ARC & ARC+ Success
Every year we watch with envy as the Atlantic Rally for Cruisers (ARC) and the ARC+ via Cape Verde set sail. There is no such thing as a ‘typical’ ARC, and 2021 proved again why sailing the same route at the same time of year can produce so many different experiences. The ingredients of the ARC, the boats and nationalities, ambitions and experience, weather and routing when added together, provide each ARC crew with their own, unique Atlantic adventure. This year a fleet of 143 boats set out from Gran Canaria on 21st November for their adventure, including two Arcona yachts and three Najad yachts in the ARC.
The Edholm family on board Arcona 400, Liv logged their journey with one of their highlights being that they saw, and managed to film, a blue whale!
The crew of Najad 511, Maalu IV logged their journey and with 100 miles left to go at the finish, the crew shared their advice: “It took all of 5 minutes for the crew to determine what they wished they had brought on their first Atlantic crossing:
Nicholas – a pocket crew that could be rehydrated into full size whenever the going got tough. They wouldn’t consume much in rations etc as they could be dehydrated back to pocket size after use, ready for their next outing.
Michele – a Sumo Suit to prevent the bruising from ricocheting around the galley
Iona – a micro climate hemisphere to bring out whenever the weather was not conducive to optimal passage making. It would calm the seas and steady the breeze
Jono – more Percy Pigs!
The Puck family (pictured below) on board Arcona 465, Arya, took part in the ARC+. They proudly arrived in Grenada as the second monohull to finish overall AND with ZERO Engine hours. An amazing feat. The ARC+ departed from Gran Canaria on 19th November 2021, in a fleet of over 70 boats and the first leg took them to Cape Verde. The second leg finished in Camper & Nicholsons Port Louis Marina, Grenada.
