RALLYING IN SOUTHEAST ASIA

Ruth and I have just signed up for our third rally in this area. The first one was Sail Indonesia and the benefit we saw was the organization in getting our permits to cruise through Indonesia. Also there was a code on the books allowing port authorities to collect a hefty deposit, returnable of course if you could locate the official and he remembered you. Sail Indonesia had addressed all this beforehand but there was still some confusion at the first Indonesian stop at Kupang.
In 2008, the year we did it, the rally departed Darwin, Australia on July 26th. Since we were still in the Philippines we agreed it would be better to meet them in Labuan Bajo on the West end of Flores Island at the beginning of September. We missed the first month of the rally but enjoyed the two months we had very much.
http://www.sailindonesia.net/home/home.php
The next rally was Sail Malaysia, Passage to the East. Here again we did not start at the beginning. We were just returning from a visit home while the boat was in Sebana Cove. The rally stopped at Sebana Cove and had just left when we returned so we were playing catch up for the second time. We found the rally at Tioman Island as the boats progressed up the East coast of West Malaysia. I have to say this rally was much better organized than the first one and I’m not sure if it was because of the tourism department’s involvement or the organizers. We had many wonderful dinners and shows performed just for us. Each community realized the benefit of having the cruisers visit.
http://www.sailmalaysia.net/
The one we have signed up for now is also a Sail Malaysia Rally, Passage to Langkawi. This one we will meet at the beginning. It will be organized by the same folks that did the passage to the east rally we just completed at the beginning of August this year. It begins on October 28th at the southern end of the Malay Peninsula and ends at Langkawi, an island on the west side of the peninsula, on December 11th. This is exactly the route we need to take any way to get prepared for our big passage across the Indian Ocean
The cost for the rally is 380 Ringgits ($110.00). It includes many dinners and shows, discounts at marinas, some are actually waving the berthing fees, contact information for all the marinas, tours of the areas we will visit, (there is an additional cost for these), and a burgee and t-shirts. Sometimes the different localities give us gifts as well.
http://www.sailmalaysia.net/
Now I know there are some that say rallies are too restrictive and having to adhere to the schedule is too demanding but nothing could be further from the truth. You don’t have to travel with the rally at all if you choose not to. In Indonesia there were 120 boats participating and the most I saw in one anchorage was 65. Some boats linger back while others go ahead of the group. If you want to be involved in the events obviously you have to be at the venue during the event but otherwise you’re responsible for your own schedule.
The diners and entertainment alone is worth the rally fee in most cases. There are more rallies planned for this part of the world and at least two people I know are planning rallies from Malaysia to the Philippines. The rallies we participated in have grown every year since there recent inception. Many of the cruisers were either from Australia or New Zealand and cruise directly to SE Asia in the Sail Indonesia Rally. Once here they enjoy the cheap cost of the lifestyle and stay for years before returning home, if they ever return home.
If you are considering a rally here, my advice would be to do it. We have not been disappointed. You can check out Ruth’s description of the events at our web site: www.mydoramac.com

Randal