Pacific Rally 2026

Pacific Rally 2026

Start Date: April/May 2026
End Date: November 2026

Start Point - Depart from New Zealand or Australia, or Join us in the Pacific
Location: South West Pacific — Our content covers Cook Islands, Samoa, Niue, Tonga, Fiji, Vanuatu, New Caledonia, Australia & New Zealand

End Point - The rally ends in New Zealand or Australia, but you can choose to stay in the Pacific, or continue independently onto Asia & beyond.

Flexible dates & destinations, you’re free to depart any time — join whenever you’re ready.

What Is the Pacific Rally?

The Island Cruising Pacific Rally is one of the most popular sailing rallies in the world. Attracting over 250 vessels each year. 

• Intensive pre-departure training so you feel fully prepared.

• Join us & save! Access to excellent marine business partner discounts.

• Full passage support: weather updates (on certain legs) tracking, entry/exit formalities, assistance if you have any issues.

• Help with finding crew & crew logistics.

• Detailed destination information and help along the way.

• Flexible: you can travel with the group or sail independently.

• Regular updates & advocacy with local officials.

• Connection with all the other sailors heading your way.

We welcome both yachts and power craft (typically 30′–100′).

Destinations & Routes 

Choose your own path, or follow our suggested itinerary.

Depart from NZ, Australia or join us in the Pacific. 

Route ideas:

• NZ → Tonga → Fiji → Vanuatu → New Caledonia → NZ or Australia

• Australia → New Caledonia → Vanuatu → Fiji  → NZ or Australia 

• Australia → cross the Tasman to NZ over summer → join us to Tonga or Fiji

• NZ → Fiji → NZ

• French Polynesia → Cook Islands → Samoa → Niue → Tonga → NZ 

• French Polynesia → Cook Islands → Niue → Tonga → Fiji → Vanuatu → New Caledonia → Australia

• NZ → Fiji  → Vanuatu → & continue on to Asia (independently & we'll connect you with the others heading that way)

• Or pick your own dates/destinations — we’ll support you whichever way you travel.

Entry & Costs

• Rally entry fee: NZD $1,795 per boat (~AUD $1,645)

• Deposit: NZD$600 on registration

• Balance due: 1 March 2026

• Skipper must be a member of Island Cruising & Down Under Rally (crew are encouraged to join too)

  • Membership: NZD $129 per person

• Register early to maximise benefits: full training, partner discounts and preparation support.

If you cannot travel this year, rally payments can be transferred to a later date.

What’s Included:

1. Pre-Departure Support

• Discounts & advice from our rally partner businesses - saving you lots on your vessel preparations.

• Yacht Manual to log vessel safety & equipment (useful for NZ IVC process).

• Access to our online Cruising Preparation Course & member workshops (safety, weather, navigation etc).

• Additional rally-specific resources, workshops, regular updates, & newsletters.

• Training webinars on offshore communications, South Pacific weather, navigation, passage planning, culture and destinations.

• All the country-specific documentation (entry, exit, formalities).

• Discounts on additional training (VHF, Navigation, Sea Survival & Marine Medic).

• Crew-finding assistance and travel logistics support.

• Rally pack: 200+ page Rally Guide Book - the most comprehensive guide book in the SW Pacific.

• Connection with other rally participants.

• Pre-departure and arrival social events/briefings.

2. On-Passage Support

• Daily weather updates from our meteorologist

• Tracking via PredictWind Rally Tracker

• Check-in and assistance from our “Passage Guardian” (Peter Mott)

• SSB Radio schedules with Gulf Harbour Radio

• Support & advice en-route for any issues

3. Pacific Destination Support

• Regular email updates: news, events, important updates.

• Guidance on local regulations, entry costs, paperwork for each country.

• Rally Guide Book covers anchorages, culture, weather, tides, health, and much more!

• Advice on repair services in the islands.

• Social events and activities at destinations

• Various partner discounts 

• Invitation to participate in the Citizens of the Sea and other citizen science projects

4. Return/Homeward Support

• Help finding crew & advice on crew logistics.

• Weather advice.

• Tracking with PredictWind Rally Tracker.

• Passage Guardian support.

• SSB Radio schedules with Gulf Harbour Radio.

• Assistance with documentation, biosecurity, visas & customs for departure and arrival in NZ or Australia.

Exclusions (What’s Not Included)

• Country entry fees (paid locally, in local currency)

• Vessel & crew insurance

• Marina/berthing/mooring fees

You’ll Need

• A sense of adventure & humour!

• A well-prepared vessel. NZ-registered boats require an International Voyage Certificate (IVC) (formerly Cat 1 Safety Certificate). Internationally-registered vessels are exempt, but we strongly recommend preparing to IVC standard and we’ll guide you through the process.

• The skipper is responsible for the safety of the vessel and crew; participation is at your own risk.

• Ability to receive emails via satellite or SSB connection — and a backup form of communication is highly recommended.

How to Register:

Ready for the adventure of a lifetime?

1. Register now online here!

2. We’ll send you an invoice for the deposit.

3. You’ll receive rally-preparation materials and access straight away.

4. Join early to take full advantage of training, resources and partner discounts.

5. Questions? Contact info@islandcruising.nz — we’re here to help.

Viki Moore
Rally Director

Watch our rally launch webinar recording.

View this great video to learn more about what our rally participants think of the rally content. 

Learn more about Cruising the South Pacific