Island Cruising has its roots in the 1980s, when Don and Jenny Mundell set out with a simple ambition: to draw more sailors towards Tonga. What began as a personal initiative grew rapidly into the Island Cruising Association, earning a reputation that spread across New Zealand, the Pacific, and far beyond.
Over the four decades since, the organisation has become a trusted support hub for sailors venturing offshore. Each successive generation of owners has added to the support structure, from handling customs paperwork to finding crew, leaving the group stronger than they found it.
Brian and Joan Hepburn took the helm in 1995, introducing preparation courses that covered offshore safety, seamanship, and liferaft training, and adding well-regarded books on South Pacific sailing to the organisation's offering. John and Lyn Martin followed in 2007, leading rallies aboard their yacht Windflower and building detailed cruising guides and databases that remain essential references to this day. In 2017, Nigel and Amanda Richards purchased the business and ran it from their yacht Varekai, before the disruptions of COVID across Pacific rally seasons prompted them to hand over to Canterbury sailor Viki Moore in 2021. Moore has since broadened Island Cruising's reach, uniting it with Australia's Down Under Rally to strengthen connections across the region.
The last four years
The transition to Viki Moore's leadership brought a fundamental shift in how the rally operates. Fixed schedules and a guide boat leading the fleet gave way to a model built around preparation, training, and offshore support delivered remotely, opening the door to a far wider range of participants.
"It was mid-COVID. I was a solo parent, running a business, and had just finished my Offshore Yachtmaster. With a Young 88 I wasn't in a position to disappear to the Pacific for months. So, I changed the model. The focus is on training sailors before they go, and supporting them while they're away, rather than having everyone follow a lead boat."
Moore's first South Island rally brought in 30 yachts. The following year that number jumped to 73, then 124, and this season more than 240 vessels signed on. Each rally season weaves together boats from New Zealand and Australia with international cruisers making their way across the Pacific, visiting Tonga, Fiji, Vanuatu, and New Caledonia before the fleet regroups for the southward return passage in October.
Challenges and resilience
Moore's background spanning travel and politics has proved a practical asset, equipping her to manage complex logistics and speak up on behalf of sailors at an institutional level. She now works as a consultant to the United Nations Office of Drugs and Crime, advising on Pacific cruising movements and broader maritime issues.
This year brought a far more personal challenge. Moore was diagnosed with Diffuse Large B Cell Lymphoma, a form of blood cancer, and six rounds of chemotherapy forced her to step away from day-to-day operations. Her team held things together while she recovered. "It was really rough, but I was lucky to have a supportive team. I even managed to keep working from the couch."
She has since received the all-clear and is cancer free. With recovery continuing, her attention has turned firmly towards the coming summer and a Pacific season aboard Bella Vita, her Cavalier 45.
40 years of Island Cruising
Four decades of rallies have taken thousands of sailors into the Pacific. There have been storms and breakages, friendships forged at sea, parties that stretched into the night, and memories that sailors carry for the rest of their lives.
"It's a privilege to do this job," Moore says. "The community is amazing. Sailors support each other, respect the places they visit, and make a positive impact. I'm proud to help them achieve their dreams."
Island Cruising's 40th birthday celebrations will be held on 29 November at the Royal New Zealand Yacht Squadron, with a week of events building towards the main occasion and bringing together sailors from across the organisation's long history.
