THE 3rd Nereid’s Yachting Rally departed the Essequibo River, last Saturday for Suriname then to finally conclude in French Guiana at St. Laurent du Maroni. The fleet of 10 yachts with its occupants from New Zealand, Britain, Scotland, Italy, Australia, France and USA enjoyed true Guyanese hospitality.

They were officially welcomed to Guyana by Minister of Tourism Ms. Cathy Hughes, and welcomed to Hurakabra River Resort by Mr. Kit Nascimento and were hosted to a lunch at Hurakabra River Resort by the Minister of Tourism.

The Chairman of Region 7 Mr. Gordon Bradford, also welcomed the Rally to Bartica and the region and on Monday 14th September took the Rally participants on a tour of Bartica, the Cuyuni/Mazaruni area and Marshall Falls rapids.

Hurakabra River Resort has expressed its appreciation for the sponsorship of the Rally’s visit to Guyana by Banks DIH Limited and the additional wifi data access provided to the cruisers by Inet Communications, facilitating the cruisers being able to upload pictures of Guyana to friends and family overseas and on the social media.

During the Rally’s visit to Guyana, a number of the visitors enjoyed visits to Kaieteur Falls, Iwokrama and Rock View, arranged by Hurakabra Tours, and were fortunate to get an introduction to the International Music Festival while visiting Rock View on the day prior to the opening of the festival.

The visiting yachtsmen and women expressed considerable pleasure at having the opportunity to visit the wonders of Kaieteur Falls and Guyana’s beautiful hinterland tourism attractions and remarked on the efficiency in which all the resorts linked up for their connection and transportation to these interior locations.

During the Rally, the visiting boats anchored off Bartica and Baganara Island Resort, as well as Hurakabra River Resort, getting a true taste of the many attractive and safe anchorages offered on the Essequibo River for visiting yachts.
The Nereid’s Rally has served to bring attention to Guyana’s Essequibo River as a growing and attractive destination for cruising yachts and resulted in many other yachts arriving immediately prior to and following the Rally. There are currently some eight yachts in the Essequibo River enjoying our waterways, flora and fauna.