Pacific Rally 2027
Pacific Rally 2027
Escape Winter. Discover the South Pacific.
The adventure of a lifetime starts here.
Imagine swapping cold winter mornings for warm trade winds, crystal-clear lagoons, vibrant island cultures and unforgettable anchorages. Whether you're planning your very first offshore passage or returning for another season in the tropics, the Pacific Rally gives you the confidence, knowledge and community to make it happen.
As the world's largest cruising rally, the Pacific Rally has become the trusted choice for hundreds of cruising yachts and powerboats each year. Join a welcoming community of like-minded adventurers while enjoying the flexibility to cruise at your own pace—with as much or as little support as you need.
Rally Dates
April – November 2027
Flexible departure dates and destinations mean you're free to depart whenever you're ready - or join us at our pre-departure events:
- End of April - The BoatWorks on the Gold Coast
- Early May - Marsden Cove Marina - Whangārei
- Early May - Bay of Islands Marina - Opua
Start
Depart from New Zealand, Australia, or join us in the Pacific.
Cruise
You choose your own itinerary & destinations. Our rally resources, destination guides and support cover:
- Cook Islands
- Samoa
- Niue
- Tonga
- Fiji
- Vanuatu
- New Caledonia
- Australia
- New Zealand
Finish
Complete your rally in New Zealand or Australia, remain in the islands, or continue independently to Asia and beyond.
Why Join the Pacific Rally?
More than 250 vessels participate in the Pacific Rally each season, making it the largest cruising rally in the world. Around half of all cruising yachts travelling through the South West Pacific each year are rally participants.
But the Pacific Rally is about far more than sailing offshore.
It is about arriving in new countries with confidence, discovering extraordinary places, making lifelong friendships, and having experienced people available whenever you need advice or assistance.
Whether you're sailing independently or enjoying the camaraderie of cruising alongside other participants, you'll have access to an experienced support team before, during and after your voyage.
Who is the Rally For?
The Pacific Rally welcomes:
- First-time offshore cruisers wanting extra confidence and support
- Experienced sailors looking for local knowledge and an active cruising community
- Couples, families with children and solo sailors
- Sailing yachts and powerboats (typically 30–100 feet)
- Cruisers departing from New Zealand, Australia or already exploring the Pacific
Enjoy the reassurance of knowing support is available when needed, you'll quickly become part of an incredible cruising community.
What You'll Receive
Preparation for the Adventures Ahead
- Comprehensive pre-departure training
- Online Cruising Preparation Video Course
- Live workshops and webinars
- Passage planning resources & templates
- Safety, weather and communications training
- Navigation and destination briefings
- Yacht Manual for recording vessel safety equipment
- Country entry and clearance documentation
- 200+ page Rally Guide Book
Join Us & Save
Save thousands through our exclusive partner benefits:
- Marina discounts
- Marine equipment and services
- Boatyard and maintenance offers
- Training discounts
- Insurance and service partner offers
Many participants recover much of their rally entry fee through partner savings alone.
Ongoing Passage Support
While you're at sea you'll benefit from:
- Daily weather guidance (on the main group departures between NZ/AU & the Islands)
- PredictWind Rally Tracker
- Passage Guardian support
- Gulf Harbour Radio schedules
- Advice if unexpected issues arise
- Connection with other rally boats nearby
Destination Support
Once you've arrived, our support continues with:
- Weekly newsletters
- Destination information
- Regulations, documentation and formalities
- Anchorage recommendations
- Local repair contacts
- Cruising advice
- Social events
- Partner discounts
- Citizens of the Sea and citizen science opportunities
Returning Home
- Weather advice
- Passage planning
- Crew logistics
- PredictWind tracking
- Customs and biosecurity
- Immigration & visa information
- Gulf Harbour Radio schedules
Flexible Cruising
Unlike many rallies, there are no compulsory departure dates or fixed itineraries.
Cruise independently.
Travel with friends.
Join up with other rally boats whenever you like.
Spend weeks exploring a favourite destination or keep moving.
It's your adventure—we simply provide the support, knowledge and community to help make it the best cruising season you've ever had.
Popular Route Ideas
- New Zealand → Tonga → Fiji → Vanuatu → New Caledonia → New Zealand or Australia
- Australia → New Caledonia → Vanuatu → Fiji → New Zealand or Australia
- Australia → New Zealand (summer) → Pacific Rally
- New Zealand → Fiji → New Zealand
- French Polynesia → Cook Islands → Samoa → Niue → Tonga → New Zealand
- French Polynesia → Cook Islands → Niue → Tonga → Fiji → Vanuatu → New Caledonia → Australia
- New Zealand → Fiji → Vanuatu → Continue independently to Asia
Or simply create your own itinerary—we'll support you wherever your adventure takes you.
Entry & Pricing
Rally Entry: NZD $1,895 per vessel
(Approximately AUD $1,569)
Deposit: NZD $600 upon registration
Balance Due: 1 March 2027
The skipper must be an Island Cruising member and we encourage your crew to join us too if they wish.
Annual Membership: NZD $129 per person
Join early to maximise your access to training, discounts and preparation resources.
If your plans change, your rally entry can be transferred to a future Pacific Rally.
What's Not Included
- Country entry fees
- Marina and mooring fees
- Vessel insurance
- Personal travel insurance
- Fuel and cruising expenses
What You'll Need
- A sense of adventure.
- A well-prepared vessel.
- New Zealand vessels require an International Voyage Certificate (IVC - formerly Cat 1).
- International vessels are exempt, although we recommend preparing to IVC standard.
- Reliable offshore communications with a backup system.
- A sense of adventure to experience some of the finest cruising destinations on Earth.
Ready to Escape?
Your Pacific adventure begins long before you cast off.
Register early and immediately gain access to training, destination information, webinars, rally guides, partner discounts and a welcoming community of hundreds of fellow cruisers.
Register today and start planning the adventure of a lifetime.
Questions?
Viki Moore
Rally Director
Pacific Rally Launch Webinar
26 July 2026 • 7:00 pm NZ Time
Join our Rally Launch Webinar on Zoom here
View this great video to learn more about what our rally participants think of the rally content.
Learn more about Cruising the South Pacific
Cruise the South Pacific and on to New Zealand this season. The Sail South to New Zealand package has everything you need to ensure a smooth voyage including assistance with all the paperwork, visas, biosecurity, weather, and great discounts and events on arrival. ...
If you’re cruising independently and require urgent advice, advocacy, or support, Island Cruising can offer professional assistance to help you assess your situation and identify appropriate next steps. This level of support is included for rally participants as part of their event entry. For non-rally vessels, support is available through our rally framework to ensure we can dedicate the appropriate time, expertise, and duty of care. ...