After a glassy calm morning the breeze was perfect at midday for the start from Espirito Santo. The start line was an “Australian Gateway” formed by our twin Aussie Beneteaus, Storyteller and Southern Princess dressed overall with Don and Anne of Harmonie along to help. These three boats have now finished their World ARC 2008 rally, the Aussies to make their way home and Harmonie to spend more time in this beautiful part of the world before rejoining to go home with World ARC 2010. The fleet sailed off down the Segond Channel saying goodbye to the finishers on the VHF and wishing them well. Left in an almost deserted anchorage John Hunt said “Thank you and goodbye this is Southern Princess standing by on 77 because it’s become a habit.”

Niue has an area of just 100 square miles, which is 2/3 the size of the Isle of Wight the home of World Cruising Club. Niue is commonly known as the "Rock of Polynesia" or locally as "the Rock" just as the natives of the Isle of Wight refer to their own island....