Saturday 24 January 2009:
Welcome meeting on the Bolgatty Palace Golf Park at 15.00 hour. Information about the Rally and Route, and briefing for the first leg. On this moment it's uncertain or there will be docking facilities in Goa. Talks are still going on between several organizations, Government and the Rally Organization.

Sunday January 25 2009
Start of the rally at 09.00 hour. More information and details will follow later.
On arrival in Salalah, contact 3 NM before the entrance the Salalah Port Control on VHF channel 16 and follow their instructions. After anchoring wait until Customs and Immigration have visit your boat, filled your papers and take your passports with them to their Office. Now you can go to the their building in the Container Port to collect your passports and visas. Payment by credit card (Mastercard or Visa). Mohammed Saad our agent will contact you and will give you all the required info and help.

February 24 2009 Salalah (Oman)
Captains meeting incl. all the crew members at 15.00 hour. Briefing, instructions, groups, safety rules etc.

February 25 2009 Start to Al Mukalla 260NM
This is the first leg to sail in convoy. Anchoring in the old dhow harbor. This is a bit rolling anchorage, we stops there for 2 days to be sure that all the yachts are ready for the next leg. Water and fuel can be obtained in jerrycans.

March 1 2009 Al Mukalla to Aden 280NM
Start time given on the last moment , the second leg in the Piracy area. Also this trip we sail we in convoy under the same strict rules as before.
Arrival in Aden steamerpoint anchorage in the night is not easy , there are many unlit big moorings. Inform 5 NM before arrival Aden Port Control on VHF channel 16 and follow their instructions. If not traveling inside the country a visa is not required. Immigration and Customs are in the Port, all you need crew lists, 2 passport photo's and they change the passports for a shore pass. A big supermarket (Lulu) and ATM also for US dollars are in Krater. Ask Taxi drivers Saeed or Omar for assistance. In 2008 we arranged a nice bus trip incl. Shopping in the Aden area.

March 07 2009
At 04.00 PM there is a captains meeting in the harbor. Clearance procedure : First visit Immigration and go with the form they given to the Harbormaster in the Signal station and obtain a sail permit to Eritrea. Visit again immigration and change your shore passes for your passports. List with information on good anchorages and advise will given to each yacht.

March 08 2009 Aden to Suakin 700 NM
Start time will given on the last moment for security reasons.
We sail in convoy to the Street of Bab el Mandab and enter Red Sea, where we sail the first 15 NM in convoy. After yachts are free to sail on their own conditions to Suakin. On arrival in Suakin, until now Port Control have never given any response on VHF channel 16. Our agent Mohammed will come to your boat and collect the Passports, papers and money, after finishing he will come back with shore passes. From here we can make a tour to Port Sudan, and visit the Market , also Email shops are there. Mohammed can arrange water and fuel, but you have to carry it by own dinghy to your yacht.

March 19 2009
Captains meeting at 17.00 on the shore. Written info for the next leg will given to all members. March 20 2009 Suakin to Port Ghalib 450 NM
Free start. On the information you find many good anchorages. From here head winds can be expected. Weather forecasts are generally not available for this part of the Red Sea. We will provide daily the grib files but these are not real good. Advise if there are light winds from the North , try to proceed with help of the motor.

Arriving in Port Ghalib is possible in the night, but our advise to do this not in strong winds. Call Port control on channel 16. The staff will welcome you at the welcome pier and arrange the Port Clearance. After clearance proceed to the Marina.Visas and sail permit can be obtain here. From Port Ghalib excursions to Abu Simbel, Ashwan and Luxor are possible. Near the marina is an International Airport. March 26 2009 there will be a captains meeting at 17.00 hour.

March 30 2009 Port Ghalib - Hurghada 135 NM
Free start to Hurghada. The marina is in town and direct near the deep water channel call the marina on channel 16 A dinghy will come and guide you to the mooring. Have a long line on deck to connect to the buoy. From here excursions are possible to Sharm el Sheik, Jordan and Israel or Luxor. On 09 April 2009 at 17.00 hour there will be a captains meeting.

April 10 2009 Hurghada to Port Suez 200 NM
Free start. The Gulf of Suez have many times strong Northerly winds, but there are many protected anchorages. On the provided info are all the details. Our agent in Suez will help you with refilling water, fuel and cooking gas, measurement and all you need. Also he inform about the departure day and time to sail to Ismailia . In Ismailia there is a small marina with mooring buoys. Water and electric is available. This is a good place for an Excursion to Cairo and the pyramids. Contact the Harbormaster for departure the next part of the Suez Canal to Port Said.

Port Said to Larnaca 235 NM
Arrival in Larnaca Marina is around the clock possible.
Contact the marina on channel 16.SCHENGEN RULES EU, Visa issued to nationals of no EU countries is only valid for 90 Days. This means a total of only 90 days can be spent in the Schengen Agreement countries in any 6 month period. Even if it is a multi-entry visa and time is spent in countries outside the agreement. Nor a new visa be issued within 6 months a Schengen Agreement country. A program for our stay will made later. Captains meeting 30 -04 -2009 17.00 hour.

May 1 2009 Larnaca - Tascucu 130NM
After our arrival, we have to visit harbormaster to obtain a transitlog valid for one year .Go with this to customs and immigration. Visas obtain by arrival and valid for max 3 months. After leaving Turkey there are no restrictions in time to come back and obtain a new visa.

May 4 2009 Tascucu to Boziazi 45 NM
Free start.

May 5 2009 Boziazi to Alanya 65NM
Start 06.00 am to arrive in the new Alanya Marina around 18.00 hour. This is the finish for this rally and we will organize a nice fare well party.

Alanya marina offers some free days, will arrange a welcome party and perhaps more. Alanya city will be very happy to host the Vasco da Gama Rally for the next years.

All the start data are depend the weather or not expected situations or circumstances.

Total distance India to Turkey 4500 NM