The Adventure Begins

By John Hembrow Down Under Rally

After a weather-related delay of just over a week, the 2023 Go East Rally fleet of 20 vessels departed the Gold Coast on the 18th Of May for New Caledonia.

For most participants, the voyage itself lived up to expectations. Some found open ocean sailing more challenging than expected, while others said it was the best sailing they had ever experienced. However, all were very excited to arrive in New Caledonia and eager to celebrate their achievement of having successfully completed their first multi-day & night ocean passage.

Sadly the vessel IRIA was forced to retire early due to steering failure and was towed back to Southport by another of the participant's vessels, Lai Lai Lady, which was a mammoth undertaking on their behalf and resulted in LAI LAI LADY also retiring, however both, LAI LAI LADY and IRIA plan on setting off again this month.

Another of the fleet, VAQUITA, suffered rigging failure and rudder damage and spent an uncomfortable 30-plus hours on a parachute anchor before resuming the voyage under a jury-rigged steering system before being met by a safety vessel and taken under tow just before they entered the pass into the lagoon in New Caledonia.

The stories of VAQUITA, IRIA & LAI LAI LADY will be shared in AHOY in the next couple of issues, but for the moment, we are happy to say all the people are safe, and the vessels are in port.

See more photos and read the rest of the story in the June issue of AHOY Sailing.