Bristol, Rhode Island, USA — The Salty Dawg Rally (SDR), a cruising rally that has quickly grown to be the most popular one of its kind on the U.S. East Coast, announces the Spring 2015 rally plans, when members of the SDR once again sail out of their ‘Winter headquarters’ in the Caribbean and head home for the warmer months of the year. On-Line registration for the Spring Rally is easy and available at the SDR website, www.saltydawgrally.org.
This year, the Salty Dawg Spring Rally will depart from Nanny Cay Marina on the south side of Tortola, BVI, just a few miles west of Road Town. Last year, the rally departed from Sopers Hole, West End, Tortola.
Bill Knowles, President of the Salty Dawg Rally, stated, “With the continuing growth of the Rally, Nanny Cay Marina offers more space for the fleet, facilities for meetings and weather briefings, and greater opportunity for fellow Salty Dawgs to meet and become better acquainted.” The Spring Rally is set for departure May 16, 2015, weather permitting.
Bill Knowles added, “I am also very pleased to announce that Dufour Yacht Sales has come aboard as a Sponsor of the SDR in a very significant way. Dufour will become the sponsor of the Salty Dawg Seminar Series that has already been well received and widely popular at both the Annapolis and Newport Boat Shows, as well as in Hampton, VA prior to the Fall Rally. Dufour’s sponsorship will help the non-profit SDR expand this highly-regarded series to offer greater benefits to blue water sailors.” For more information about Dufour Yachts, visit www.dufour-yachts.com.
The SDR May 16 departure will be preceded by two weeks of activities at the Bitter End Yacht club, Leverick Bay Resort, and Nanny Cay Marina. The Spring Rally includes extensive planning and information prior to departure. Daily briefings by weather router and forecaster Chris Parker are provided to all who register, both before departure and offshore. Daily nets track location of vessels, and offer help on any issues or questions that participants have.
Beginning May 1, Salty Dawg Spring Rally participants begin to assemble at the Bitter End Yacht Club in North Sound, Virgin Gorda, for a series of special events including a Pizza Party, scavenger hunt and happy hours. Free moorings are available to Salty Dawg members until May 12th. On Wednesday, May 6, Salty Dawgs will watch Michael Beans ‘Pirate Show’ on the Beach. On Friday, May 8, the Dawgs will enjoy the ‘All You Can Eat’ Beach BBQ at Leverick Bay, catch the Moko Jumbies’ performance, and listen to live entertainment by the “Elvis White Band”.
On May 11th the Salty Dawgs Departure Dinner will be held at the Bitter End Yacht Club. While at the Bitter End Yacht Club, Members are eligible for free moorings (May 1-12), and enjoy dockage at $1/ft/n, free use of the pool, plus many other benefits.
On May 12th, the Salty Dawgs head to Nanny Cay to begin preparations for the passage north. While at Nanny Cay, Chris Parker will have Live Webcasts beginning May 13 until Rally departure. Transportation and or delivery to Nanny Cay will be provided by Rite Way for provisioning. On-Line Registration for the Spring Rally is now available.
The Salty Dawg Rally (SDR), founded by cruising enthusiasts Bill & Linda Knowles of Bristol, Rhode Island, is a U.S. tax-exempt nonprofit organization (501(c)(3). It is comprised of blue water sailors who have completed at least one blue water passage. The rally leaves Hampton, Virginia and other U.S. East Coast ports in the fall, headed for the British Virgin Islands (BVI) and other ports in the Caribbean, and returns in the spring.
For more information visit www.saltydawgrally.org.
