First ARC flag of the season.

[capnsensible]

It's that time of year. After bat bug, small entry last year, looks like things are getting back to normal.

Lots of other yachts arriving, obvious cruisers setting off after a Canarian cruise.

 

[capnsensible]

 

[capnsensible]

That's part of the anchorage outside Rubicon this morning.

 

[Beneteau381]

That's part of the anchorage outside Rubicon this morning.

Was in Culatra a week ago, there were some there, then one morning they took off so presume they be the ones?

 

[john_morris_uk]

At one stage we thought of joining (for the craic) but our little 38’ 6” boat which once seemed big would be dwarfed by all the fancy fifty foot plus things with loads of crew. etc. ARC seems to have become even more commercial than it used to be.

 

[Roberto]

Good they have very visible flags, a very efficient warning signal to anchor somewhere else

 

[capnsensible]

At one stage we thought of joining (for the craic) but our little 38’ 6” boat which once seemed big would be dwarfed by all the fancy fifty foot plus things with loads of crew. etc. ARC seems to have become even more commercial than it used to be.

Yeah, I think this is the list of entries at the moment.

Entry List ARC 2021 - SV Gian

A friend of ours, Jane, worked for them a few seasons ago. She loved the smaller boats taking longer to get there.....more time in St. Lucia. ?

ARC website shows all sorts of rallies being organised by them. Must be a demand for it?

Not for me, I can do it myself, but over the years I imagine many thousands of people have participated in the adventure that otherwise would never have had the chance, so I'm happy for them.

There are also some very capable skippers out there..

 

[john_morris_uk]

Yeah, I think this is the list of entries at the moment.

Entry List ARC 2021 - SV Gian

A friend of ours, Jane, worked for them a few seasons ago. She loved the smaller boats taking longer to get there.....more time in St. Lucia. ?

ARC website shows all sorts of rallies being organised by them. Must be a demand for it?

Not for me, I can do it myself, but over the years I imagine many thousands of people have participated in the adventure that otherwise would never have had the chance, so I'm happy for them.

There are also some very capable skippers out there..

A quick scan down the list shows that the vast majority of boats are bigger than us with many a LOT bigger. In fact I think I can only see two boats smaller than us or of a similar size.

 

[Bajansailor]

I sailed (on an American CSY 44 cutter) in the first ARC in 1986 when it came to Barbados. And it was a wonderful experience.
Excellent parties on both sides of the Atlantic, and great camaraderie, especially amongst the smaller boats.
Nobody paid any entry fees then, as Jimmy was testing the concept, to see if it would work - and more than 200 yachts took part.
And Jimmy quickly found that it was a brilliant idea.

And there were quite a few smaller boats - there must have been at least 10 or more under 30', including some singlehanders.
The smallest boat was Raggles, a Hurley 22 with a couple and a dog on board - I remember watching them leaving Las Palmas harbour, with very little freeboard and no waterline to be seen, as they were so laden down with supplies for three. And no water maker or freeze dried food on board.
And then there was singlehanded David on Dunkers, an Achilles 24 - his wind vane self steering packed up soon after leaving the Canaries, and he spent long hours at the helm - he was the last boat to arrive, just before the prize giving took place, and I think he took about 32 days.
Other singlehanders were Graham on Crumpet (a Trapper 300), Jon on Tahit (a Sadler 26), Guy on Shuffle (a tubby 24' steel sloop with an impressive turn of speed).
Oh, and a chap on a huge (she seemed huge for a singlehander) classic ketch called Blue Trout - she is currently for sale.
Dallimore 60 FT Bermudan Ketch 1937

Many boats were sailed by couples, including Rob & Kathy on Mithril, a Frances 26 which they had bought as a bare hull and deck and fitted her out themselves. I think they had taken a 1 year sabbatical, and subsequently sailed back to England the following summer.
Mithril and Raggles were the smallest sailed 2 (or 3) up - most of the couples I met then were on modest cruising yachts in the 30 - 40' range.

Renowned sailing photographer Tim Wright (www.photoaction.com) was in this first ARC, sailing singlehanded on his Elizabethan 29 Andani - I think that in his previous life he was a chemical salesman with ICI, and he very wisely decided that there was more to life than selling paint materials et al. And he never proverbially looked back after arriving out here - although he did complete a few more transatlantic crossings as skipper on deliveries, and when he moved up in size to the Roberts 34 Adhara (still singlehanded).

There were some big boats like Albatros, a Swan 60 (or 61) - and I see that her owner Manfred Kerstan is sailing another Albatros (an Oyster 825) in this years ARC. The entry list notes that he has done the ARC at least 20 times now, and completed at least 40 transatlantic passages.
World Cruising Club

Oh and there was also a big fast racing trimaran - I think her name was Running Cloud (or something like that) - she won elapsed time in about 12 days, but she did not really fit in with the general theme of it being a cruising rally (albeit with a competitive streak by some!).

 

[Jonny A]

I did the '99 ARC on a Dehler 37 and enjoyed it thoroughly, but if I were heading back now to do another crossing I'd avoid the ARC fleet at all costs. Much prefer a bit of peace and quiet and room to do my own thing.

 

[dunedin]

I did the '99 ARC on a Dehler 37 and enjoyed it thoroughly, but if I were heading back now to do another crossing I'd avoid the ARC fleet at all costs. Much prefer a bit of peace and quiet and room to do my own thing.

Think that is quite common.
Whilst many on here criticise the ARC, most people I have met who have actually done it thought it was very well organised and great fun. Also useful for first time Atlantic crossers to learn and gain confidence.
Once done, second time not the same, so join N-ARC instead

 

[john_morris_uk]

Think that is quite common.
Whilst many on here criticise the ARC, most people I have met who have actually done it thought it was very well organised and great fun. Also useful for first time Atlantic crossers to learn and gain confidence.
Once done, second time not the same, so join N-ARC instead

I just get the impression it's now just full of larger boats with lots of crew, many of whom have paid for the experience and to join the parties. Good for them but not for me. I've sailed oceans before so it's not the (false sense of) security we're after. I'd have thought of joining for the craic at the beginning and the end, but I'm really not sure it's worth the expense and hassle nowadays.

 

[Roberto]

Sure it's each to his own tastes (personally two is company three is a crowd, arc or not arc), but anyway crossing the path of the ARC can also be at best a nuisance. Need a place in a marina? Sorry full we have the ARC. Need a mechanic? Sorry all booked by the ARC, next available slot in two weeks. Mindelo: ARC is arriving, all other boats suddenly moved to very uncomfortable choppy berths where one has to walk half a km of pontoons. Supermarkets: bottled water all booked by the ARC, next resupply in ten days. Likewise fuel: please come again after the ARC has left. Lots of very good reasons to be as far away as possible.