Countdown to the Oyster World Rally 2017-2019

Countdown to the Oyster World Rally 2017-2019 © Oyster

The countdown is truly on to the start of the Oyster World Rally 2017-2019. 31 Oyster yachts are making their final preparations for departure from Antigua on 15th January 2017.

The Oyster World Rally fleet consists of a superb range of yachts from 45ft to 88.5ft and the participants are looking forward to spending 27 months circumnavigating.

With just over two months until the Oyster World Rally start, over the last week, 14 of the Rally fleet have been making final preparations in Las Palmas, Gran Canaria to cross the Atlantic in the ARC+ or ARC fleets en route to St Lucia and then onwards to Antigua.

Such a large concentration of World Rally boats in Las Palmas created a wonderful excuse for an Oyster Owners' Dinner at the beautiful Casa Montesdeoca Restaurant in old town Las Palmas. A restaurant frequented by the King of Spain, the 16th century courtyard made the perfect setting for an evening to swap preparatory stories and to toast a forthcoming adventure.

All Oyster World Rally boats taking part in the ARC+ and ARC have benefited from a 'check' from the Oyster Technical Support team. The same team will be checking all boats again in Antigua in early January.

The fourth edition ARC+ Cape Verde rally departed on Sunday 6th November with Oyster 56 Sea Flute first across the line at the start.

Oyster CEO David Tydeman said, "We are eagerly anticipating the start of the second Oyster World Rally and the ARC+ and ARC are both superb ways to begin the adventure. The Rally participants have been busy attending the seminars that our team and Oyster World Rally partners have put on for them over the past 18 months and we trust that the Oyster World Rally Guide, produced by the World Rally team, has and will be a great source of knowledge and reference for them. My thanks to the Oyster team who went out to support the Oyster ARC+ and ARC fleet in Gran Canaria. As the only company to offer this service, it is great to hear the support has been well received.

We handed over the newest Oyster yacht in the World Rally fleet, Oyster 825-06 ENSO, last week. The crew are now busy making final preparations before they set sail. We wish all of the Oyster owners and crew taking part in the Oyster World Rally a safe journey and look forward to seeing them in Antigua."

Follow the ARC+ and ARC fleet at www.worldcruising.com/arc/eventfleetviewer.aspx

To find out more about the Oyster World Rally, visit www.oysterworldrally.com.