North American Rallies Attract Record Numbers Of Participants

Created by doina. Last modified on 2006-11-01 11:04:38
Topic: Rallies
Countries: British Virgin Islands, Mexico, USA

The concept of the the “cruiser rally” shows no signs of waning in popularity as two long running rallies set off this week with record numbers of participants.

The Baja Ha-Ha cruiser rally, a 750 mile trip from San Diego to Cabo San Lucas in Mexico, set sail on Monday October 30 with its largest ever number of entries - 164 boats - carrying 657 people - taking the start.

On Monday November 6 the Caribbean 1500, a fun race and cruise from Hampton, Virginia to Tortola in the British Virgin Islands will set off, again with a record number of participants.

Both rallies are very much organised with fun in mind, though organisers do request the crew has a minimum of offshore experience as well as a general seaworthiness for the yacht.

Organisers of the Baja Ha-Ha Rally state : “The goals for the Ha-Ha are for everyone to make it safely to Cabo San Lucas, for everyone to make scores of new cruising friends, and to have an outrageously fun - but responsible - time.” Stopovers of one to two nights are made at Turtle Bay village and the uninhabited Bahia Santa Maria, with beach parties and other activities planned in both places. The first boats start arriving in Cabo San Lucas on November 9, with the awards ceremony held on Saturday November 11th.

Both a rally and a cruise in company from the US to the British Virgin Islands, the Caribbean 1500 Rally sets off on Monday, November 6th, its destination the Village Cay Marina on Tortola. Rally yachts gather at the Bluewater Yachting Center in Hampton, VA, for several days of briefings and final preparations leading up to the start. After a passage of some 7 to 12 days, the fleet arrives at Tortola to a series of nightly awards parties bringing participants together to swap experiences and exchange cruising plans. The Caribbean 1500 Rally is organised by the Cruising Rally Association, which also runs the West Marine Atlantic Cup for those returning to the US after the Caribbean sailing season.

http://www.baja-haha.com/

http://www.carib1500.com/