Crossing the Atlantic

Can there really be an “average Atlantic Rally for Cruisers”? Probably not if 2007 is anything to go by. Average weather depends on how far north or south of the rhumb line a yacht has stayed and how far ahead or behind the main body of the fleet it has sailed. Average breakages certainly come down to an individual level; some yachts having a smooth crossing with hardly a hitch, whilst others have battled rig failures, engine problems, broken sails and booms.

Notwithstanding averages, ARC 2007 has definitely been an event with many highs and lows for all concerned. Amongst the many memorable high points has been the overwhelming excitement and sense of achievement at getting a small boat across 2,800 nautical miles of open ocean. For most it is the culmination of months, and sometimes years of planning, and for some the ARC is the completion of a once-in-a-lifetime voyage.

The big yachts that can eat through the miles may bask in the glory of being the first to arrive into St. Lucia’s Rodney Bay after 11 or 12 days, but the true spirit of the ARC is surely reflected in the achievements of the smaller boats, such as Westerly Berwick Wagtail (9.40m) and the Nordic Folkboat Ariel (7.64m), that crossed in 23 days and 21 days respectively.

Tragedy affects everyone

ARC 2007 was also marred by tragedy following the death of one skipper , John Thompson, skipper of the yacht Avocet, who never recovered consciousness following a severe head injury onboard. There were several other significant injuries during the crossing from the Canary Islands.

A female crew member on the Volvo 60 AAG Big One, Alla Byazina, was evacuated from the yacht after sustaining very serious burns to her legs. Following a 10-day stay in hospital in Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, Alla has now returned home to Russia and doctors are confident she will make a full recovery.

The winds and waves were also responsible for injuries suffered by Andreas Bienz, the Swiss skipper of Tai Shan, a Beneteau First 50, who endured an uncomfortable week lying in his bunk after a fall in the cockpit which broke several of his ribs.

ARC yachts to the rescue

The strength of the ARC has always been the ability of yachts to communicate and co-ordinate help for each other, but on two occasions this year the ARC Net helped to rescue crew from non-ARC yachts that were reported in difficulties. Two crew from Barbary Duck were evacuated onto ARC yacht GiGi (GBR) and three crew from Spam were rescued by the Irish ARC yacht Navillus.

Whilst the rescued yachtsmen and women were safely landed in St. Lucia, the Spanish Navy took responsibility for the migrants found at sea in an open boat by the British-registered ARC yachts Tallulah and If Only. With many migrants setting out on the perilous journey from the African coast towards the Canary Islands, ARC skippers had been briefed on what action to take, so were able to summon help for the desperate crews.

Take That! The weather threw everything at crews

For many participants it is the weather that will be the lasting memory of ARC 2007 and this has been far from average for some yachts. For three days and nights, during the middle of the crossing, the core of the fleet had to sail through an area of concentrated thunderstorm cells and squalls, which lashed some unlucky crews with winds of 40 knots plus, pushing up big Atlantic waves and making for some very uncomfortable sailing.

Experienced Atlantic yachtsman, Mark Ashman, skipper of Persuader Too, commented, “I have done this crossing many times and this is the first time I have worn foul weather clothing in this direction. We should be in shorts and T-shirts day and night”.

Rather more poetically, Brian Crosston of Cat-Man-Do described the fun side of the extreme weather: “Torrential rain and with a sail the size of a Supermodel’s knickers we surfed to a new record of 21.7 knots! We were all screaming with excitement like a bunch of schoolgirls at a ‘Take That’ concert!”

Occasionally the weather did as was expected, providing those perfect trade wind days that sailors dream of, even if the crossing as a whole was a reminder that the Atlantic is no “milk run” and the Ocean should always command our respect.

Sue Allison from Hanse 461 Swagman, summed up the feelings of many after her arrival in St.Lucia. “It has been a trip we have been planning for so long. The sailing has been spectacular for the most part, except the times when there has been no wind, and I’ve been energised, excited and nervous in turn. Would I do it again? Absolutely yes!”

Notes:
236 yachts took part in ARC 2007. 233 arrived at Rodney Bay, St.Lucia; one yacht returned to Las Palmas with technical problems and did not restart; two other yachts made landfall at other Caribbean Islands.

So, has all this talk about crossing the Atlantic, got you thinking? Entries are being accepted for ARC 2008, which will start from Las Palmas de Gran Canaria on 23 November 2008.

About the Atlantic Rally for Cruisers

The annual transatlantic rally starting each November in Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, has become a very popular way to cross the Atlantic. The largest transocean sailing event in the world, every year the ARC brings together over 200 yachts from all over the world. The Caribbean destination is Rodney Bay in St.Lucia, one of the most beautiful islands in the Lesser Antilles. The 2700 nautical mile passage on the NE tradewind route takes on average between 14 and 21 days.

Conceived as a friendly race for cruising yachts to make the Atlantic crossing both safer and more enjoyable, participating yachts must carry a range of safety equipment including a liferaft, EPIRB and VHF radio. Daily radio nets contribute further to the safety of participants. The presence of experienced sailors is another incentive for those with little offshore experience.

KEY DETAILS
The ARC departs from Las Palmas de Gran Canaria and crosses to Rodney Bay, St.Lucia on the following dates:
ARC 2008 23 November and ARC 2009 22 November

• The Atlantic Rally for Cruisers is open to cruising monohulls with a minimum length of 8.23-25.91m (27 to 85ft) and cruising catamarans from 8.23 - 18.29m (27 to 60 ft) LOA. Yachts outside these sizes may be permitted to join in the Open Division.
• The competitive side of the event will be catered for by the Racing Division, rated under the IRC Handicap System, run under the auspices of the Royal Ocean Racing Club.
• The World Cruising handicap is used to calculate results in the cruising classes, in which motoring is permitted.
• A full programme of social activities, safety seminars and demonstrations will be organised by World Cruising Club in Las Palmas prior to the start, and after the finish in St.Lucia.

Start Venue for the ARC - Gran Canaria:
Las Palmas, the start venue for the ARC, is a modern bustling city, which has grown up around one of the busiest ports of Spain. The yacht marina lies at the southern end of the main harbour, halfway between the Vegueta and the Parque Santa Catalina. The pleasure port has been upgraded in recent years, with more pontoons being installed, new shower blocks and in 1996 a floating breakwater to add to its protection.
To learn more about the Canary Islands, visit the Canary Islands Website.

Finish Destination for the ARC - St.Lucia:
Rodney Bay, on St Lucia's northern extremity, is the island's main yachting centre and landfall of all World Cruising's transatlantic events. Sailors are welcomed at Rodney Bay Marina which has a wide range of facilities and is located in a well-protected lagoon.
For more information on St.Lucia, visit the St.Lucia Tourist Board website.

Visit the ARC Official Website for more information: www.worldcruising.com/arc/

How to enter the Transatlantic Cruisers Rally, ARC 2008:
Download the ARC2008 ENTRY PACK in English (PDF, 301KB), including safety equipment requirements and conditions of entry.