World ARC 2019-20 begins to arrive in Columbia
by World Cruising Club 20 Jan 2019 07:54 AEDT
World ARC 2019-20 - Marina and Mountains © World Cruising
This afternoon Resolute II took line honours on the first leg of World ARC 2019-20 in Santa Marta, Columbia. Skipper Ken Gibson and his crew had a fantastic sail from St. Lucia with near perfect wind conditions all the way. The crew were welcomed by Ken's wife, Janice, World ARC staff and the dockhands from Marina de Santa Marta. The crew were presented with a welcome bag containing local information and a bottle of Champagne kindly provided by Coco Marina Café.
The majority of the fleet are due to arrive over the next 24 hours where they are sure to receive a very warm welcome from the ARC staff and team at the marina. Indeed the rest of Santa Marta are also looking forward to welcoming the World ARC participants to this beautiful city where they can expect to enjoy a natural, historical and cultural heritage, unspoilt beaches, national parks and stunning coastal mountain range, the Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta.
There is an exciting programme ahead to include a City Tour, Welcome Party at the Marina, BBQ on the beach in the Tayrona National Park and prize giving with a dinner at Club Santa Marta. Many of the local bars and restaurants are keen to support the ARC fleet and are providing the World ARC participants with special discounts and offers.
The dedicated World ARC tour agent offers additional tours which provides an excellent way to explore the surrounding areas such as the Minca coffee plantation, Tayrona National Park, Tayrona (remains of the city) and Santa Marta mountains. For those feeling a bit more adventurous, there is the option to take a helicopter ride over the city and Ciudad Perdida which is the archaeological site of an ancient city.
Everyone at Marina Santa Marta are excited to be hosting World ARC for the 5th year running and are all eager to make the participants' experience in Columbia hugely memorable.