Atlantic Rally for Cruisers
The Atlantic Rally for Cruisers is known as the ARC and is run by the World Cruising Club (WCC). It supports cruising and racing yachts travelling across the Atlantic. Support includes seminars covering such topics as safety and weather, social events at both ends and a communications network using satellite and or SSB Long Range Radio.
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Maria, Lloyd's new wife but long term girlfriend was born in Las Palmas although educated in England so both came out to help with the transit from Puerto Mogan in the South to Las Palmas in the North. It was invaluable having a Spanish speaker for Pat organising stores and Lloyd helped complete the vital communications preparations and as a dive Instructor we purchased the dive kit needed for my training later in the Caribbean.
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When they left Craig and Pam, friends from Rally Portugal joined as our crew for the Atlantic, Murray joined us also to assist with the Yacht and rig preparation for the week before we left.
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We left Las Palmas and had a fast trip across the Atlantic in 16 days coming 2nd in class out of 17 which was unexpected. But more importantly we all enjoyed the time at sea - a lot.
ARC Preparations
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Busy place over 1,500 yacht berths, 220 or so allocated to ARC yachts.
Lloyd an Maria crewed from Puerto Mogan to Las Palmas. Las Palmas is Marias home town and her local use of Spanish was both invaluable and a surprise to the locals ! Lloyd did the last communications checks - important for weather and news feeds.
With anticipation heading for the start of the ARC. Over 220 yachts all at the start line and i was just hoping we did not prang the boat at the beginning.
Busy place over 1,500 yacht berths, 220 or so allocated to ARC yachts.
ARC Crossing
Some close calls around the strat as was to be expected.
Craig has raced many times and was key to getting us around 20th across the lne of the cruising fleet.
We were very pelased to recieve 2nd in Cruising Class B out of 17 on adjusted time across Atlantic. Unfortunately Pam and Craig had returned for a Ski season in Meribel.
Some close calls around the strat as was to be expected.
ARC Start at Las Palmas