By the end of May there are 17 entries for the 2010 Louisiades Yacht Rally. Guy Chester said that there is still stong interest and there are many more entries expected in coming weeks. "We do have to set a maximum, and whilst we can accept more entries at this stage, we may have to close off the list soon. Interested yachties should get their entries in soon".

?The Rally departs from Yorkeys Knob Boating Club (YKBC) Cairns, in mid September. Participating yachts will cruise in company across 520 nautical miles of the Coral Sea, to the Louisiades Archipelago in Papua New Guinea. The Louisiades are close to Australia and are a real jewel of
the Pacific. The people are very friendly, the Melanesian and Pacific Island culture is abundant and the landscape both above and below the water are fertile with flora, fauna and sealife.
The rally takes in an exciting program of events including sailing canoe racing, feasts, sing sings, skull cave visit, traditional dancing, a remote river trip, school and hospital visits and much more. The program also allows plenty of time for independent exploration to the islands and their friendly communities.



The Rally is now in its third year and recieved strong support from the Papua New Guinea Tourism Promotion Authority and is hosted by Yorkeys Knob Boating Club. "This year there are yachts including a thirty five tonne Motor crusier, some fifty foot catamarans, a fifty-seven foot monohull and many 38-50? production cruising style yachts" said Guy. As well as getting their boats ready for the passage, doing their qualifying voyages with the crew aboard and getting their land life sorted out for their escape, many yachties are also getting their aid and trade goods sorted. "Many crew from previous Rallies and others who have visited the Louisiades have been collecting clothes, educational and medical supplies to be taken up by this year?s fleet. This year we also have a request from the Nimowa Clinic for some special medical equipment for their labour ward, so we are also raising money to purchase this to take up with us."

www.louisiadesrally.com/