21st annual Atlantic Rally for Cruisers

by Peta Stuart Hunt on 2 Nov 2006 World Cruising Club, the organisers of the Atlantic Rally for Cruisers (the ARC), are currently gearing up for the departure of the ARC2006 fleet from Las Palmas de Gran Canaria on Sunday 26 November.

Now in its 21st year, the ARC has attracted another large entry list that currently stands at 234 yachts representing a staggering 27 nations. Many more nationalities are represented across the crews, making the ARC not only the World's largest transocean sailing event, but also the most diverse.

The destination is Rodney Bay Marina in St Lucia , a distance of 2,700 nautical miles from Las Palmas and it's a passage that will take most of the yachts between 18 and 21 days.

Conceived and often described as 'a friendly race' for cruising yachts to make the Atlantic crossing both safer and more enjoyable, those participating must carry a range of safety equipment including a liferaft, EPIRB and VHF radio. Daily radio nets contribute further to the safety of participants, whilst the presence of experienced sailors is another incentive, and a comfort, for those with little offshore experience.

The ARC distinguishes itself by successfully combining racing and cruising yachts , a mix of older and younger participants numbering around 1,100 all of whom thoroughly enjoy the varied entertainment that is on offer for all ages at both the start and finish ports.

Within the fleet there are those skippers and crew members who say that they're 'doing the ARC' in order to pit themselves against whatever the elements chooses to throw at them, to tackle what is for many a life-changing experience and to come out of it safer, stronger, better people and with new and lifelong friendships forged.

ARC2006 is sponsored by the Tourist Board of Gran Canaria, the Port Authority of Las Palmas, the St Lucia Tourist Board, Rolnautic, and is run in association with Yachting World magazine.