World ARC 2015-16 comes to a close in Saint Lucia

 

After visiting 18 countries, sailing over 26,000nm and spending more than 450 days cruising and exploring the waters of the world, the World ARC 2015-16 fleet are approaching the final rendezvous of their circumnavigation back where it all began in Saint Lucia. This edition saw the fleet visit the new stopovers ports of Santa Marta in Colombia, Raiatea in French Polynesia, and Lombok in Indonesia, and many of those 'completing the circle' this April are doing so after breaking for a year in the Pacific, made possible by the rally now running annually.

Meanwhile World ARC 2016-17 fleet are currently cruising the Marquesas following their first ocean crossing together. Sailing 3,000nm from the Galapagos to Hiva Oa, crews experienced a mix of weather conditions with very calm winds at the beginning which subsequently filled in as the fleet came south from the rhumb line and provided some good tradewind conditions. 

 

Back on dry land, crews set to join us for future editions of World ARC came along to seminars held in Guildford, UK and Annapolis, USA and to the World ARC presentation at Boot Dusseldorf. Meeting one another and the team from World Cruising Club has been a great support to those in the planning stage of their voyage. 

 

The next start is scheduled for 7 January 2017 departing Rodney Bay, Saint Lucia

Click here to request an information pack.

 

 

ARC Portugal - don't miss out sailing to the sun this summer

 

Places are still available to join us this summer for ARC Portugal, a three week rally offering wonderful sailing, superb seafood, and friendly beachfront ports cruising to Marina de Lagos on the Algarve. 

This year, the rally leaves Plymouth, UK on Sunday 5 June, and ends in Lagos, Portugal on Wednesday 29 June. 

 

 

Heading across the Bay of Biscay to Bayona in Spain (boats can join the rally here instead if they wish) the route then takes the yachts day-sailing down the coast towards sunny Lagos on Portugal's southern coast. ARC Portugal is known for its relaxed pace and friendly atmosphere, where a fleet of mixed abilities enjoy day-sails between interesting ports, as well as joining in a full shore-side programme of organised excursions and crew dinners. The 2015 rally was summed up by David Dick of Degree of Latitude, "Good sailing, interesting ports, good company and well organised!"

 

 

An international flavour for ARC 2016 

 

Entries for this year's Atlantic Rally for Cruisers have been flooding in for the past six months; 33 nationalities are represented by boats in the fleet to date, and many more amongst the crews. With sixty entries in ARC+ and one hundred and seventy in the ARC this is going to be another busy year, and we expect both routes to fill up before the summer. If you hoping to join us this November, don't delay registering your entry online

This year, ARC+ starts on 6th November following a week-long preparations and activity program in Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, before departure for Leg 1 to Mindelo, Cape Verdes. Leg 2 then sets sail following the stopover on 16th November, for the Atlantic crossing to Saint Lucia.

 

Start day for the larger fleet sailing with the ARC directly from Las Palmas de Gran Canaria to Saint Lucia is Sunday 20th November 2016. Plenty of seminars, socials and safety briefings will have crew well prepared for the 2,700nm crossing to the Caribbean. The majority of boats will arrive between 7-12 December, in good time to enjoy the plenty of Saint Lucian hospitality before the rally wraps up with the Prize Giving Ceremony on 17th December.