ARC 2014

[BenJohnstone]

I've got about 1,000 miles skippering under my belt on various med holidays and weekend's in the Solent. I'm informed that I'm a safe pair of hands though I'm uncertain on whether my experience is strong enough for the ARC in 2014. I'd be very grateful for any views on my ability to skipper a boat, how I might go about this (I don't own one)?

If you think it completely out of the question, what other options might I have?

Thanks in advance
Ben

 

[webcraft]

I've got about 1,000 miles skippering under my belt on various med holidays and weekend's in the Solent. I'm informed that I'm a safe pair of hands though I'm uncertain on whether my experience is strong enough for the ARC in 2014. I'd be very grateful for any views on my ability to skipper a boat, how I might go about this (I don't own one)?

If you think it completely out of the question, what other options might I have?

Thanks in advance
Ben

I don't understand the question.

If you want to skipper a boat in the ARC start by buying one, then find crew.

One thing is for sure, no-one is going to invite you to skipper their boat for them. Anyone looking for a transat delivery skipper or hand-holder for the ARC will be looking for someone with much more experience than you.

If you just want to sail as crew on the ARC then there are various websites you can offer your services on. You will of course have to pay your own flights and a share of expenses as a minimum. It;s a great adventure - go for it.

- W

 

[TQA]

The ARC itself, the transatlantic from Gran Canaria to St Lucia is a relative doddle, a steerable haystack could make the crossing.

You might want to think more about getting from the UK to Gran Canaria, the channel, Ushant or the Chenal du four and the Raz du Seine, The Bay of Biscay etc etc. Lots of interesting weather, tides and hard crinkly bits.

Mind you I had lots less experience than you when I set off for the first time and made it over. Wales to St Lucia via lots of interesting places.

 

[jonic]

The ARC itself, the transatlantic from Gran Canaria to St Lucia is a relative doddle, a steerable haystack could make the crossing.

You might want to think more about getting from the UK to Gran Canaria, the channel, Ushant or the Chenal du four and the Raz du Seine, The Bay of Biscay etc etc. Lots of interesting weather, tides and hard crinkly bits.

Mind you I had lots less experience than you when I set off for the first time and made it over. Wales to St Lucia via lots of interesting places.

Ditto

I had exactly half your mileage when I set off. Getting to the Canaries was the tricky bit.

The Atlantic to Antigua was the easy bit....after the 54knt storm on the first day

 

[ukmctc]

I've got about 1,000 miles skippering under my belt on various med holidays and weekend's in the Solent. I'm informed that I'm a safe pair of hands though I'm uncertain on whether my experience is strong enough for the ARC in 2014. I'd be very grateful for any views on my ability to skipper a boat, how I might go about this (I don't own one)?

If you think it completely out of the question, what other options might I have?

Thanks in advance
Ben

that was the original idea of the arc, now its a race and not for you unless youre crew on someones boat.
buy a boat, sail round the uk, then join the arc in 2016 and cross.

 

[Jamesuk]

If a Polish chap and his friend in 2011 could sail across the Atlantic from Poland via the normal route in a 26ft yacht using only road maps and a print out of St Lucia then......

 

[webcraft]

If a Polish chap and his friend in 2011 could sail across the Atlantic from Poland via the normal route in a 26ft yacht using only road maps and a print out of St Lucia then......

I agree anyone can do it in almost any boat if they are determined enough - though the ARC specifies a minimum length and is a bit pointless in a small vessel because all the parties will be long over when you arrive at the other side.

However, the OP specifically said he does not have a boat . . . Getting one would seem a logical first step.

- W

 

[KellysEye]

If you buy a boat check the ARC requrements but from memory you have to have done two one hundred mile trips and the skipper one one crew member must have sailed the boat to the Canaries. They also require medical certificate and sea suvival course, I think also for skipper and one crew. Plus a long list of safety kit to RORC standards. If you want the weather and talk to other boats on the net you need an SSB radio. They send a pack in advance listing what you need.

 

[laika]

If you think it completely out of the question, what other options might I have?

Sign up to work as crew on a transatlantic delivery and watch and learn how someone else does provisioning and crew management. For extra merit, buy a plastic sextant, a book on how to use it and take along an almanac and sight reduction tables. Choose a company that is either decent enough or desperate enough to pay for your flight home.