How much experience do I need to sail this event?  Sailing to Bermuda is something to be taken seriously, as it requires sailing in the ocean for multiple days, through the night, and conquering a Gulfstream crossing.  That said, with proper planning, preparation and attention it is something that most reasonably experienced sailors can manage.  The rally format necessarily attracts less experienced bluewater sailors, and that is fine of course.  In terms of experience, you should have made several overnight passages, whether coastal or bluewater.  Ideally you will have sailed to Bermuda as crew if not as skipper.  Likewise, you should be able to sail and deal with what most sailors consider heavy weather.  Though we are employing experienced weather and Gulfstream routers and we will not leave in the face of an adverse weather forecast, no one can guaranty fair weather and you should expect to encounter 25 to 30 knot winds or more and the accompanying seas for at least some of the time.  If you are on the lighter side in terms of experience, then it is all the more important for you to have experienced crew on board, particularly crew who know how to cope with deteriorating weather, mechanical failures, and ocean passages.  It would be greatly helpful to have at least one crewmember on board who has sailed to Bermuda.

$1,999 seems expensive for a rally.  Why so much?  In reality, our cost is no more than what other rallies have charged in the past when you take into account all the costs that you would have paid on top of the rally entrance fee.  Our rally is an all-inclusive, so it includes dockage on both ends, satellite phones, satellite tracking devices for Internet tracking, personalized en route daily weather and Gulfstream routing, and all the other things that go along with a rally.  Even if you did a prior rally where you paid $900 to $1,000 to the rally organization, you then had to pay for dockage and a variety of other expenses.  We try to eliminate that by giving as much of an all-inclusive price as possible, not to mention taking care of the administrative burden of making those arrangements.

What costs should I expect to incur in addition to the rally entrance fee?  We've done our best to make this an all-inclusive event.  Nevertheless, there are some things that vary so much that we simply cannot include them in a one-size-fits-all cost.  Included among them are satellite phone usage charges (though we will assist with purchasing pre-paid phone cards at discount), provisioning, fuel, recreation in Bermuda (interior travel, hotels, restuarants, etc.; essentially, spending money), and of course the boat itself and her equipment. 

What if I don't want dockage in Bermuda and would prefer to anchor, or if there are other services I don't really want?  We are styling this as an all-inclusive event, so our strong preference is for participants to utilize all the services offered.  If you have the requisite experience and are dead set against docking in Bermuda or utilizing some other aspect of the rally, please contact us and we would be willing to work with you on a price adjustment in exchange for foresaking certain services.

What will Tania Aebi's role be?  Tania will prepare various materials for your use in preparing for the trip, she will lead the pre-departure activities in New York, participate in the daily calls en-route, and be there for our arrival in Bermuda.  Depending on her schedule, she may also sail the event, but that is yet to be determined.

When do I need to have the boat in New York for the start?  We are planning a midday departure on Sunday, June 15, of course depending on weather.  Ideally, you would arrive at Lincoln Harbor Yacht Club sometime on Friday, June 13.  This would allow you to participate in Friday night's social gathering, allow all day Saturday for briefings and inspections, and leave Sunday morning for last minute preparations.  If you can't arrive on Friday, we can work with you to make sure you still get the substantive benefits of the pre-departure routine.

What if I can't or don't want to get my boat to New York for the start?  We strongly urge participants to be in New York for the start.  Otherwise, you will miss out on much of what makes a rally a rally.  That said, we understand it may be inconvenient for certain boats to travel a meaningful distance to New York, yet they still want to sail to Bermuda as part of a group for a variety of reasons.  If you want to participate but want or need to start from somewhere other than New York, we can work that out with you to ensure you get all the pre-departure materials, forecasts, routing, satellite phone, etc.  We may also be able to arrange your participation in briefings by phone.  Just call us and we'll make your specific situation work.

How much time do I need to do the entire event?  Roughly speaking, and depending on weather, the event spans about three weeks  --  about one week for pre-departure activities and sailing to Bermuda, a little less than a week in Bermuda itself, and a little less than a week to sail back.  If you can't take three straight weeks to do the event, you are not entirely out of luck.  You can sail to Bermuda with the group, then leave your boat in Bermuda on a mooring under the guardianship of Bermuda Yacht Services, fly home, and sail the boat back at another time.  Another option is to sail the boat there and have a delivery skipper sail it back.  If you want to do the event but are having trouble working the schedule, please call us, as we might have some suggestions for you.

I want to do the event, but I need crew.  Can you help with that?  We definitely can, and the need for crew should not be a deterrent from doing this rally.  We have an arrangement with Offshore Passage Opportunities, which is, among other things, a crew exchange run by Hank Schmitt filled with over 600 experienced bluewater sailors who always are looking to accumulate additional sea miles.  What's more, the service is free to skippers participating in our rally.  You will be required to provide onboard meals and such during the trip, but OPO's sailors will get themselves to and from your boat at no cost to you.  Check out their website at www.sailopo.com.  In addition to OPO, we are maintaining our own crew registry of sailors who would like to do the rally, but for whatever reason cannot do so on their own boat.

Can I have different crew sail with me to Bermuda than I have sail with me home?  Absolutely.  Bermuda has specific rules and requirements about crew exchange, but we can help you make all the necessary arrangements and submit all the necessary paperwork.

I would like to volunteer as crew, is that possible?  Yes, we are maintaining a database of crew so that skippers who want to do the event but lack crew still can participate.  If you want to crew, please send an email to info@bermudacruisingrally.com, and give your name, contact information, your sailing experience, where you are located, and any other special skills, needs or considerations that you may have (mechanic, celestial navigation, smoker, etc.).

Can I have work performed at the departure point in New York?  How about getting fuel and water?  All boats should plan to arrive in New York equipped and ready to sail.  That said, Lincoln Harbor Yacht Club has mechanics available to help with repairs.  In terms of installing new equipment, you should be very wary of installing equipment right before departure, particularly complicated gear that requires some experience to obtain optimal performance, such as SSB radios, radars and the like.  You will be able to get diesel and water at Lincoln Harbor without trouble.

Can I provision at the departure point?  In a word, yes.  There is a supermarket close by that delivers.  Plus, we'll have a car available at Lincoln Harbor to make trips to local groceries and chandleries.  Also, don't forget that you're only a water taxi away from Manhattan, a place where anything at all can be obtained.

The website mentions Bermuda Yacht Services' "concierge services."  What does this mean?  Bermuda Yacht Services predicates its business on catering to its customers.  Part of this is to ensure that sailors get what they need, whether it be provisions, hotel reservations, assistance with customs, local knowledge or anything at all.  Once you sign up with our rally, you gain willing access to and help from true experts on all things Bermuda.

What kind of boat do I need?  Boats of all kinds have made ocean crossings, and there is no one type of boat that is best.  Your boat needs to be in good condition, of adequate construction to withstand the loads caused by ocean weather and waves, and she needs to be outfitted with proper gear.  If you have questions about your specific boat, please contact us to discuss.

What equipment do I need?  Once you sign up we'll send you a required equipment list, as well as Tania's pre-departure checklist of everything you should do before you arrive in New York to get your boat and yourself ready for the voyage.  The required equipment list will include the usual assortment of gear that has been written about and published by several sources.  If you have any questions at all, don't hesitate to call us.

What will the pre-departure inspections be like?  Toby Murrah is our technical expert and will conduct the inspections.  Toby is a licensed captain, a liveaboard cruiser himself who cruises the Bahamas each winter, and he's made numerous Gulfstream crossings, the most significant navigational challenge we will face.  Toby spends his summers maintaining and running large yachts and working for an Annapolis boatyard.  Essentially, Toby will review each boat to confirm that they have all the required gear installed, as well as check a variety of things that should be covered before making an ocean passage.  Likewise, Tania will participate in the inspections and give you her thoughts on what you should do to your boat to be ready for the passage.  If you install the requisite gear in advance, test it, and generally maintain your boat and her systems, the inspections merely should confirm what you already know  --  you're ready to go!

How will the daily skeds work underway?  Historically rally skeds were done by SSB.  We are going to do them with satellite phones.  In our view, in short order going to sea without a satellite phone will be akin to going to sea today without a GPS.  At predetermined times you'll use your event-provided phone to dial into the conference call center, punch in your access code, and you'll participate in a group call with everyone.  We'll go over everything in the pre-departure briefings, but essentially we'll do a role call, each boat will give its location and weather conditions, and our weather/gulfstream routers will give updates and guidance based on your actual position.  Likewise, this will present a good opportunity to ask for guidance or share experiences.  Of course, you can use the phone to make calls at anytime during the trip.

How do I sign up?  Check the "Contact Us" link on the site for our contact information, and call, email or submit an inquiry online.  We will send you the sign-up form and liability waiver by email, fax or mail, whichever you prefer.  Once you receive it, complete the form and return it with a check.

When is the deadline for signing up?  We have not set an actual "deadline," but keep in mind that we are accepting only the first 8 boats that sign up.  We believe this type of rally works best when each boat, skipper and crew get individualized attention.  We believe the best way for us to achieve that, at least for this first year of the event, is to keep the number of boats small.  Also keep in mind that depending on what you need to do to get your boat ready you may need time to install and test gear.  While we will continue to accept qualified boats and skippers until 8 sign up, you should try to sign up by April.

Are there things such as a notice of race, racing rules, or sailing instructions?  Yes, we are going to use the Racing Rules of Sailing, as referred to on The David Agency's website (www.thedavidagency.com/signal/RLFaqs.htm).  This is required for insurance purposes, and each participant must agree to comply with such rules.