Rally to Japan

The Rally to Japan concluded last month when the boats - Gannet, Bob and Atisha all safely arrived in Kurashiki City in Japan.

Andrew McGeorge was the designer of this ambitious rally and had been his dream for many years. Andrew is on the Sister-City committee between Christchurch and Kurashiki City and the 50th anniversary of the sister-city relationship seemed like the perfect excuse to run this rally. When I purchased Island Cruising, I offered to help support Andrew with the project and assist with the logistics, paperwork and administration of the rally.

We had heaps of interest when we first launched the rally, but preparing for a long voyage like this comes with many hurdles, and the logistics and timeframe for some boats made things a bit of a challenge and the group of 8 starters gradually dwindled to four boats, and then three made the final voyage.

They departed Whangārei in late March, waiting a week for a suitable weather window for the quick hop up to Vuda Marina in Fiji where they were very well taken care of. After a quick stop with some repairs, and reprovisioning, they set off on the longest leg of the voyage. Around 3000NM taking about three weeks from Fiji to Guam.

A typhoon developed in their track and two of the boats took shelter at Chuuk in Micronesia and Gannet altered course and fell in behind the typhoon track. Unfortunately it made landfall in Guam which scuttled our plans for stopping there to collect crew and parts, and instead we quickly pivoted and headed for Saipan instead where they were very warmly welcomed and entertained for a few days.

From there the plan was to head to Chichijima in Japan and clear in there, however another typhoon developed on their heels, so again, plans were changed and they continued on to Wakayama where they cleared in to Japan with around 5000NM under their keels since departing NZ.

From there it was some interesting sailing across the Inland Sea to Kurashiki where they were warmly welcomed and entertained with the Sister City committee.

The three boats are now planning on enjoying Japan and spending some time exploring this incredible part of the world before heading for Alaska.

Well done to Andrew & Liz McGeorge, Bruce Maunsell - who sailed the longest passage solo, and to Roger & Jenny Fenwick the sailors on the rally and the crew who joined them along the way too.

Special thanks to Peter Mott - Passage Guardian & Bob McDavitt - aka MetBob for their daily checkins and guidance. Also to the Christchurch Sister City Committee, Kirk from Konpira Consulting, Adam & Jashinta at the Copra Shed Marina, Cait from the Marianas Yacht Club in Guam, Paula & Stu in Saipan, the Kurashiki Sister City Committee and everyone else who followed their adventures!