T
he festival spirit in the already bustling city of Las Palmas de Gran Canaria is about to reach stratospheric heights as a fleet of nearly 300 yachts of all shapes and sizes sail into The Port of Las Palmas in preparation for the start of ARC (Atlantic Rally for Cruisers).
For over 30 years, this professionally organised 2,700 nautical mile sprint from Las Palmas to St Lucia has become one of the most popular options for Caribbean-bound cruising sailors who use it as a means of transiting the Atlantic in the company of others. Those who sign up for the annual November event also enjoy the benefit of extensive information back up and support provided by the World Cruising Club the ARC organisers.
This unique event model has been carefully planned for a late November start in Las Palmas when not only have the tradewinds become established for an ‘easy’ crossing but also to ensure fleet arrives in St Lucia at the end of the Caribbean hurricane season.
Las Palmas, the ideally located natural departure port for transatlantic crossings, has been the preferred start location of the ARC for over 30 years so it is not surprisingly the City continues to welcome the 1500 or so sailors that take part.
As far as strategy goes, it is relatively simple – sail south (until the butter melts, as the popular saying goes) then pick up the north-east tradewinds for a good, west-bound sleigh ride across the Atlantic.
Expected yachts
As well as the core cruising contingent that makes up the bulk of the ARC fleet, more and more out- and-out racers have recognised the benefits of this event, which is why the ARC introduced a Race category.
The event now regularly attracts record-breaking monohulls who see the ARC course as an ideal shake down before the Caribbean race season begins. The current ARC speed record, claimed in 2016 by George David’s Rambler 88, is 8 days 6 hours 29 minutes and 15 seconds.
©James Mitchell
Not surprisingly this has started to really attract world-class speed junkies including multihulls. In 2016 Knut Frostad (former VOR CEO and competitor) took the multihull line honours title aboard his Outremer 5X, Nemo, as well as winning his class and the Multihull division overall.
ONBOARD | AUTUMN 2017 | 93
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