World ARC: Pure Grenada, spice of the Caribbean
by World Cruising Club 29 Mar 2018 23:09 PDT
30 March 2018
After spending nearly a month in Brazil stopping in Salvador and Cabedelo, the fleet sailed 2088NM North crossing the equator for the 2nd time on World ARC to get back to the crystal clear water of the Caribbean arriving at Port Louis Marina in Grenada.
The fleet were berth at Camper & Nicholson Marina and warmly welcomed by the marina staff taking their lines. After spending months across the Indian and South Atlantic Ocean participants were glad to get back to a marina offering an array of facilities and services much enjoyed by our nearly circumnavigators. During this stopover the 13 yachts in the World ARC 2017-18 fleet were pleased to be reunited - some boats had sailed independently straight to Grenada, either coming from Fernando de Noronha or French Guiana so it was nice to catch up on their previous weeks sailing.
Experiencing extremely good winds and a favourable current along the coast of Brazil, the boats arrived in Grenada nearly 4 days ahead of the programme. With a full week ahead and the programme only starting over the weekend, participants were invited to join an additional rum tasting tour at the Westerhall Plantation & Distillery kindly offered by Mister Daemon Dubois. Participants learnt about the process and methods used to make the rum and got the chance to taste some of the different varieties Westerhall has to offer.
On Friday, the official programme began with the Welcome Cocktail Party organised by MAYAG (Maritime and Yachting Association of Grenada) at the Grenada Yacht Club. Participants were welcomed with rum punch provided by Westerhall and hors d'oeuvres before having dinner all together. The fun evening concluded with participants on the terrace dancing the night away.
On the following day crews joined the World ARC Island tour with local guide Mister Mandoo, who first showed them the northern part of the Island, taking them up to Concords Waterfall where they got the opportunity to swim in the pool and the more adventurous jumped into the cold fresh water from the clifftop. After that refreshing break they visited a spice plantation and learnt about the most popular fruits of the Island, nutmeg and cacao. rounding off the day they stopped on the way back to St-Georges at the rainforest to see the crater lake and meet the cheeky monkeys.
On Monday participants attended a special cruising briefing given by local sailor James Pascal from Horizon Yacht Charter. He provided lots of very useful tips and information for where to go and what to do during their free cruising period from Grenada to Saint Lucia through the Grenadines and St Vincent. Crews then stayed on for a BBQ dinner at the Victory Bar to discuss their sailing plans for the next 2 weeks before the next official rendez-vous on 4th April in Marigot Bay.
Finally for the last day of World ARC's time in Grenada, participants were invited to the World ARC prizegiving and dinner at the Victory Bar. Another great evening and a good opportunity again to get everyone together. Participants were especially thankful to all the stopover sponsors, who had made their time in Granada so enjoyable.
Patricia, CEO of Grenada Tourism Authority attended the Prizegiving, as well as Miss Nikoyen Roberts, Manager of Nautical Development who kindly provided welcome packs on arrival to our participants.
Charlotte Bonin, Marina Manager of our hosts Port Louis Marina also was there to collect the world famous World ARC frame signed by all our participants as a 'thank you' for her and her staff for all their help and support during our stay.
Tracy Batcheler from Island World who organised the cocktail party with MAYAG at the yacht club was also there to receive a frame as well as Damon Dubois from Westerhall who provided 9 bottles of rum for the prizes.
Our newest stopover supporter Digicel, who provided 2 sim cards per boat on arrival and a voucher for the prizes, was represented by Shunica Petas to collect their poster too.
The prizegiving in Grenada marked the penultimate ceremony before the final dinner in Rodney Bay on the 7th April. During the evening, sailing awards were given out to crews including family boat Take Off who took 3rd place with a corrected time of 11 days, 21 hours, 13 mins and 32 seconds for the passage from Cabadelo to Granada. With only 2 hours and 6 minutes difference on the corrected time Lars, Anne and Garry took 2nd place with a corrected time of 11 days 19 hours 07 mins and 34 seconds.
Finally taking 1st place with a corrected time of 10 days 23 hours 28 mins and 54 seconds was Ken & Eileen on Aurora.
The following morning the first boats started to depart the marina for their free cruising period into the Grenadines and St-Vincent before the rendez-vous on the 4th April in Marigot Bay. The final parade of sail back to where it all began 15 months ago in Rodney Bay will mark the end of their circumnavigation on 7th April.