For a recap from participant Charlie Doane who is the only NAR Rally boat that ended in Antigua rather than St. Maarten you can go to his blog at https://wavetrain.net/
It was another interesting year as it was the second passing of the torch on to the Salty Dawg Sailing Association. There were ten boats in the NARC Rally this year and fifteen boats in the Salty Dawg Rally contingent departing with the NARC out of Newport, RI. As you can read in Charlie's blog, five boats, including one NARC Rally boat, left one day early for Bermuda. All the other NARC boats left on time Saturday October 28. The bulk of the Salty Dawg Fleet delayed several days and did not stop in Bermuda. The debate about making Bermuda highly recommended stopover to break up the 1,500 miles passage rather than a bail-out option continues. Bypassing less expensive provisioning options and superior repair marine services in SXM is a disservice to education first timers to the Caribbean.
We will continue to promote sailing south in a Rally. The Salty Dawg Rally is the only option for next season. We are happy to help them with our contact in Newport or in Bermuda or in St. Maarten if they wish. No reason to not put 25 years' experience sailing the route to good use. I am happy to help answer any question for anyone who is planning to sail south with a stop in Bermuda and with contact in SXM.
Sincerely,
Hank Schmitt
OPO
