Pacific Rally 2026

Island Cruising & Down Under Rally is delighted to announce the Pacific Rally starting in May 2026 (or you can join us whenever you are ready to depart).

The gorgeous cover photo on this page was taken by Sailing Amalie.

Our NZ departure webinar is coming soon!

Watch our webinar here for Australian sailors wanting to come to NZ and then up to the Islands.

What is a Rally?

A rally is all about having cruising adventures with people heading in the same general direction.

Island Cruising takes this a step further. Our rallies include intensive pre-departure training to help ensure you feel confident and prepared on departure day. You can tap into some excellent discounts from our marine business partners. We support you on the passage with weather and tracking you on passage, help you find crew, assist with all the documentation and entry/exit formalities, provide detailed resources and destination information to save you lots of time doing all the research, provide assistance if you have any issues en-route, and we have fun events along the way and connect you with others heading in the same direction. 

You can choose whether to cruise with the group or do your own thing and sail independently. 

We welcome yachts and power boats on the rally. The vessels are generally sized between 30' - 100'.

Destinations

Rally participants will have the choice to select which destinations they'd most like to visit or to follow our suggested itinerary and timeline to sail the ocean passages as part of the group. 

You can depart from New Zealand, Australia or join us in the Pacific.

In 2026 you can choose from any combination of:

• Tonga
• Fiji
• Vanuatu
• New Caledonia
• Norfolk Island
• New Zealand - or Australia

Or

• French Polynesia
• Cook Islands
• Samoa
• Niue
• Tonga
• New Zealand - or Australia

Or

• Australia - cross the Tasman to New Zealand over summer
• & then join us to sail up to Tonga or Fiji

Or the traditional Go East Route:

• Australia
• New Caledonia
• Vanuatu
• Australia

Or - choose your own dates and destinations, and we will help support your adventures whichever way you decide to go.  Contact us for more details. 

Returning 

• To New Zealand or Australia mid October
• Or continue on to Indonesia and we will connect you with others heading that way too. 

Entry Fees:

The rally entry fee is NZD$1795.00 per boat (Aprox AUD$1645.00)

A deposit of $600 is due on registration and the balance is due 1 March 2026.

The skipper also needs to be a member of Island Cruising & Down Under Rally and we recommend the crew join too so they can also participate in the workshops. Membership is NZD$129.00 per person.

Join early to get the most benefit out of all the pre-departure training and Business Partner discounts.

Any rally payments can be transferred to a later date if, for any reason, you are unable to get away this year. 

Your entry fee includes:

1. Rally Pre-Departure Support

• A printed Yacht Manual to help you record all the safety and other equipment on your vessel (and to help NZ vessels through the IVC process).
• A printed Passage Plan and a passage planning webinar.
• Access to our Cruising Preparation Course and members workshops - covering safety, weather, navigation, passage planning, and much more.
• Additional rally-specific workshops & regular updates & newsletters to help you stay on track with your preparations.
• Informative webinars about the amazing destinations you can visit, communications at sea, passage planning, documentation & formalities and more.
• Training on how to set up your offshore communications systems. 
• Webinars on South Pacific Weather patterns and how to use the PredictWind weather routing tools and other weather resources. 
• All the documentation you need for each country you are going to visit and some tips on completing, saving, storing and sharing the information.
• Discounts on additional training including VHF, Navigation & Marine Medic & Advanced Sea Survival Courses.
• Assistance with finding crew and sorting their travel logistics
• Heaps of amazing discounts, great service & advice from our generous rally Partners - check them out here.
• A rally pack with a 200+ page Rally Guide book for sailing the South Pacific.
• Connecting & socialising with your fellow rally participants on the WhatsApp group
• Pre-Departure & arrival social events & briefings.

2. On Passage Support:

• Daily weather updates from our meteorologist.
• Tracking on the PredictWind Rally Tracker.
• Support and check-in's with Peter Mott - Passage Guardian.
• SSB Radio users can have a daily sched with Gulf Harbour Radio.
• Support & advice if you have any issues en-route.

3. In the Islands Support

• Regular email updates with news, events and other important updates
• We will ensure you understand all the regulations, know the entry costs and have the correct paperwork ready for the arrival formalities in each country in the Pacific.
• Our rally guide book has tips on the best anchorages, cultural considerations, weather, tides, health, repairs and much more.
• Advice on where to go for repairs for things that may have broken en-route.
• Social events and activities along the way.
• Shore crew support if you need any advice or help.
• Discounts & inclusions at Nawi Island Marina in Savusavu Fiji on marina fees and more
• Discount and events at Paradise Resort Taveuni.
• Discount & events at Viani Bay Resort & Dive Academy.
• Welcome event at Big Mama Yacht Club - Tonga
• Social events in Vava'u
• Discounts on swimming with the whales.
• Welcome event, goody bags and briefing with New Caledonia tourism.
• Discounts on Sail Tonga & Sail Fiji App.
• Discounts on Rocket Guides for Vanuatu & New Caledonia.
• Discounts on weather support from Ocean Tactics.
• Discounts on Bato Flags.
• Invitation to participate in the Citizens of the Sea project 

4. Returning Home Support - Go South & Go West

• Help to find crew & advice re crew logistics.
• Weather advice from our meteorologist.
• Tracking with our PredictWind rally tracker.
• Support from Passage Guardian.
• SSB Radio Scheds with Gulf Harbour Radio.
• Assistance with all the documentation, biosecurity, visas & customs formalities to depart the Islands and arrive in New Zealand or Australia.

5. Exclusions:

• Country entry fees - these are variable costs and need to be paid locally on arrival in local currency
• Insurance - vessel & crew
• Marina/mooring fees
• Personal expenses
• Meals & drinks at events 

6. You Will Need

• A sense of adventure & a sense of humour
• A well-prepared vessel for the adventures ahead. New Zealand vessels require a International Voyage Certificate (Pleasure Craft) (formerly known as a Cat 1 Safety Certificate). Internationally registered vessels do not need to have a safety inspection but we highly recommend you prepare your vessel to the IVC standard and we will assist you through this process. 
• The skipper is solely responsible for the safety of the vessel and crew. It is up to you to make the decision to set sail or participate in any of the rally activities, and you do so at your own risk. 
• The ability to receive emails via satellite or SSB connection - and a backup form of communication-is highly recommended.

8. Register Now!

Keen to join us on the adventure of a lifetime?

Register now online here!

We will send you an invoice for the deposit, and get you underway with your rally preparation.

I highly recommend joining early to take advantage of all the information, resources and discounts to help you get ready.

If you have any questions, please contact me on info@islandcruising.nz 

Many thanks

Viki Moore

Rally Director