The Route

Our yacht will take part in the Oyster World Rally 2017-2019, an over two-year-long round-the-world sailing challenge, along with 34 other Oyster yachts. We will start in January 2017 in Antigua and finish in April 2019 in the same port.

What makes this rally different from others of that kind?

1) The perfect organization and preparation of the route and fantastic help from the organizers throughout the journey in terms of: designing the program (including information about marinas, anchor spots, bureaucratic issues and local attractions), helping with crossing the Panama Canal, going through customs clearance, regular up-to-date weather information, technical support, parts supply, organizing substitute crews, and organizing various social and tourist events.

2) A dedicated Oyster support team will travel along with the participants and help in all crucial moments and regions en route.

3) Sailing in such a large group of yachts doesn’t necessarily mean it will get crowded and there is no need for frequent encounters if we do not wish for them. For example, the rally’s first part has only four obligatory meeting points for all crews: the beginning on Antigua, during the Panama Canal crossing, on Fiji and at the end in New Zealand. That means that most of the time we sail where we want, how we want, and when we want.

It’s hard to imagine sailing around the world in more convenient conditions.

THE ROUTE:

Starting in Antigua in the Caribbean in January 2017.

 

PART 1 “The Pacific Rally”

January – October 2017 (9 months)

Around 9000 NM

The Caribbean islands, the Panama Canal, Galapagos, the Marquesas Islands, Tuamotu, Tahiti, Bora Bora, Tonga Islands, Fiji and New Zealand.

 

 

PART 2 “The Antipodean Cruise”

November 2017 – April 2017 (5 months)

Sailing along the coasts of New Zealand and Australia

Those not interested in sailing around those regions will be able to leave the yacht there and return home.

 

PART 3 “The Asian Rally”

April – August 2018 (5 months)

Around 3800 NM

Vanuatu, Australia (MacKay to Cairns), Southern Indonesia and Bali

 

 

PART 4 “The Passage Home”

September 2018 – April 2019 (7 months)

Around 12000 NM

Cocos Keeling, Mauritus, Reunion, Durban, Cape Town.

 

After a two-month break in Cape Town, we sail off to the Atlantic in January. There are two routes planned there:

  1. “The Direct Route”: St Helen, Ascension Island, Grenade and Antigua.
  2. “Via Brazil”: St Helen, Salvador, Grenade and Antigua.

 

Yachts taking part in the rally can participate either in all of its parts or all only in chosen ones.