Summary of 2004 Darwin Kupang Rally and Darwin Bali Rally

2004 Darwin to Kupang Rally Summary

July 31
With all yachts in Kupang the end of rally the party has started, on Thursday evening there was a Gala welcome dinner hosted by the provincial Governor complete with traditional dancing and cultural displays. On Sunday over 20 yachts will leave for Kupang for Alor to attend a week long cultural festival in the town of Kalabahi.

July 29
Participants were guests a traditional entertainment and dinner. On Friday there were bus tours to places of interest around Kupang and on Saturday night the awards and farewell ceremony
All the yachts are now in Kupang, Valere and Vindela arrived in the early hours of the morning and the last to arrive was the Norwegian entrant Voi Voi arriving at 0800 today. Further information regarding the events in Kupang will be posted her as it becomes available.

July 28
At 1600 the last yachts were approaching the entrance to the Roti Strait 10 miles south of Kupang, the last yacht Voi Voi was 35 miles out at 10° 31' 124° 04' in company with 2 Extreme, Kahiba, Sea Tramp and Vindela. These yachts were expected into Kupang late tonight or early tomorrow morning.

At 0800 the 15 yachts still at sea reported in on the sched and included in this group are Sea Fever only 15 miles from the finish as well as 2Extreme, Fantasy II, Kahiba, Monte Christo, Onyx, Sea Tramp, Typhoon Princess Valere, Vindela and at the rear of the fleet 100 miles out from Kupang is Voi Voi A number of yachts including Blue Banana, Julia, Nimbus, Sojourner, Tigger II and Tsolo arrived during the night.

July 27
The new Zealand yacht Risque Affaire skippered by Ian Lamb sailed into Kupang today at 0754 followed by Searose at 0830, Backchat at 1000 and Seaing Double at 1003 with a number of the fleet approaching the southern end of the Roti Strait on the southwest end ot Timor, the yachts at the back in the fleet around 170 miles from the finish were experiencing very light conditions. Included in this group were 2Extreme, Scott Free, Elenor and Typhoon Princess.

At the 1600 radio sched Brandamajo, Gemini, Guitar, Jacana, Peace and Aloha, Rikili and Shazam had arrived in Kupang with a number of yachts including the radio relay vessel Julia due in tonight. Yachts are arriving all the time an updated list will be available tomorrow. Voi Voi, Vindela and Sea Tramp are at the rear of the fleet with 150 miles to go. All yachts were accounted for on the 1615 sched this afternoon. The breeze has been light over the last few days but increased to 15 knots as the yachts approach Timor.

July 26
Conditions improved during the day with the breeze increasing to 8-12 knots. The lead yachts at 1600 were around 100 miles from Kupang. Shazam, Backchat, Guitar, Gemini, Peace and Aloha and Searose were expecting to be in Kupang on the 27th. The main group of yachts were 190 miles from Kupang and included in this group were Monte Christo, Pisces, Sea Star, Sojourner, and Susquehanna.
2Extreme , Sea Tramp, Vindella, Kahiba and Voi Voi were in a group together at the back of the fleet approaching the half way point. All other yachts reported in on the 1600 radio sched on the 26th.

July 24
The fleet of 40 yachts left Darwin on schedule at 1100 hours in near perfect conditions in a following 10 knot south easterly breeze, the first yacht to cross the start line was the Swedish entry Vindella sailed by the single hander Jack Oldenburg followed closely by a second Swedish entry Elenor skippered by Berit Lithner. At 1600 hours today the leading yachts were approximately 50 miles from Darwin in good sailing conditions in 10 - 15 knots of breeze.

Swedish Yachts "Vindela" and "Elenor" crossing the start line	"Risque Affaire" leaving Darwin under spinnaker
"Sojourner" from USA	"Blue Banana" at the start
United kingdom entrant "Typhoon Princess" at the start	Australian yacht "Rikili" in Darwin Harbor
Swedish entry 26 footer "Sea Tramp"	Radio Relay "Julia" skippered by Larry Jacobsen