ARC2005 latest news update

by Jeremy Wyatt, World Cruising Club on 6 Dec 2005 There are 224 yachts taking part in ARC 2005, of which 196 are in the cruising divisions and 28 are in the RORC Racing Divisions.

ARC2005 started from Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, Canary Islands on Sunday 20 November 2005 and finishes at Rodney Bay Marina, St.Lucia.

Here is the latest summary of events:

- Russian salvage tug Leopard reaches the stricken yacht Caliso and now is now towing the yacht to Mindello in the Cape Verdes.

- Jean-Pierre Chomette's Solune has arrived in Trinidad, where he is hoping to make speedy repairs to the forward bulkhead and areas of delamination, which occurred beating in strong winds over a week ago.

- Having suffered from a slow crossing, and with charter deadlines to meet, Kalikobass II and Hawkwing have diverted to Antigua and will not be finishing in St.Lucia.

- More yachts are now closing on the finish, with Matelot, Mojito and Emika all expected within the next 24 hours.

- Trade winds holding as yachts report some excellent sailing. Skipper Gust Stringo on American yacht Bluebird : 'We are going downwind in brisk trades, and have had 'Mad Max', our full spinnaker, up for the last 3 days. We hit a top speed of 9.4k this morning, surfing down a wave. Usually our speed is 6-7k.'

- Watching the miles to St.Lucia drop away has been good for moral on Whitbread. Andrew Scott explains: 'With the distance now falling we are all feeling that we are nearing the end of our voyage. With moral now high with anticipation the thought of drinks on the dock is now the driving force for us to go faster.'

- Like many yachts, the crew of Dutch yacht Mia have been engaging in a halfway party, continuing on today with a celebration of St. Nicholas' Day, when the bearded Saint paid a surprise visit. On British yacht Never Look Back , it was the turn of King Neptune to pay a call. In a change to the usual 'crossing the line' ceremony, the Lord of the Deep Blue had decided that the half-way mark to St.Lucia would be a suitable alternative to crossing the Equator, and novice crew were subjected to the usual humiliation before receiving Neptune's blessing.

To read more of these stories, or the latest yacht logs or daily positions visit www.worldcruising.com/arc2005