21 yachts will leave Plymouth’s Mayflower Marina this Sunday, heading for Lagos, Portugal on the World Cruising Club (WCC) Rally Portugal.

The annual passage will visit six ports on route along the Spanish and Portuguese coasts, before ending in the Algarve in stable, early-summer weather conditions.

Andrew Bishop, founder of Rally Portugal and managing director of the WCC, said: ‘I never dreamt when first sailing the coast of Portugal in 1989 that my experience would lead to the creation of an event that has in its 16 year history introduced so many international yachtsmen to the joys of cruising in Portugal.

‘The generous hospitality of the Portuguese overwhelmed me then and continues to do so now.’

Charles Bush, managing director of Mayflower Marina, said: ‘Rally Portugal has started at Mayflower Marina for the past 15 years and for me at least, it seems to herald the start of the sailing season.

‘The build up to the Rally is great fun and the event adds activity and excitement to the marina as competitors ready their boats for the start of a big adventure.’