Nanny Cay has played an integral role in many of World Cruising Club's events over the years. Participants can expect a warm welcome from the marina and all its amenities as they begin to arrive this coming weekend.

Click for a video on the kids of the fleet.

Check out a new video asking ralliers "why?"

Peter Burch started a full day on safety training with a full-house seminar on managing emergencies at sea. His talk was followed by a live liferaft demonstration headed by 21-year rally veteran Davis Murray in the Hampton Crowne Plaza pool. 

A big question when it comes to sailing offshore for certain. Likely the answer will depend upon the conditions, but many participants this year are not quite sure where they fit in. Following the Bahamas class dinner last evening, several crews offered their answers.

Jim Wohlleber's Beckoning might be the most prepared boat in the Caribbean 1500 fleet this year. A former commercial airline pilot, Wohlleber is a stickler for safety and procedure. His Catalina 470 was the only boat thus far to complete their inspection on the first try, and the only boat to actually head out on the water and drill the crew. 

Marie-Claude Landry and Andre Blain of Montreal spent a comfortable morning discussing their cruising dream. It was fulfilled, according to Andre, "after 45 years of dreaming, expectations, and dreaming of the right boat."

During his inspection, skipper David Finegan of Mahalo learned several lessons in equipping his boat for offshore sailing, a treatment the entire rally fleet will be privileged to in the next few days leading up to the start. Safety is a key component to the program here in Hampton, and Peter Burch, a veteran of the 1500 and head of the inspection team, ensures boats heading offshore are properly equipped for it. Additionally, crews will be able to attend several safety-related seminars this week, including a life-raft demo in the Crowne Plaza hotel pool. 

The objective of the Caribbean 1500 Rally has always been to provide the safest and most comfortable passage south for its participants. Selecting the location and the weather window is essential for meeting this passage goal.

Read on to find out why we use Hampton as a port of departure, and why the first week of November is our target date.