OVER the weekend a convoy of yachts graced Guyana’s shores, as they made their way from Trinidad and Tobago to French Guiana as part of the Nereid’s Rally.

The first of seven vessels arrived on Saturday while the remaining yachts in the fleet will sail up the Essequibo River by today and will be welcomed in grand style at the Hurakabra River Resort, owned and operated by Mr. Christopher Nascimento and his wife Gem Nascimento, a press release stated.
This welcome activity is sponsored by the Ministry of Tourism and is being facilitated through an inter-agency collaboration with the Coast Guard, Customs and Immigration, the Guyana Police Force, Maritime Administration of Guyana (MARAD) and other private sector stakeholders.
The joint approach being employed is in keeping with Tourism Minister, Irfaan Ali’s commitment to ensure that all systems are in place to make the inaugural event a success, with safety, security and ease of access of principal importance.

Yacht Industry
He said too that the ministry’s aim is to use this event to catapult the Yacht Industry in Guyana and to harness the influx of yachts to develop the necessary infrastructure to further support the industry.
As testimony to the stir this event is creating and the interest of participants, a second convoy is expected in October of 2013, and this will be led by former international sailor, Simon Wall.
When the vessels arrive, they will make their way to the mining town of Bartica, 30 miles from the mouth of the Essequibo and at the centre of the confluence of three great rivers, the Mazaruni, Cuyuni and Essequibo – this is an official port of entry and welcomes the arrival of cruisers.
Meanwhile, planning for this highly anticipated event began months ago and a team travelled to Trinidad and Tobago, in early August, to promote the event and to encourage maximum participation from yacht enthusiasts there.
During the meetings with the yachtees in Trinidad, GTA Marketing Manager, Mrs. Carla Chandra and now Tourism and Hospitality Association of Guyana President (THAG), Mr. Christopher Nascimento made presentations on Guyana’s tourism product, including visitor tips and travel information such as visas and customs clearance, which are to date, the most efficient and straightforward in the Caribbean.
Cruisers may now sail up the Essequibo River, about a four-hour motor sail from the estuary, to clear customs, immigration and health authorities within an hour of checking in by completing the simplest of customs clearance forms to be found at any cruising destination in the Caribbean and South America.
Close to 50 persons attended the session and almost all the participants there expressed excitement at the possibility of sailing into the mighty Essequibo River, which is featured prominently in the third edition of the Chris Doyle Cruising Guide for Trinidad and Tobago, Barbados and Guyana.
Doyle, regarded as the guru of pleasure cruising in the Caribbean and North Eastern South America, decided to feature Guyana in his guide.
The Doyle Guide provides full chart and waypoint navigational advice on approaching the Essequibo River and sailing upriver to Bartica and the attractive anchorages in the vicinity off Baganara Island Resort, Hurakabra River Resort and the Shanklands Resort.
Addressing this aspect of the journey, Nascimento provided details about technical sailing information for the Essequibo including tide, draft, waypoints, etc.
The Baganara and Hurakabra Resorts, in particular, now cater to receive cruisers anchored close off-shore. These resorts are exceptionally beautiful nature destinations which offer exceedingly comfortable and well appointed accommodation, jungle walks, birding, beach front dining, well stocked bars, recreation facilities, water sports and dingy docking.