Med Bound 2007 Motor Yacht Rally Gathers Steam

Created by doina. Last modified on 2007-01-09 11:40:06
Topic: Rallies
Countries: Azores, Bermuda, Gibraltar, USA

Med Bound 2007--a rally for passagemaking motor yachts--is gathering steam, with seven owners reporting that they plan to join the rally from Fort Lauderdale to Bermuda, four of them going on to the Azores, and five planning to make make the passage from the Azores to Gibraltar. One yacht will make a passage directly from Newport to Horta.

Although other motor yachts are welcome, all yachts on the list to date are Nordhavns.

What does Med Bound 2007 have to offer passagemaking powerboaters? Like the Nordhavn Atlantic Rally 2004 (NAR), this event offers:

• Safety, security and camaraderie of cruising "in company"

• Pre-arranged dockage in Bermuda, the Azores, and Gibraltar

• Social events in each port

• Weather routing from the same company used on the NAR

• Pre-departure survey strongly recommended for each yacht, using NAR pre-departure survey checklists

• Pre-departure "inspections" of each boat by captains of other yachts making the crossing

• Pre-departure briefings and seminars

• Daily roll calls and tracking of all yachts

On the other hand, there are a number of important elements from the NAR that will NOT be present for this crossing. There will be: no official sponsorship by Nordhavn builder Pacific Asian Enterprises (PAE) or its suppliers; no escort vessels from PAE; no technical support in the form of mechanics, divers, etc. embarked in the yachts which are crossing; no embarked doctors, EMTs or other medical personnel; no up front fee – each captain will be entirely responsible for his yacht's expenses.

The plan is to follow the methodology of the Nordhavn Atlantic Rally 2004 as closely as possible and as closely as weather will permit.

Here's a recap of plans for the event: (all dates approximate – dependent upon weather):

The Rally yachts will meet at Bahia Mar Resort and Marina, Fort Lauderdale May 12 and spend 4 days there. Fort Lauderdale activities will include: Informal "inspection" of each vessel by at least two other Med Bound 2007 captains; limited selection of seminars; social events; trip planning meetings; final departure briefing; weather briefing.

The Rally will depart Fort Lauderdale May 16 for Bermuda, arriving Bermuda around May 22 with dockage at Royal Bermuda Yacht Club in Hamilton for 8 days. The Med-bound group of yachts will depart Bermuda May 30 for the Azores – 1,818 miles (12.0 days at 6.3 knots) while the New England bound group departs Bermuda May 30 for New England. The first group will spend 8 days in Marina Horta, Faial, Azores before leaving Horta June 19 for Gibraltar. The Rally will finish in Gibraltar at Queensway Quay Marina on July 5, 2007.

For those interested in joining Med Bound 2007, either with your own passagemaking motor yacht or as a crewmember, contact organizer Milt Baker at 01-954-764-7668 or obtain further information from the on the Med Bound 2007 bulletin board at: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/MedBound2007/