Giant 200+ boat fleet to sail around Australia

by Rob Kothe

Event organiser Bob Williams has announced that an astounding 203 boats have already reserved places to sail around Australia in the 2011 Around Australia Ocean Race and the 2011 Around Australia Ocean Rally. This news comes less than five months after slot reservations were permitted.

Over the years many Clubs considered running such an event but the logistical challenges required to assemble a fleet at a single common starting point anywhere on the 7,500 mile Australian coastline always defeated them, because that meant many of the fleet would be sailing two or three thousand miles to the start and then home again after the finish.

A beaming Bob Williams explained today 'A key feature of both events is that participants can Start and Finish their participation in the event from a principle port of choice which may be their home port or a port nearby. Crew changes are permitted at stop-over ports. These features are responsible for the rapid take up of Race and Rally event Slot Reservations.

'The 2011 Around Australia Ocean Race event spans over five months. The span of time for an individual yachts participating in the Race will be around 110 days, with the first Race yachts starting from Perth in late June 2011.

'The 2011 Around Australia Ocean Rally event spans over 12 months, with the first Rally yachts will start from Perth in late January 2011. Both the Race and Rally fleet will come together in October 2011 when the yachts arrive in Perth for a 10 day stop-over.'

The entrant list is now available on the event website www.sailaroundaustralia.com.au

Williams continued 'The reservations have been coming in faster than expected. We now have the wonderful problem of managing a very major fleet race and rally around Australia. We intend it to be the best. Please keep the Slot Reservations coming.'

The Provisional Notice of Race on the event web site www.sailaroundaustralia.com.au with an Event Slot Reservation Form ready to be completed.

Sail Around Australia