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26
Nov
2019
Every November since 1986 the Atlantic Rally for Cruisers (ARC) has set sail from Las Palmas, bound westward across the Atlantic to the Caribbean. Bringing together yachts from all over the world, the fleet gather in Las Palmas Marina in the heart of the port city.
A ‘must do’ for many sailors, the event attracts over 200 boats and 1200 people every year to sail 2700 nautical miles across the Atlantic from Gran Canaria to Saint Lucia. This is an event for everyone; families with children, hardened sailors, cruising couples, large vessels and modest boats. More than just a race, the ARC is about friendships made ashore in the two weeks of pre-departure activities continued over the radio net at sea. It’s about arriving in Saint Lucia to be met on the dock with a rum punch and a chilled beer, knowing they have achieved something fantastic - crossing an ocean on a small sailboat.
The definition of a rally is safe and social cruising while offering fun competition. Rallies are about crossing oceans with friends; feeling confident and prepared on departure day; having support and friendship at sea; and providing a welcome to salute the achievement on arrival.
This year, the Managing Director of Cambrian Boats and Storage, Robin Vaughan gratefully accepted and invitation to join the rally aboard an Oyster 825 yacht, the ‘Champagne Hippy’. Fresh from a full refit, she sailed from the UK to Gran Canaria where the full crew of eight met, and after a briefing plus training session set sail noon on Sunday 24 November.
The team at Cambrian Boats and Storage eagerly and regularly track the progress of Champagne Hippy, the yacht is fitted Automatic Identification System (AIS) and there are a number of websites available for this purpose.
For our next newsletter we hope to be able to announce further progress in this exciting event that Robin is competing in.