Published 12 years ago, updated 5 years ago

Rally places filled faster than ever!

The 27th Atlantic Rally for Cruisers is now fully subscribed, and the wait list is open. More boats have been offered places this year, and there will be around 230 at the start of the rally on 25 November in Las Palmas de Gran Canaria.

Spaces in the ARC booked up faster than ever, surpassing the 2011 entry level by early February. The popularity of the rally remains undimmed; testimony to the founding principles of the safe and fun ocean crossing.

The fleet so far

So far the smallest boat is Wolfgang Vandrey’s Contest 28 Quetzal (GER) and the largest is Swan 80 Berenice (ITA). ARC 2012 will be a truly international affair, with boats sailing under the flags of 33 nations. British boats make up just under one-third of the fleet, with Germany being the second-largest national grouping. It is great to see large numbers of boats from Norway, Italy, USA, Australia, Netherlands, Sweden and France.

The prize for the oldest ARC boat of 2012 looks like being between two boats built in 1926 – Peter von Seestermühe (GER) owned by long-term ARC supporter Christoph von Reibnitz, and Peter Brownsell’s Peregrin (GBR).

There are 23 catamarans ranging from Lagoon 400 Naos 400 (USA) to Lagoon 620 Anakin (AUT). Not quite last year’s record-breaking 29 cats, but still the second-largest ARC multihull fleet to date.

The RORC racing divisions have a healthy 42 entries, with good competition and fast crossing times promised from Swan 80 Berenice (ITA) and Swan 82S Nikata (GBR) at the larger end of the fleet, and some speedy Judel/Vrolijk designs in the sub-60-foot division.

Returning ralliers

It is always good to welcome back old friends to the ARC and 2012 is a special year. Marius Larsen sailed in the very first ARC in 1986 with his parents and sister, and now he is back as skipper of his own boat, Hanse 325 Quickie (NOR).

Another “ARC child” is Gill Duncan, who sailed in 1991 with his parents, and is now following in their wake by taking his own young family across the Atlantic in Grand Soleil 52 Fabiola (GBR).

We’re also delighted to welcome back “Mr. ARC” Manfred Kerstan, the man who has completed the most ARCs, this year again sailing Swan 62 RS Albatros (GER). Another ARC 1986 veteran and multiple ralliers are Christoph von Reibnitz, sailing his classic Henry Gruber yawl Peter von Seestermühe (GER).