img7548A round the world rally starting from Bordeaux in September 2002 and
finishing in the famous French port in June 2004 is hoping to attract a
number of British entries. The rally announcement was made by Gildas de
Gouvello, publisher of Loisirs Nautiques magazine, at an offshore cruising
seminar held at La Corderie Royale in Rochefort. The seminar was held in the
historic setting of the beautifully restored 17th century ropewalk and was
attended by over 200 sailors many of whom expressed a keen interest to join
the first ever event of this kind to start from France.

A carefully chosen route will give participants the chance to visit some of
the most beautiful cruising grounds of the world. After stops on the Atlantic
coasts of Spain and Portugal, the fleet will visit the Canaries and West
Africa before crossing the Atlantic to Martinique. Having reached the South
Pacific via the Panama Canal, the route will stop at various island groups on
its way to the Torres Straits and the South Indian Ocean. The Cape of Good
Hope will be passed early in 2004 in time to reach Salvador da Bahia for its
famous carnival.

The outbound route will be re-crossed in the Caribbean before the fleet will
make a symbolic detour to New York, and a visit to the UN, dictated by the
theme of the rally: the rights of the child. Stops in Bermuda and the Azores
will bring the fleet back to Bordeaux in time for the wine festival that is
celebrated every year in this world famous wine producing area.

For logistical reasons, the fleet will be limited to 30 yachts, with a
minimum length of 36 feet. Both monohulls and multihulls are
accepted, and the position of each boat will be featured daily on a dedicated
website.

During the course of the rally various events will be inspired by its theme
"The rights of the child":


  • The twinning of various schools in Bordeaux with a school in each of the 44
    ports visited by the round the world rally.

  • A charter outlining the rights of the child will be handed over at official
    functions held at every stop to focus attention on the abuse and neglect
    still suffered by children in many parts of the world.

  • Each yacht will be sponsored by one of the famous wine producers of the
    Bordeaux region and will carry around the world a case of their wine. These
    will be auctioned on arrival in New York and Bordeaux and the proceeds
    donated to a children's charity. To ensure the safe delivery of their cargo,
    each crew will be generously endowed with its own supply of wine.


For further information please contact:
Trish Jenkins, J2 Communications
Tel: +44 1983 298683
Fax: +44 1983 298684
E-mail: [email protected]