Chay Blyth sells ARC Rally in Management Buyout

by Jeremy Wyatt on 4 Jan 2006 The ARC (Atlantic Rally for Cruisers) Rally which, every November, sees over 200 yachts sail across the Atlantic Ocean, have been taken over in a management led buyout from Challenge Business. The new company is established as World Cruising Club Limited, and will trade from the existing premises in Cowes using the established name of World Cruising Club, from 3 January 2006.

World Cruising Club events include: the ARC - Atlantic Rally for Cruisers; ARC Europe in association with Yachting World and Blue Water Sailing from Antigua every May; Yachting Monthly Rally Portugal from Plymouth to Lagos, Portugal in June; The Classic Malts Cruise in Scotland every July; plus cruising seminars organised to help sailors with their cruising preparations

Sir Chay Blyth, Executive Chairman of Challenge Business explains 'World Cruising Club has grown in stature under the stewardship of Challenge Business for the last six years. There is a strong management team in place to take the company forward, allowing Challenge Business to concentrate on what we do best, organising extraordinary events, utilising our fleet of Challenge yachts. We certainly wish Andrew and his team all the very best for the continuing success of World Cruising Club.'

Andrew Bishop, Director of World Cruising Club comments 'This is a tremendous opportunity for all of us at World Cruising Club to further grow what is already a well established business. The ARC has been running for twenty years and it is fitting that at this milestone anniversary we are able to take the experience we have gained and concentrate on developing new ideas to maintain our position as the market leader in the organisation of sailing rallies for cruising yachtsmen.'

Jeremy Wyatt, fellow Director of World Cruising Club, who has worked with Andrew for the last 14 years remarks 'This is an exciting time for us all. For participants in World Cruising Club there will be no noticeable changes. The message is very much business as usual, with the same friendly team looking after them from our Cowes office.'

World Class yachtsman Adam Gosling joins World Cruising Club as the third Director, bringing experience of sailing in many different international regattas and events, including the ARC and ARC Europe, to help develop the World Cruising Club portfolio.

World Cruising Club organise the ARC, ARC Europe, Yachting Monthly Rally Portugal and the Classic Malts Cruise, as well as forums and seminars for potential participants.