The Setouchi International Yacht Rally started in 2013 to promote friendship and camaraderie among sailors from Japan and around the world and to foster cruising and tourism in Japan’s beautiful archipelago, Seto Inland Sea, i.e. Setouchi waters.
While many yacht “races” were held in Japan, Setouchi International Yacht Rally 2013 was the first yacht “rally” in Japan. It was started by a group of Japanese sailors who had enjoyed the rally experience overseas and so wanted to bring the rally concept to Japan. Setouchi was chosen as the location for Japan’s first rally because of the area’s natural beauty, rich history and culture, and friendly local people. Then, the Rally has attracted participants from Japan and other countries as you see in the boats list below and Facebook page.
Rally 2023 is to be held in May, 2023 !
Rally 2022 was cancelled because of the pandemic.
Rally 2021 was cancelled because of the pandemic.
Rally 2020 was cancelled because of the pandemic.
Rally 2019, May 10th -26th
The participants of total 10 boats from Germany, France and Japan enjoyed the 2 week rally. Enjoy pictures and movies taken by the participants:
https://www.muktuk.de/2019/06/09/setouchi-international-yacht-rally-2019/
https://youtu.be/VcdIy0nuKxY
https://youtu.be/PlwLdzZVTWQ
https://youtu.be/A4NYZFTX5YY
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m1Zst7u2PEQ&feature=youtu.be
The participants boats are:
Muktuk, 50ft mono-hull, Germany
CoCo-Haz Ⅲ, 42ft mono-hull, Japan
Yuimaru (結丸), 47ft mono-hull, Japan
MARCH, 40ft catamaran, France
Simoom, 40ft mono-hull, Japan
Ocean Point, 77ft motor cruiser, Japan
Kagetora (景虎), 32ft mono-hull, Japan
Windy III, 42ft mono-hull, Japan
SONIA, 35ft mono-hull, Japan
CARA III, 35ft motor cruiser, Japan
Rally 2018, May 11th -27th Ports and Two Week Schedule
Total 27 participants (16 ladies and 11 gentlemen) aboard 6 (Australia, Canada, UK and 3 Japanese) sail boats and 2 Japanese motor cruisers enjoyed Rally 2018. The boats were:
Free Spirit V, Australia
Amigo, Canada
Sister Midnight, UK
Limelight, Kou, Japan
BUNNY III, Niihama, Japan
Windy III, Sakaigahama, Japan
Ocean Point, Sakaigahama, Japan
Les Poissons, Sakaigahama, Japan
Rally 2017, May 13th – 28th Ports and Time Schedule
The total 22 participants (6 ladies and 16 gentlemen) aboard 7 sail boats (2 NZ and 5 Japanese) enjoyed Rally 2017. The boats were:
Sagata, Wellington, NZ
Kiwi Coyote, Auckland, NZ
Unasaka, Choshi, Japan
MARCH, Nishinomiya, Japan
Sakura, Sakaigahama, Japan
BUNNY III, Niihama, Japan
Windy III, Sakaigahama, Japan
Rally 2016 was cancelled
Rally 2015 Boats
| Boat Name | Captain | Flag | Type | LEG | |
| 1 | Shuang Yu | Edward Norman Berry | USA | Monohull | LEG1,LEG2 |
| 2 | opa | Koichi Matsunaga | Japan | Monohull | LEG1 |
| 3 | BUNNYIII | Yuji Itoh | Japan | Monohull | LEG1 |
| 4 | MOTESAKU・V | Kazuo Sasaki | Japan | Monohull | LEG2ー |
| 5 | Umineko | Motoyuki Sato | Malaysia | Catamaran | LEG1 |
| 6 | CARA | Koichi Yamada | Japan | Catamaran | LEG1＋ |
| 7 | saemy5 | Izuho Mineta | Japan | Monohull | LEG2 |
| 8 | Les Poissons | Kanji Ishida | Japan | Trawler | LEG1 |
| 9 | Troa III | Barry Hare | Austraria | Monohull | LEG1＋ |
| 10 | AIA | Keiichi Umehara | Japan | Monohull | LEG2 |
Rally 2014 Boats and Photo Book
| No | Boat Name | Flag | Home Port |
| 1 | Sari Timur | Singapore | Singapore |
| 2 | Toroa III | Australia | Townsville |
| 3 | Silk Purse | Canada | Victoria |
| 4 | Astrolabe | Australia | Hobart |
| 5 | Avant garde | New Zealand | Opua |
| 6 | Sakura | Japan | Sakaigahama Marina |
| 7 | Cara | Japan | Ginowan Marina |
| 8 | Ocean Point | Japan | Sakaigahama Marina |
| 9 | AIA | Japan | YAMAHA Marina Numazu |
| 10 | Yukikaze | Japan | Nio Marina |
| 11 | A-CROSS | Japan | Seabornia Marina |
| 12 | Les Poissons | Japan | Sakaigahama Marina |
| 13 | Southern Cross | Japan | Osaka Hokko Marina |
| 14 | Tonoas | Japan | Moroiso |
| 15 | Arcadia | Japan | Sakai Shoei Marina |
| 16 | VACANZA | Japan | Niihama Marina |
| 17 | RYO | Japan | Oharai Marina |
Rally 2013 Boats and Photo Book
| No | Boat Name | Flag | Home Port |
| 1 | King Bee | Japan | Shima Yacht Harbor |
| 2 | Ocean Point V | Japan | Sakaigahama Marina |
| 3 | Les Poissons | Japan | Sakaigahama Marina |
| 4 | Crow’s Nest V | Japan | Ashiya Marina |
| 5 | Lime Light | Japan | Kou Yacht Club (Shizuoka) |
| 6 | Beyond Outrageous | Australia | Melbourne |
| 7 | Sakura | Japan | Sakaigahama Marina |
| 8 | Echo Point | Japan | Spa Marina Atami |
| 9 | Cara | Japan | Ginowan Marina |
| 10 | Fifth Season II | USA | Cedar Rapid, IA |
| 11 | Escargo | Japan | Okinoshima Marina (Hiroshima) |