ARC 2007 - World Cruising Club signs 200th entry

by Peta Stuart-Hunt on 1 May 2007 Since its inception in 1986 thousands of cruising enthusiasts have enjoyed crossing the Atlantic with the Atlantic Rally for Cruisers (ARC). This year is no exception, with entries racing ahead and set to reach the upper limit of 225 yachts.

Commenting on the continuing popularity of the ARC, director of World Cruising Club, Andrew Bishop, said: 'The ARC is special and for many cruising sailors it is the 'must-do' event on their cruising calendar, whilst for others it provides the inspiration they need to help them achieve their ambitions to set off bluewater cruising .'

Whilst the ARC does not commence until November, World Cruising Club's sister event, ARC Europe is about to start from two locations on the western side of the Atlantic. Timed to coincide with the end of the Caribbean cruising season, two separate groups of yachts will set off on 11 May - one from Antigua and another from St.Augustine, Florida, to rendezvous at the mid-Atlantic island of Bermuda. From here, the Rally takes yachts across the Atlantic to make landfall in the Portuguese Azores islands, before continuing on to the coast of mainland Europe. For some this is very much a 'return-ARC'. For others, including a large contingent of American cruisers, it is the start of their off-shore adventures.

Entries are still being accepted for World Cruising Club's other summer events; Rally Portugal, a trans-Biscay cruising rally, and the ever popular Classic Malts Cruise which provides an enviable mix of cruising amongst the islands off Scotland's west coast, and hospitality at some of the world's most famous malt whisky distilleries.

World Cruising Club events include: 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.

Details of all World Cruising Club events and entry lists are published at www.worldcruising.com