some research or it's interesting to visit this countries on the fourth rally. For Egypt we received interesting news from Felix Maritime Agency and the new Hurghada Marina. Later this month we will publice this and the new program till Hurghada on our website.
Update may, 2009:
Bolghatty—Cochin’s dot on the Yacht map of the world
(Report from http://www.travel.homestayscohin.com)
Bolghatty Island, situated off the Cochin coast, houses the famous Bolghatty Palace. The island is connected to the mainland by ferries, and recently by bridge. The Palace has been converted into a heritage hotel equipped with a golf course, too. There are daily Kathakali performances for the guests here.
Once the home of the British Governors, it was built by the Dutch in 1744. The Kerala Tourism Development Corporation helps in its maintenance. The calm backwaters around parts of the island provides for great boating. There are a number of birds that make this island their homes.
Dutch merchants had built a villa on an island locally known as ‘Ponnikkara’ in 1744. It had green gardens, and was later called the Bolghatty Palace, and became an important picnic resort for the Dutch.
The yachting berth at the Marina near Bolghatty Palace came to be around the time of the Volvo Ocean Race. More recently, the Vasco da Gama Yacht Rally, from Kochi to Turkey took off in mid February. This three-and-a-half-month event will have stopovers in Oman, Yemen, Egypt and Cyprus before finishing at Alanya in Turkey.
The marina here will be the only one in the world to have an attached golf course. It has berthing facilities for 50 yachts. Two other marinas are being planned in this coastal city—at Maradu, and another in one of Cochin’s islands.
Update 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.