Our sailors are now feeling the remoteness of their adventure as they cross the Pacific. Here is an excerpt from the blog of an American yacht, Aspen, which joined the rally in Panama:
"S/V Aspen – April, 2010 – Log #36. Position: 04 degrees 18.0' S 108 degrees 20.0' W. Pacific Ocean
Just think of the giants of history that have crossed this mighty Pacific Ocean: Magellan, Cook, Darwin and Heyerdahl among many others. To sail upon the same waters as them is awe inspiring to say the least. Edmund Leo, Maria's dad, did exactly the same thing over 60 years ago when he was in the Navy and fought in the war. We are also following in his footsteps.
Sunday, 21 March 2010 22:27 | By Tony Diment, Rally Director
Confronted with some dramatic administrative problems in getting the cruises off the ground, the two Blue Water Rally cruises on `Daphne' and `Coral' were finally launched on Wednesday 17th March. Four days later the 50 rally participants returned to Puerto Ayora full of praises for how enjoyable everything turned out. Certainly Ian and Glenda (Lucy Alice) were full of praise and clearly stated that everything surpassed their expectations. This sentiment has been echoed throughout those that went on the excursions around the islands and although not cheap the trips were considered a `highlight' by those taking part.
Tuesday, 16 March 2010 22:26 | By Tony Diment, Rally Director
The whole rally turned out for Sunday lunch at Angermeyer Point over the weekend. Everyone enjoyed a relaxing and long afternoon enjoying a superb barbecue. This was followed by a short stroll to the nearby beach for swimming and water games.
The social pressure continues to mount over the next few days with the Rally briefing and dinner and a very special birthday looming for Captain Jeremy of `Chissel’.
Friday, 12 March 2010 14:23 | By Tony Diment, Rally Director
26 yachts are now safely at anchor in Puerto Ayora. Gaultine III arrived yesterday (11th March) and Fugue and Mercury Rising are on their way. Lorrigray is beset with steering problems in the Perlas Islands and although arrangements for spares are in train she will undoubtedly be very late in arriving in the `Enchanted Islands’.
Everyone is enjoying their first experiences of the Galapagos and getting used to sharing their waterfront bar or restaurant with the occasional sea lion ,iguana or blue footed booby. The rally are having Sunday lunch in the Angemeyer Point Restaurant and on Monday the rally brief is scheduled accompanied by a rally dinner. More later…
Yesterday, the 27th of February, the news was full of the Chillean earthquake and impending Pacific-wide tsunami. In the end, the tsunami never transpired, but the news channels and experts kept up the heat until the forecast tsunami-hour had passed Hawaii, 3 hours after the expected time in Panama. Naturally, we alerted the BWR fleet and they all headed out to deep water.
`Aqualuna' was the last Blue Water Rally yacht to leave Puerto Ayora yesterday and sadly as he did so, two yachts that had left 4 days earlier were returning to port with engine problems. Both `Moonshiner' and `Scot Free' have been forced to return; Moonshiner with no engine power at all and `Scot Free' with only a very limited amount of power to get back against light headwinds. Our agent in the Galapagos, Ricardo Arenas, is standing by to help them out when they arrive.
Meanwhile, the rest of the fleet are reaching 5 degrees South and are beginning to feel the South East Trades that will hopefully carry them to the Marquesas. Peter Pan (Halberg Rassy 46), one of the earlier departures on 23rd March, is already reporting steady South Easterly winds of 15 kts and is making 8kts.
Tuesday, 16 March 2010 22:53 | By Tony Diment, Rally Director
All 80 participants in the Blue Water Rally attended the rally briefing and dinner at `Altair’ farm and restaurant which is tucked into the luxuriant slopes of the so called `highlands’ of Santa Cruz Island on Monday afternoon and evening.
Following the rally brief everyone had time to relax around the pool and as may be seen from our photos enjoy a cooling swim. This was followed by beautifully barbecued chicken straight from the farm. Ecuadorian Indians from the Andes played typical pan pipes,drums and guitar and produced a really exciting altmosphere.
Saturday, 13 March 2010 23:16 | By Tony Diment, Rally Director
Mercury Rising arrived in Puerto Ayora this morning with Adrian Pinnegar, Deane Harper and Phyllis Macay aboard. Two yachts are still to arrive : Lorrigray (delayed in Panama with steering problems) and Fugue. Many crews are already well into discovering the island of Santa Cruz, while others are attending to refueling, essential maintenance and trips to the market ahead of their 5 –day trips that start next week.
Tuesday, 09 March 2010 23:16 | By Tony Diment, Rally Director
Tony Diment arrived in Puerto Ayora in the Galapagos islands yesterday just as the first yachts were arriving from Panama. Within the next 24 hours 14 yachts have arrived and are now safely at anchor. Some yachts completed the 900 miles in under 5 days with 200 mile days. Generally the winds have been 15 to 20 knots and most yachts have had exhilarating passages. This is so different from our last rally when most yachts had dismal conditions with squally headwinds.
Saturday, 27 February 2010 13:02 | By Richard Bolt
The earthquake in Chile has caused the coast of South and Central America, including Panama and the Perlas Islands where the rally is currently located, to issue tsunami warnings. Members of the fleet in Las Perlas have said they are all safe and were preparing to head offshore before the possible tsunami could strike. These yachts included: Blue Magic, Lucy Alice, Camomile, Bionic, Briet, Bali Blue, Raylah, Chsalonina. At the same time, Natibou, which is still in Balboa, has confirmed that she is also heading out to sea for the critical period.
Thursday, 01 April 2010 18:47 | 
By Richard Bolt
