ARC 2008 News

Created by val. Last modified on 2008-11-21 08:28:37
Contributors:
Topic: Rallies
Countries: Azores, St Lucia

November 21st 2008

THREE DAYS AND COUNTING:

CREWS MAKE FINAL PREPARATIONS FOR START OF 23RD ARC ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Last minute preparations.

It's a busy time for most of the 1,100 crew preparing for the departure of the Atlantic Rally for Cruisers (ARC), the world's largest transocean event from Las Palmas, Gran Canaria to St Lucia. With four days to go, only a handful of yachts are still to arrive in time for the start on Sunday 23rd November. 218 yachts from 20 different nations will be participating in this unique event which attracts crews from all walks of life.

Ready for the off.

Skippers are now focusing their attention on last minute details; briefing crew on safety issues; stowing fresh food and provisions for the crossing, attending the informative seminars and making sure everying is in place for the 2,680nm Atlantic crossing from Las Palmas de Gran Canaria to Rodney Bay in St Lucia. A full social programme with parties and events each evening helps to build the excitement and creates camaraderie amongst the crews.

Diverse entry list.

The aim of the ARC has always been to emphasise the amateur, Corinthian spirit and this year is no different. The ARC has something for everyone and has formed its own special character. The character of its participants is as diverse as the types of yachts on the entry list. From the smallest boat in the fleet: Madonna, a Bénéteau First 31 (9.95m), sailed by the Bratbak family from Norway with their three children, to the largest entry: Iemanja, a Ron Holland-designed 34.18m yacht from Mexico. Families are well represented amongst the fleet with 32 children taking part. Doublehanders Pierre Bouchard and Celine Blais on the new Canadian OVNI 435 Chandelle will be crossing the Atlantic for the first time accompanied by their two cats. Married in June, the ARC forms part of their prolonged honeymoon. The ARC fleet also includes two dogs! Several yachts are using the ARC as part of a circumnavigation and others, such as Frank Rothwell and crew on the British yacht Up Chuck are venturing along the northern coast of America to the Arctic Ocean via the Northwest Passage.

The ARC also entices back ARC veterans as well as Atlantic virgins. This year Harry Glab will be sailing across in the rally for the 10th year on his brand new German 39c Frangipani. The girls are also well represented amongst the fleet with intrepid Norwegian cousins, who have been sailing together since the age of 12, sailing in the Racing Division with an all-girl crew on the Beneteau First 40.7 Las Primas.

Spectacular Start in the offing.

Whilst fundamentally a fun rally for cruising yachts, the ARC does have a more serious Racing Division, run under the auspices of the Royal Ocean Racing Club (RORC). Yachts in the Racing Divisions are not permitted to use their engines for propulsion (unlike the cruisers), although use of autopilots is allowed. This year, a truly international fleet of 25 yachts will start at 1240 in this class. The main start sequence for the majority of the fleet will take place at 1300 on Sunday 23rd from a Spanish Navy Ship acting a the committee boat, with yachts spread along the mile long startline watched by hundreds of spectactors out on the water and on shore. The ARC is a popular tourist and local attraction in the sports calendar in Gran Canaria.

Follow the Fleet on official ARC website.

Once the yachts depart on Sunday 23rd November, daily yacht position reports will be displayed on the ARC website and an individual route map for each yacht. Crews will also contribute daily logs and images direct to the site. www.worldcruising.com/arc