I personally wouldn't join a rally, but there's plenty who do and enjoy it. I feel it takes away some of the challenge and freedom, but thats me. The ARC seems to be the starting point for a lot of peoples blue water aspirations. I think they have a website etc. One thing is for sure, there's a lot of experience out there for this kind of thing. As one guy on here put it "if you want somebody to hold your hand".