RALLY LIVE

Navigating towards the south coast of South Africa can be tricky. The 1430nm passage sail to Durban, going beneath the island of Madagascar and crossing the difficult Agulhas Current which runs around the coast of South Africa needs very careful respect and attention. Interpreting the weather and deciding when to leave La Reunion was super important, making sure that when crossing the Agulhas current, the yachts have wind and current travelling with them once entering this 60nm wide ocean tidal flow. The weather can be very unpredictable which led to a split in the fleet – the quicker yachts left early, whilst the rest waited for the next weather window.

The fleet have now all crossed the Indian Ocean and have been enjoying a relaxing time on the islands of Mauritius and La Reunion.

Mauritius greeted the Oyster fleet with a traditional Sega dance performance and taught the crews a little about the history of the island. The Rally team organised an amazing evening with welcome drinks and canapés at sunset, greatly enjoyed by the fleet.

Everyone seems to have loved Mauritius with its eclectic mix of volcanic mountains, lush sugar cane fields, and miles and miles of white beaches and crystal blue water.

A quick 130 nm hop to La Reunion has given the fleet another change of culture and landscape. La Reunion is a French overseas territory so the fleet are back speaking French (the last time was in Tahiti) and are back in the Eurozone. Most of the crews are relaxing in the beautiful tropical climate and taking the opportunity to go surfing, hiking up volcanoes and white-water rafting.

Next for the fleet is navigating the very tricky 1430nm passage to Durban, going beneath the island of Madagascar and crossing the difficult Agulhas Current which runs around the coast of South Africa. Interpreting the weather and deciding when to leave La Reunion is super important, so as not to get caught out here as it can be dangerous. Yachts need to have wind and current travelling with them once entering this 60nm wide ocean tidal flow.

The fleet had a straightforward passage from Lombok to Cocos (Keeling) Islands, one of Australia’s Indian Ocean Territories. As soon as the yachts started to arrive, we were inundated with the most amazing photographs we have ever seen of the idyllic anchorage next to Direction Island.

The Rally team organised a sensational lunch party on Direction Island, everyone enjoyed local delicacies, including fresh coconuts, grilled fish and locally made coconut ice cream and pancakes!

Cocos is made up of a number of islands, some inhabited, some not. There are only two flights a week to them via Perth, so victuals are limited as is fuel. The Rally Support team successfully ensured the yachts were all refuelled, organising remote fuelling by barge, before the long ocean passage coming next across the Indian Ocean to Mauritius.

What an eclectic and busy place Indonesia was for the Oyster World Rally fleet.

One of the highlights was Komodo National Park, exploring the amazing flora and fauna and, of course, the Komodo Dragon, the biggest lizard in the world. Rumour has it that they can run faster than Usain Bolt, so best not to get too near and stay downwind if you see one! Boat crews spent time hiking and exploring the islands, as well as relaxing anchored off idyllic sandy beaches and also diving.

Some crews had the almost impossible to imagine experience, diving alongside the enormous but gentle Whale Sharks – something that seems to have been on everyone’s bucket list at the start of the Oyster World Rally and now it has become a reality!

Some others explored Lombok and the Gili Islands where they enjoyed incredible surfing sessions.

Most of the fleet is now on their way to their next destination, the breathtaking Cocos (Keeling) Islands in the Indian Ocean.

The fleet is starting to clear into Kupang, the largest city and port on the island of Timor, Indonesia.

The boats were inspected by officials and once the formalities were over, the crews were left to explore this vivid and non-stop city.

The route between Cairns and Darwin is especially tricky in terms of navigation, and the fleet were able to manage this expertly. Most of the fleet arrived in Darwin ready for a few days of relaxation and preparation ahead of their voyage over to Indonesia.

Darwin was a great stop for the Rally fleet. It has lots of quirky attractions, such as street art, local markets, funky cafes and some amazing restaurants. Darwin is the gateway to the Kakadu National Park, and home to some amazing Aboriginal rock art at Ubirr Rock and stunning waterfalls.

Most of the rally fleet have now departed Cairns and are enroute to Darwin, via Cape York Peninsula, the northern most tip of Australia. This section of the rally is very challenging in terms of navigation, as there are many reefs and remote islands to watch out for, as well as the knowledge that it is one of the remotest parts of Australia should they require assistance.

Crocodiles are prevalent in these waters so there is no snorkelling or swimming from the yachts on this passage, even though the fleet is sailing in tropical temperatures and the water is very inviting!

The fleet have now arrived into Cairns and a lot of the owners are taking the chance to organise maintenance work including hauling out and re-antifouling hulls and important rig checks. After sailing halfway around the world already, it’s imperative that the yachts get time to be thoroughly checked over and serviced before starting the next section of their circumnavigation.

Cairns is a cosmopolitan city, and popular tourist destination due to its tropical climate and closeness to both the tropical rainforests and the Great Barrier Reef. Some owners are taking the opportunity to fly home or take a break from the yachts by exploring Australia by land, popular destinations to visit are Daintree Rainforest and the beautiful mountain village of Kuranda.

The Oyster World Rally fleet celebrated sailing halfway around the world in great style with an unforgettable party on Whitehaven Beach, Whitsunday Islands. A 7km long stretch of white silica sand, Whitehaven Beach is regularly voted the best beach in the world!

The fleet got together for this special party, enjoying an exclusive seafood BBQ lunch, with champagne, canapés and live entertainment on this breath-taking, award winning beach.

Everyone had an incredible day celebrating this remarkable achievement and major milestone on their round the world adventure.

The majority of the fleet have now arrived into Australia! Mackay Marina Village organised a wonderful welcome BBQ for the Rally yachts.

Many enjoyed a day trip to Eungella National Park, one of Queensland’s most ecologically diverse parks with 860 plant species and a vast variety of wildlife.

The yachts have been enjoying the fascinating archipelago of Vanuatu over the past couple of weeks. Vanuatu is made up of roughly 80 islands stretching 1,300 kilometers which make for world class diving experiences on coral reefs, underwater caverns and wrecks such as the WWII-era troopship SS President Coolidge.

The fleet received a warm welcome from local villagers in Port Resolution on Tanna Island. During the ceremony, everyone was given a handmade hat and the fleet donated supplies, clothes and useful items. Some visited a school and played football and rope skipping with the local children. In the evening the Rally team organised a traditional buffet at the Yacht Club - everyone agreed the food was incredible! Vanuatu has been one of the greatest highlights so far on the Rally.

Recently the fleet were reunited at Musket Cove in Fiji for another fantastic evening together. They watched the sun go down over the island with a famous Musket Cove rum punch followed by a delicious Fijian dinner. An amazing local band played throughout the night and got everyone on their feet. The first yachts have starting clearing out of Fiji and are headed to the next destination of Australia.

The Oyster World Rally fleet are in every corner of Fiji's archipelago, making the very most of this very special place. A handful of yachts rendezvoused in Vanua Balavu, in the Northern Lau Group, and snorkelled along the reef in front of the cliff line. The variety of fish is impressive!

Diving has been a highlight of the Oyster World Rally so far and Fiji is no exception. Famous for its colourful soft corals and anemones, dramatic topography and typically clear water, it feels like you are diving in a salt water aquarium with unlimited visibility! The fleet really have been making the most of their time in Fiji, exploring many of the smaller island groups off the tourist trail.

The fleet visited the village of Daliconi and attended a traditional cava welcome ceremony with the elders of the village. They presented kava root to the town representatives and thanked them before they we were welcomed to the island.

Most of the fleet then started exploring the Lau Group, which is a collection of sixty islands and islets to the east of the main island of Viti Levu.

Goodbye Tonga, hello Fiji! The first boats are now arriving into Savu Savu on the island of Vanua Levu where they will clear into Fiji. From Savu Savu the fleet will go on to explore the endless archipelagos of Fiji for the next 5 weeks.

The first yachts have arrived into Tonga, a group of 176 South Pacific islands spread over 800 miles. Surrounded by white beaches, coral reefs and lush tropical rainforest, it is a true island paradise.

The fleet are truly settled into life in the South Pacific and are having the time of their lives enjoying the magical islands of French Polynesia. Many of them are currently exploring the Leeward Islands of Bora Bora, Huahine, Raiatea and Taha’a and have been enjoying breath-taking hikes through lush vegetation, unforgettable dives and snorkelling experiences crystal clear waters, and visits to some of the islands most beautiful and exclusive resorts.

Moorea, what an amazing destination! Lying just 11 miles west from Papeete, Tahiti, the island of Moorea is part of the Society Islands in the South Pacific. It is renowned for its beautiful sandy beaches and jagged volcanic mountains.

The Oyster World Rally fleet enjoyed days of welcome festivities full of cultural activities, including making flower leis, handicraft workshops, outrigger canoe races and traditional Polynesian sports.

Some took part in a treasure hunt organised by Members of the Tahitian Historical Society, walking through mountain paths finding clues and learning about endemic plants and archaeological sites. Local children had the opportunity to get on board some Oysters of the Rally fleet for a tour, where they learned about life onboard during a circumnavigation and had fun jumping from bathing platforms!

The fleet visited the Fare Natura eco-museum of Opunouh, which focuses on the corals and underwater life of Moorea, and enjoyed a dinner cocktail with an amazing fire dance show.

Most of the fleet has arrived in Tahiti, the next major destination for the Rally fleet. Part of the Society Island group, Tahiti is world renowned for its majestic volcanic mountain ranges and is the largest and most developed island in French Polynesia.

The yachts have been enjoying some time in Teahupo'o on the southwestern coast of the island, known as one of the best surf spots in the world. Others have explored the Faarumai Waterfalls and the Museum of Tahiti and The Islands, learning about French Polynesia history.

The majority of the rally fleet are still enjoying the amazing atolls of the Tuamotus, with Fakarava being especially popular. It is the second biggest of the 80 atolls that make up the Tuamotus.

Fakarava is world renowned as having some of the most pristine and undisturbed coral reef ecosystems on the planet. It is home to the highest concentration of Grey reef sharks in the world, with an estimated 700 sharks comprising the single school that inhabits the area. It has certainly been an amazing hit with the rally fleet and something so unique that few tourists ever get to see.

After exploring the dramatic volcanic peaks and lush forestation of the Marquesas Islands, the fleet are now enjoying the untouched atolls of the Tuamotu archipelago. The chain of 80 protected atolls provide the perfect place for sea life and unparalleled diving and snorkelling experiences in the passes.

The Marquesan people gave a incredibly warm welcome to the fleet on Friday, with a full day of festivities and entertainment put on especially for the Oyster World Rally.

The fleet were given colourful leis and fresh coconuts and were treated to a traditional dance lesson on the beach. They were then invited to learn local handicrafts, such as tapa making, wood carving, jewellery making with seeds and fermented breadfruit demonstrations.

A traditional feast was cooked in the Marquesan oven (in the ground), followed by evening entertainment by local dance groups and musicians. A very special day of culture and fun had by all.

The fleet is enjoying their time in Nuku Hiva exploring its archaeological sites and learning about the ancient history of the tribes.

Favourite activities so far have been horse riding in the mountains and along the beach; attending wood working classes and learning about the art of Marquesan sculpture and the meaning of all the symbols; getting unique, personalised tattoos by the local tattoo artists; and hiking to the majestic Vaipo Waterfall.

The majority of the fleet have arrived in Nuku Hiva and group check ins have been taking place over the last few days.

Some boats are off exploring the bays of Nuku Hiva, others went for a walk from Hapatoni Bay to Vaitahu Bay to have lunch all together. Everyone has been greeted warmly by the local people who are very charming and welcoming.

The first yachts have arrived into Nuku Hiva, the largest island in the Marquesas. Oyster 595 JaZoFi were the first boat to make landfall in the Marquesas, with 575 Ahlam and 595 Mastegot close behind. Ahlam were dolphin escorted into the islands and welcomed on board JaZoFi with champagne to celebrate!

They will spend a couple of weeks here before heading south to the Tuamotu Islands.

The majority of the fleet are well into their crossing to French Polynesia, settling into life at sea and enjoying Easter weekend celebrations, with homemade hot cross buns by JaZoFi, Rock Lobster and Aurora.

The first rally boats are nearing the halfway mark of their 3000nm sail from the Galapagos to the Marquesas Islands. Being the longest passage on the Rally, most of the time they won’t be in sight of another rally yacht. To help everyone stay safe and to pass on vital information, the rally operates an SSB Radio Net, where one yacht communicates twice a day with the rest of fleet via SSB radio. 

The majority of the fleet have now left the Galapagos on the longest ocean delivery of the Oyster World Rally - 3000nm and roughly 3 weeks to the Marquesas Islands. Yachts provisioned from local services, refuelled and were boarded up by eight inspectors to complete the strict clearance process ensuring no Galapagos species left the islands.

The fleet are now spread across the three main islands of Isabela, San Cristóbal and Santa Cruz. Many have now began their trip with a naturalist guide on board into protected areas of the Galápagos National Park. They have been diving, touring volcanoes and getting up close to the many incredible and unique species in Galápagos.

The majority of the fleet have arrived in the Galápagos and have been cleared in. While most of the boats remain at anchor in San Cristobal to take some time to explore the island and relax, the first few boats have started on their trip around the Galápagos National Park. 

Highlights so far have been diving at the famous Kicker Rock and seeing lots of wildlife including hammerhead sharks, manta rays, sea lions, fish and turtles.

The support team and first of the rally boats have now arrived in San Cristóbal in the Galápagos Islands. Each boat underwent a clear process that takes about 30 minutes, by eight different officials, organised by our agent Antonio Moreano at SeaMasters.

The fleet had time out on the Pacific side in La Playita and Flamenco Marinas, and took the opportunity to visit the vast Panamanian hypermarkets to stock up on food and provisions as the next supermarkets are not until Tahiti, some 3 months and 4000nm away. The Galápagos Islands have some strict food importation regulations, so no fresh meat can be taken in nor fruits and most pulses.

They also saw many racoons, sloths, iguanas, ant eaters and vultures, a true animal haven!

The last parts of the puzzle to organise for Galápagos includes diving on the yachts hulls to make sure that they are clean to enter the Marine reserve and also Fumigation, to make sure the interior of the yachts are free of any bugs or pests.

Over 2 years in the planning, the Oyster World Rally fleet 2024-25 have transited from the Atlantic to Pacific Oceans through the Panama Canal. Normally, transit times for the Oyster fleet are set and timings of the lock operations are known well in advance and we can therefore carefully plan the timetable of events in Panama, to get the yachts ready for their onward journey to Galapagos. Not this year! 9 months ago we received notice that the Panama Canal was running at 50% capacity due to a drought in Panama and surrounding countries and that our transit booking had been cancelled.

Each lock operation along the canal takes up to 197 million litres of water with just 60% reuse, this means that with each lock, a lot of water slips into the oceans and not back into Gatun Lake, the body of water which facilitates the lock operations. With Gatun Lake being 50% lower than normal, this means the canal cannot run at 100% capacity. In turn this has meant huge queues at both ends of the canal, with some larger vessels having to pay a high premium to keep to schedules, such as cruise ships and container vessels.

Yachts are not the top priority for the Panama Canal as in relative terms they are very small and therefore create an insignificant income. It was only 10 days before the fleet arrived in Shelter Bay Marina, that we knew what the expected plan of transit would be for the Rally fleet, so it has been a tricky time.

However, after just 1 day after arriving, Oyster 565 Babe was the first of the fleet to go through the canal, leaving Shelter Bay at 3.30am to move to the anchorage to accept their Canal Advisor (Pilot) and get underway. Transits either take a whole day, leaving early and arriving in the Pacific at teatime, or are split over 2 days, anchoring overnight in Gatun Lake. This seems all to depend upon the availability of the Advisors and Pilots.

Babe transited with another yacht, tied together to form a ‘nest’ and worked together to hold station in each lock before passing under the Bridge of Americas, the gateway to the Pacific. Each yacht has to have a minimum of five people aboard – four to attend to the lines, and one to skipper the vessel. The Rally fleet have had to share the locks with cruise liners, freighters, oil tankers, container ships as well as tugs, passenger ferries and general cargo ships.

After Babe, the rest of the fleet transited within 10 days, some together some on their own. Everyone completed a successful transit and made it safely to Flamenco and La Playita Marina on the Pacific side.

The Oyster World Rally fleet have now all arrived at Shelter Bay Marina, at the top of the Panama Canal, to a wonderful welcome from the marina staff and the manager, Juan Jo Boschetti. The fleet have a busy programme whilst in Shelter Bay awaiting their canal transit, including visits to the Canal locks, a Jungle tour to see the Embera tribe and Rum Tasting.

A briefing by Rally Director Allie Smith on Monday covered all the formalities and processes whilst transiting the canal. The schedule for the fleet to transit the canal was only formalised a few days ago due to the canal experiencing operating difficulties due to the drought, meaning the lock system has been running at just half capacity. The Oyster World rally fleet have had to be extremely flexible, waiting for their turn to head down to the Pacific.

The jungle tour to the village of the Embera Tribe was a highlight for the crews so far. The fleet reached the village by heading upriver in a dugout canoe! They spent time with the locals, learning about their culture and way of life, with dancing, music and visits to family homes. Everyone then enjoyed a traditional Panamanian lunch whilst having henna tattoos and watching the amazing wildlife.

This morning the fleet attended a briefing with Stephanie Betz, our French Polynesian expert who has flown in from Tahiti especially to give advice and top tips about exploring the wonderful French Polynesia and specifically the Marquesas Islands.

The fleet are having the best time exploring the amazing San Blas Islands. Enjoying a barbecue on Big Dog Island with lobster and freshly caught sailfish, surfing in Chichime Island, snorkelling with tropical fish, walking along white sandy beaches, taking the tender to the partly uninhabited islands.

Most of the fleet have left the Caribbean islands and are heading west to Panama. Many have stopped to enjoy the idyllic San Blas Islands, an archipelago consisting of 360 islands north of Panama, on their way to the Panama Canal.

The fleet have spent time in the rich waters of Bonaire, enjoying the pristine underwater environment which has made it an award winning diving destination. There are more than 85 dive sites, with more than 350 fish species and 57 soft and stony coral species to explore.

Many boats are now back on the move again, crossing to the west of the Caribbean Sea, heading for either Cartegena, Colombia or the beautiful San Blas Islands.

Since the rally started the fleet have ventured to Guadeloupe, Dominica, Martinique, the BVI's, Bonaire and Curaçao to name a few!

There are essentially three routes to Panama. North via the BVI, South via the Caribbean, or South West via the ABC Islands. What we can see today is the fleet taking those three routes and as the week progresses we will see the fleet make their way to San Blas & Panama.

21 Oysters have crossed the line and started their Oyster World Rally! His excellency Governor General of Antigua and Barbuda fired the cannon from Fort Charlotte and wished the fleet on their way.

The fleet will meet again in Panama for their transit through the canal in mid February. Keep posted on the Rally Live page for regular updates on the fleet's progress.

Crews have made their final preparations ahead of the start tomorrow and been briefed in the skippers meeting.

Today the fleet took part in a Weather Briefing on current weather patterns and what to expect on their very first Rally passage from Antigua to Panama.

The fleet have been briefed by our Galapagos agent about formalities, weather, geology and history. They also met renowned yachting photographer Rick Tomlinson, the first ever On-Board Reporter on the Oyster World Rally. We're thrilled to have Rick joining the fleet for their voyage of a lifetime, and can't wait to see the amazing shots he'll capture along the way!

Today part of the fleet joined a Cooking Class with Nicole Arthurton Dennis, learning how to cook fresh, local seafood and create a delicious three-course Caribbean lunch. 

Owners, crews and Rally team got together for a special evening at Loose Cannon Beach Bar, one of the best spots on the island to watch the iconic Antiguan sunsets.

It’s amazing to see the Oyster World Rally 2024-25 fleet in Nelson’s Dockyard, Oyster’s spiritual home in the Caribbean and the base for the start of the rally. Just five days to go until these 21 Oysters leave for the voyage of a lifetime! 

Oyster’s Technical Support Team are carrying out final checks on the boats ahead of the start and crews have been busy taking part in a number of activities, to include RYA 1-day practical Sea Survival Courses provided by OnDeck Sailing Antigua. Some also attended a Rum Masterclass at Antigua's Academy of Rum and had the chance to design and flavour their own bespoke bottle of rum!