World ARC 2024-25 - Seminars in Saint Lucia

Skipper John Ramsden from Sofa So Good gets hoisted up the mast to do a rigging check before departure - World ARC 2024-25 © World ARC

In the run up to the World ARC 2024-25 start on Saturday 13 January, World Cruising Club laid on a series of seminars at the Harbor Club, Saint Lucia for the skippers of the boats taking part.

Aimed at getting the boats and their crews ready for their exciting journey ahead, World Cruising Club's managing director, Paul Tetlow, kicked off the briefings by advising the rally concept involves at least four pillars, with the emphasis on social, the fun competition, exploration, and safety. Each topic was later discussed in extensive detail with safety and security taking precedence.

Paul Tetlow rounded off his talk by emphasising, "Above all, the rally is all about having fun and achieving your sailing goals. Look out for each other; you will be in a friendly travelling neighbourhood as you sail around the world together."

Other briefings included detailed information on rally communications, led by Fergus Dunipace and an introduction to the World ARC Rally Route, with Andrew Pickersgill giving a place-by-place look at the destinations on first half of the rally, especially the next few stopovers, which takes the fleet to Colombia and San Blas and then through the Panama Canal to Galapagos.

Finishing off, meteorologist, Chris Tibbs, provided an informative Weather Briefing looking at typical weather patterns on the tradewind route.

For many of the boats, this is the start of an unforgettable adventure across 15 months as they sail around the world.