Transatlantic Rally sets sail from Nanny Cay, Tortola, BVIs

transatlantic_rally-largePerfect conditions greeted the start of World Cruising Club's transatlantic sailing rally ARC Europe yesterday, as the fleet crossed the start line just off Nanny Cay Marina, Tortola, at midday local time.

Under a warm Caribbean sun and with steady 10-15 knot ENE breeze, the downwind start made for a colourful sight, with cruising chutes flying as crews enjoyed the perfect conditions as they set off on the first day of their Atlantic sailing adventure. The first stage of the rally often has some of the best weather conditions encountered on the 'Atlantic circuit' and forecasts for the passage to Bermuda predict some good sailing.

The ARC Europe route takes the yachts a total of some 3625 miles eastwards across the Atlantic Ocean from Tortola in the British Virgin Islands, to their final destination of Lagos in southern Portugal, stopping in Bermuda and the Azores along the way.

As with all World Cruising Club events, a comprehensive social programme has also been planned in each stopover. This week, in the build up to the start, the participants have enjoyed the evening functions, and have already got to know each other well at the various barbecues and dinners arranged, in a welcome break from preparing their boats for the crossing.

Nanny Cay Marina, Tortola was the starting port for ARC Europe for the second year, although the rally has been taking place for over twenty years. World Cruising Club Director Andrew Bishop, "All our crews have enjoyed a great stay here in Nanny Cay, and we're pleased to confirm our commitment to this new home for the event and look forward to coming back again next year. General Manager Miles Sutherland Pilch and his team have worked hard to look after the visitors, and Nanny Cay has proved to be a perfect facility from which to prepare for an Atlantic passage."

Also starting out for Bermuda yesterday were a contingent from St.Augustine, Florida, where the yacht crews have been hosted by the St.Augustine Yacht Club. The St.Augustine starters "Alma de Sal" and "Fizz of Cowes" will have a similar distance to cover to reach Bermuda where they will meet up with the rest of the fleet before continuing their passage towards the Azores.

 

Related Articles

Video Gallery

Bennington 22 MSB

By Andy Adams

If you’ve already had firsthand experience with a pontoon, you will easily understand the appeal of the Bennington 22 MSB. But if you haven’t, let’s start by reviewing a few of the reasons why pontoon boats have become top sellers in markets across North America.

Pontoon boats began in the early 1950s as basically four steel drums lashed to a frame. They were not unlike the log rafts of ancient cultures and not much more sophisticated at first.

Read More

Destinations

The Best of Two Worlds

By Mathew Channer

Interior British Columbia might not be as famous for recreational boating as Canada’s Great Lakes, yet it is no less a world-class boat­ing destination. The mountains offer their own flavour of marine adventure with their series of long, deep ribbon lakes, and there is perhaps no area that embodies this more uniquely than the iconic Okanagan basin in southern B.C. One could be forgiven for assuming this valley was purpose-built for nautical fun, with a few delightful perks thrown in to make the area entirely irresistible (wine-tasting, anyone?).

Read More

Lifestyle