ANTIGUANICE YACHTING INSIDER NEWSLETTER

Photo by Oyster World Rally/Mike Jones.

Nelson’s Dockyard, Antigua - Oyster World Rally to start this Sunday 6th January 2013.
Conceived as an event to celebrate Oyster Yachts 40th Anniversary, the 2013 Oyster World Rally promises a 16-month odyssey of endless adventure, starting and finishing in Antigua.

27 magnificent examples of the world’s finest blue water cruising yachts will take part in the first ever Oyster World Rally. With the fleet hailing from Canada, Ireland, Italy, Germany, Netherlands, South Africa, Switzerland, United Kingdom and the United States, the rally is a truly international event. Nelson’s Dockyard has become the ‘Oyster village’ a fantastic opening venue for the adventure of a lifetime.

The Oyster World Rally will visit 31 magical destinations around the world with the stunning Oyster Yachts sailing 27,000 miles during the circumnavigation.

After passing through the Panama Canal and into the Pacific. The Galapagos Islands, Marquesas, Tahiti, Bora Bora and Moorea are the first ports of call. From the Pacific the fleet will head to the Great Barrier Reef, round the top of Australia, partying in Bali and heading west for Cape Town for Christmas and on to Brazil for carnival, before joining up for a final grand party with the Oyster Caribbean Regatta in April 2014.

The Oyster Customer Service Team has been based in English Harbour for three weeks, assisting owners with their final preparations but the planning and preparation for the rally has been a two-year project led by Debbie Johnson and Eddie Scougall. Both have completed circumnavigations on board Oyster yachts and their wealth of experience makes them the ideal team to support owners on this journey of a lifetime.

Oyster World Rally Event Manager, Debbie Johnson, sums up the atmosphere in English Harbour before the start. “It is so exciting to finally be in Antigua getting ready for the start. So many sailors dream of sailing around the world and the camaraderie throughout the fleet is just fantastic. The Oyster Support Team has prepared for the event as best as we can and we will do everything we possibly can to assist the yachts. However, at the end of the day, out at sea, their nearest help will be the Oyster fleet and that is the true spirit of the Oyster World Rally, which is truly inspirational.”

Oyster World Rally Event Assistant, Jacqui Kotze describes the fantastic support for Oyster in Antigua. “Back in 2001, the first ever Oyster Regatta took place in Antigua, so it is fitting that our first Oyster World Rally will start and finish in here. The Oyster fleet has received such a warm welcome from Nelson’s Dockyard and we would especially like to thank The Admiral’s Inn for hosting our farewell party and The Tot Club with Mountgay Rum for organizing a special occasion for all of the Oyster yachts. Oyster service agent, Antigua Rigging, has been an essential part of our preparation and we would like to thank all of our friends in Antigua for their tremendous support.”

The Oyster World Rally starts from Nelson’s Dockyard, Antigua on Sunday 6 January 2013. The Oyster fleet will leave the Dockyard before the noon-day start. The best view of the yachts leaving Antigua for this epic voyage will be from Shirley Heights and Fort Charlotte.

For more information visit www.oysteryachts.com