Atlantic crossing yacht catgories

iangrant

iangrant

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Which Boats



Beneteau & Swan have the largest number of yachts in the fleet at 21 each

Other yards well represented are:, Bavaria, Jeanneau, Hallberg-Rassy and Oyster, each with 13 yachts

There are 19 multihull yachts in the fleet, ranging from 12m-17.80m, with Lagoon having the most entries at 7 yachts.

The largest entry from a single design goes to the Beneteau First 47.7, with 6 entries.
 
Maybe I am being cynical here, but I dont think they are specifically aiming at the 'smaller' yachts (how small is 'small'?) - if anything, the organisers are probably targeting the bigger yachts, as the entry fee is based on length, hence they get more monies from bigger yachts......

I sailed in the first ARC 20 years ago in 1986, and it was absolutely brilliant - over 200 yachts of all shapes and sizes, and everyone knew everyone else.
If I remember correctly the smallest boat was a Hurley 22 (called Raggles) with a young couple on board (and a dog as well I think), while there were quite a few singlehanders (including an Achilles 24, called Dunkers, who arrived just in time to receive his prize for coming in last, after about 30 days at sea, which was still pretty good going - his wind vane steering had broken early on in the crossing).

Most of the boats then were probably 30' - 40', although there were a few 'big' yachts (ie over 60') but there were definitely in the minority.
 
Jimmy Cornell had a brilliant concept 20 years ago re the ARC, and I think all the critics back then were amazed to find that 200 yachts signed up fairly quickly.

I think that later ARCs were promoted on the 'safety in numbers' aspect, however all the participants quickly realised that once you have been at sea for a few days the fleet will be wide spread - ok, there is a good possibility of seeing other yachts on the crossing, or even being within VHF range, but not guaranteed.
I sailed across on a non ARC boat in '94 from Tenerife to Antigua - we left 2 days after the ARC started, and gradually overhauled the stragglers - we did meet a few ARC yachts along the way, including one in mid atlantic who only had VHF (no SSB), and who was feeling a bit lonely, as they had been led to believe that there would be other folk within chatting range the whole way across.....
 
The company World Cruising Club Limited now runs the arc to make profits for the shareholders.

Would be good to have just a website for atlantic cruisers past, present and future
who would like to keep in touch, get advice, and help each other.

any suggestions??
 
That would be excellent! I am still in contact with a few yachts I met in the '86 ARC, but it would be nice to get in contact with others. As well as folk on subsequent ARCs whom I have met while I have been moored in the Windies.

Maybe we could start up a seperate thread here initially, and see how that goes?
 
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Maybe I am being cynical here, but I dont think they are specifically aiming at the 'smaller' yachts (how small is 'small'?) - if anything, the organisers are probably targeting the bigger yachts, as the entry fee is based on length, hence they get more monies from bigger yachts......


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Big boys, big bucks - all that matters.
Friends of ours did the ARC in a Westerly something or other (35ft) the year before last. They confirmed it. By the time they arrived in St Lucia the ARC had all but packed up - gone the parties, etc...
 
Reading some of the accounts, I wonder why some of these yachts bother with sails, what with the engine or generator chugging away to drive the watermaker, fridge, freezer, autopilot, satcoms, etc.
 
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If I remember correctly the smallest boat was a Hurley 22 (called Raggles) with a young couple on board..

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I had the pleasure of meeting Ian and Grace a couple of years ago (they took 28 days 13 hours) and have taken Ian and his son out in Silkie a couple of times since then for a wee sail down memory lane.
 
[ QUOTE ]
The company World Cruising Club Limited now runs the arc to make profits for the shareholders.

Would be good to have just a website for atlantic cruisers past, present and future
who would like to keep in touch, get advice, and help each other.

any suggestions??

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Maybe talk to the "Jester Challenge" organiser Ewan Southby-Talyour??.......................
 
''Maybe talk to the "Jester Challenge" organiser Ewan Southby-Talyour??..''
Now he's an interesting guy.
The best way I heard the Arc described was as'a bunch of people just giving each other enough encouragement to set off.Once you set off noone is realistically going to beat back after 3 days..
I did moor amongst for a short while amongst ARC 95,the peeps all very friendly but quite a yacht club-like smell of money in the air-that was the vibe-probably more so now-lets all make the crossing less daunting by throwing money,equipment and longer yachts at it!
No shortage of peeps still keen to sign up,so the organisers are doing something right,shareholders or no shareholders
 
I'm not a follower, but I seem to think that (when I was looking for one) I read that a Hunter Europa is the smallest boat to cross the Atlantic. Theyre 19ft I think.

Of course that would not include all the nutters in 7ft rowing boats and the like.
 
Hunter Europas are positively palacial gin palaces in comparison to the smallest sailing boats that have crossed the pond!
Robert Manry crossed in the early 60's (I think) in a 14' boat called Tinkerbelle - and this was from W - E in high latitudes, quite an acheivement!
And various folk have sailed across in progressively smaller boats since then - I think the shortest is about 4' long, 4' wide, and 4' deep...... almost barrel shaped.... imagine living in a 4' cube (or less rather) for 70 odd days.....
 
Columbus' Santa Maria was about 70', and the Nina etc were smaller, d'ya think they'd be more suitable for the +Jester Challenge?

It really p...s me off that sub 35' classes as small. Yes, I know that much larger will feel small at sea, but, come on, get a grip, average of 47- what are we average humans to believe?

How big was Suhaili?
Joshua?
Spray?
Lively Lady?

This is beginning to take the...

Yeah right, I guess the average disposable income is now something dapsy and just selling your house and buying a slightly smaller one pays for a 40+ footer.

Feel proud?

Enjoy it. Big kiss. Jem.
 
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