Are you an adventurer at heart? If so, you are the ideal person to join the World Yacht Rally, a 30-month sailing journey with stops in some of the most spectacular cruising grounds. Camper & Nicholsons is the exclusive yacht partner for the extraordinary journey, organized by Volvo Ocean Race, America’s Cup, and Olympic veterans.
Don’t let the 30-month timeframe scare you off. You’re not under any obligation to be onboard for the full journey. “Owners and sailors can leave at any time and allow our professional crew to arrange delivery of your yacht at the next start point,” explains Stef van ‘t Zand, the chief organizer. He previously competed in and oversaw Volvo Ocean Race events. In addition, you can offer your yacht for charter for a leg or two through Camper & Nicholsons. Either way, you and the guests can eventually lay claim to having participated in a circumnavigation, by sail.
The World Yacht Rally will see stops in 26 different ports, each significant for its culture and local color. For example, you’ll visit the Cocos Islands, which are midway between Australia and Mauritius. It includes two coral islands uninhabited until 200 years ago, and another two dozen where only birds and turtles reside. Yet another stop is Cape Town, right in time for New Year’s Eve (above). The Galapagos, the Panama Canal, Tahiti, Fiji, and Panama’s San Blas Islands are all on the itinerary, too.
Furthermore, the World Yacht Rally will visit Sydney, Singapore, and Cuba, because they are “not on any sort of generic itinerary list,” van ‘t Zand emphasizes. He’s especially eager to show you and guests Cuba. It has upwards of 3,100 miles (5,000 kilometers) of essentially unexplored shorelines. “When Cuba recently began to open to yachts, we knew we had to include it,” he says.
All permits (especially for the Galapagos), port clearances, and other logistics are being taken care of, as are medical needs. The World Yacht Rally additionally will include a virtual floating repair yard, whose team will check rigging, sails, and other equipment at pre-arranged maintenance ports.
Camper & Nicholsons camperandnicholsons.com
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