A round-the-world rally skipper, who abandoned his organised cruise which had ground to a halt because of the Somali pirate threat, has made his own way into the Red Sea.

John Smedley-Wild, and his partner Gillian Fairbrother, risked sailing
their 13m catamaran, Spirit of Nina, 
through the dangerous waters off Oman and through the Gulf of Aden. They successfully entered the Red Sea and are now
heading for the Med.

They left behind the Blue Water Rally boats in Oman, where the other crews are trying to organise ship transportation for their yachts.

Blue Water Rallies, which
organised eight successful round the world rallies and 14 Yachting Monthly
Biscay Triangle events, will cease trading at the end of April.