Courtesy of COE / James Mitchell Photography
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Gusts of northeasterly winds and increasing swell enabled a fresh start on Sunday for the Atlantic Rally for Cruisers 2022. Reefed sails were commonplace on the line as the fleet of 138 boats sailed from Las Palmas from Gran Canaria, traveling 2,700 miles across the pond to St. Lucia. The fleet is expected to arrive in Rodney Bay in mid-December after an 18-20 day crossing.
Courtesy of COE / James Mitchell Photography
More than 800 crew members take part on board a diversified fleet of monohulls and multihulls. The multihulls and open divisions took off on Sunday morning as the sun broke through the clouds, led by Danish skipper Ulrik Bjerl Nielsen aboard the all-electric ITA. Catamaran 14.99 Nanomole.
Courtesy of COE / James Mitchell Photography
The racing fleet followed, with Harmony 52 Sao Jorge crossing the line first, followed by the Beneteau First 53 First lady and Beneteau 40.7 getaway. Sao Jorge and Getaway are racing charters, carrying guest crews with a professional skipper and companion on board.
Courtesy of COE / James Mitchell Photography
The Cruising Division set off on Sunday afternoon, with Anthony Auger’s Oyster 665 London Patience fleet leader of 100+. RCAF sailors come from 35 different countries and range in age from 2 to 80 years old. The weather forecast announces a classic trade wind sail. All ARC boats are equipped with satellite trackers and can be tracked across the CRA website or the YB Tracking app.
Courtesy of COE / James Mitchell Photography
The Sunday start of the ARC fleet represents a combined total of 234 yachts crossing the Atlantic under the ARC banner this month. The ARC Plus fleet of 91 yachts left Mindelo, Cabo Verde, for the second leg of the ARC Plus rally on Friday November 18, bound for Camper and Nicholson’s Port Louis Marina in Grenada. A further 43 yachts will join the ARC in January, setting sail in the new year, in a third cross-Atlantic rally organized by the World Cruising Club.
Courtesy of COE / James Mitchell Photography
The World Cruising Club, based in Cowes, UK, organizes a portfolio of international rallies for cruising yachts in Europe, the USA and around the world. The WCC ARC Rally has been held annually since 1986.
