RTG Hanoi Daily Dispatch - for website 2 - Flipbook - Page 46
27 January to
23 February 2024
Day 26 Hạ Long Bay Rest Day
22 February 2024
Photos: gerardbrown.co.uk
today we all ran
away to sea. after
the success of
the gala dinner
on the Bosphorus
way back in 2022,
the organisers
chartered another
boat for a rest
day cruise and an
overnight stay on
hạ long Bay.
Without a rally car or a toolbox in sight, the crews were
obliged to sit back and relax as the ship made its way
slowly through some of the 1,969 islands at the top end
of the gulf of tonkin. there was plenty to eat and drink
aboard the ambassador cruise ship and some excursions
ashore had been arranged, such as a trip to an immense
cave complex and a tour of some of the limestone karsts
by kayak.
From the Wyndham hotel it was less than 2km to the
embarkation point, so a leisurely start was allowed
which gave us time to catch up with enrico Paggi and
Federica mascetti. they are back with us after effecting a
rudimentary repair to their Fiat and enduring a marathon
catch-up session to make sure that the ship didn’t sail
without them.
the renowned round the world yachtsman, Bernard
moitessier, was born in hanoi and cut his sailing teeth
in these waters. it was somewhat poetic that the man he
ceded the original round the World race to, sir robin Knox
Johnston, also had his 11 strong fleet of Clipper round the
World race boats in town for some rest and refit. as we
slipped our lines and slid out into the warm green waters
we saw their crews busy with ropes, winches and sails,
making good for their next leg across the Pacific.
dinner this evening was an excellent affair but the cabaret
/ karaoke was perhaps the highlight of the night with daniel
sauter stepping up to the microphone and serenading his
fellow competitors with an impressive rendition of “i love
you Just the Way you are”.
www.rallytheglobe.com
