The new event is organized by Ocean Cruising Club member Suzanne Chappell and billed as “more like a big buddy boating rally, where everyone has freedom to hop in and hop out at any time visiting Cuba and then the Bahamas.”
In information sent to All At Sea, Suzanne and her husband David said they are putting the rally together to visit Cuba and have an adventure.
“We have sailed over 45,000 miles including two Atlantic crossings since doing our first rally to Brazil and the Amazon in 2009. We enjoyed this Rally experience so much, we wanted to offer this service free of charge to the OCC and get a group of like-minded people to sail and explore together again,” the Chappells said.
To join the Rally in 2017 you have to be or become an OCC member and full members need to have completed a 1000 mile passage to qualify.
Organizers will help with Customs and Immigration, hold a daily VHF and SSB net, and hold briefings before making way. They add that it is everyone’s own responsibility to clear in and out, have all documentation ready at each port, and to have full boat insurance for the areas to be visited.
Proposed itinerary:
First leg: Depart US for Cuba 5th – 9th February. Seven to ten day stay in Hemingway Marina.
Second leg: Cruise east along the north coast to Puerto Vita visiting places along the way to Punta de Sotavento
Third Leg: The Bahamas
If you are interested in any of the legs or require more information, contact: suzanne.chappell@icloud.com
