World Around Rallies

[agennai]

We're an italian family ( alessandro , lucetta and our baby 20 months years old blu) who are planning dic 2011 atlantic passage and after a couple of years in carribean area ( i can take a couple of sabbatical year only from 2014 to set 2015) move for a round the world cruise .
We have only 20 months frm carribean to mediterrian via suez so we're thinking to join us to some sailing organization to help us to manage the trip
The world ARC goes to south africa and is too long for us
The BLUE WATER RALLY sound good
Do you have any informations or experience about these or other organizations or any suggestions for a "short" voyage around the world with baby? THNKS

[MarkJ]

I thought the World Arc was 16 months?

Starting from the Caribbean island of Saint Lucia in January 2012, World ARC rakes you on a sixteen-month trip of a lifetime, sailing the whole way around the world, crossing three of the five great oceans.

Welcome to World Cruising Club: World Arc

[svcambria]

Starting from the Caribbean island of Saint Lucia in January 2012, World ARC rakes you on a sixteen-month trip of a lifetime, sailing the whole way around the world, crossing three of the five great oceans.

I think that is the best way to put it - "rakes you on... trip of a lifetime".
A back-of-the-envelope calculation of approximately 18000 miles at 5 knots average speed means 150 days of sailing out of 420 days of rally, a little more than one day out of three for the entire event. These rallies have to be quick to use the weather windows available, so keeping up with the group is important. When I was in Tahiti a couple of years ago, two rallies came through; they stayed, one after the other, at Marina Taina (upscale) and socialized among themselves. They could have been anywhere warm and humid; their chart plotters told them it was the Society Islands. It felt like a wet version of a Cook's Tour. Arrangements for arrival and berthage had been made in advance for them and support by way of parts and service was available, but the whole package came at an enormous price. If you like to sail - a lot - and you are on a schedule, this might be a niche for you, but...
Many people have found a year in the Caribbean not long enough. If you do find it long enough, there are a few thousand miles of US east coast worth exploring, plus the Canadian Maritimes, on your way to Ireland and northern Europe following the Gulf Stream a la Columbus. Or go the other way to Brazil and perhaps even Argentina on your way to Gibralter. There are many ways to enjoy your 20 months at your own pace.

Good luck!

Michael

[MarkJ]

Originally Posted by svcambria

It felt like a wet version of a Cook's Tour. Arrangements for arrival and berthage had been made in advance for them and support by way of parts and service was available, but the whole package came at an enormous price.

Michael

Hmmmm. You're being pretty tough on the people that do those rallys. I would think the average value per boat would be about $1m and the investment of time is critical. The price is only about USD$20,000-$30,000 or 2 to 3% of the value of the boat and cheaper than the 2 year rent on cheap housing in the western world.

If these time poor people could not have this type of adventure fully organise and compressed into 2 years they could not do it at all.

Their wealth is distributed to the employees of the organising comapanies as well as the businesses along the way.

They do move fast and this in itself means there is little disturbance to the rest of the cruisers. They may be tossed out of their marina for 1 or 2 weeks every 2 years. Panama Canal is set up so they take a ships place and dont delay other small boats.

And why shouldnt they talk to others on the rally after their long passage? How often do 'normal' cruisers go seek locals as friends? I can count the number of locals we have had on Sea Life for dinner in 2.5 years on one hand. Few would have had more, and many cruisers the only locals on board would have been the Customs guy.

20 months might give a person an idea whats out there and the enthusiasm to do a longer more detailed cruise when he has time.


So Alessandro, you do it the way you want. Rallys can be great fun, and in reality, the only way you will get around the world in such a short time. Doing it without a rally there wouldn't be enough motivation to keep going at such a pace.




Mark

[shadow]

I agree with Mark, just do it this way first, so you can really get to know your boat and sharpen your sailing skills.. Take notes of where you would like to return after the rally..