Giant 200+ boat fleet to sail around Australia

Event organiser Bob Williams has announced that 203 boats have reserved places to sail around Australia in the 2011 Around Australia Ocean Race and the 2011 Around Australia Ocean Rally. 

Logistical challenges required to assemble a fleet at a single common starting point anywhere on the 7500-mile Australian coastline has always been a major hurdle, said organisers, 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.

Williams explained: “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 homeport or a port nearby. Crew changes are permitted at stopover 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 five months. The span of time for an individual yacht 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 12 months, with the first Rally yachts starting 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 stopover,” said Williams.

“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,” said Williams.

Image: 2011 Around Australia Ocean Race and Ocean Rally Racetrack map.