World Cruising Club Rallies: Latest News
In this edition: Bluewater Weekend next month, a new route choice for the ARC this November – ARC+ St. Vincent and a special offer if your cruising plans are still open for the summer with ARC Channel Islands.
Published 6 years ago, updated 5 years ago
Start Living Your Bluewater Dream at the Open Boat Weekend
Saturday, June 16 10:00 AM to Sunday, June 17, 2018 3:00 PM
Don’t miss outlook, learn, listen and chat with ARC and World ARC skippers at our unique Bluewater Weekend and start living your bluewater dream now!
The two-day event is free to attend, but prospective bluewater sailors will need to pre-register. During the weekend, a selection of fine examples of offshore cruising boats will be open for viewing, hosted by experienced ARC skippers. Mix, mingle and chat about bluewater sailing is the aim of the weekend. There is also an optional dinner on Saturday evening for those who want to keep the conversation flowing.
A new route for the ARC
We are delighted to tell you about a new route option for ARC+ this November – ARC+ St. Vincent!
Demand for spaces on ARC+ has grown year on year since the inaugural event in 2013, being full to capacity for the last two years. This year has proved no exception; with a full entry list by mid-January, and a limit on the number of entries due to marina capacity in Mindelo, a waiting list was started, which is now in excess of ten yachts.
With the support of our host marinas at the start in Las Palmas, the stopover in Mindelo, and with the addition of a new destination in the Caribbean we are now able to offer extra capacity on the popular ARC+ route, with a second slightly later start and an alternative finish in St. Vincent.
ARC+ St. Vincent will set off from Las Palmas de Gran Canaria on Thursday 15 November, bound for Mindelo, Cape Verde (four days after the ARC+ start). Following a 3-5 day stopover in Cape Verde, ARC+ St. Vincent yachts will depart from Mindelo on Sunday 25 November. The fleet will sail to the beautiful Blue Lagoon Marina in St. Vincent for arrival celebrations and a prize-giving party on 15 December will wrap-up the fun in time to enjoy some Caribbean cruising before Christmas. See the full itinerary.
ARC Channel Islands: Complimentary crew space offer
If you are thinking of extending your cruising horizons this summer and would like to join a group of like-minded sailors for an unforgettable holiday, we are pleased to offer a special bonus of one complimentary crew fee (worth £195) if you sign up for ARC Channel Islands 2018 before 15 June.
Full details including pricing, rally benefits and links to the conditions of entry and safety equipment requirements are available in the ARC Channel Islands Information Pack.
Now in its third year, ARC Channel Islands is popular with cruising sailors for its unique mix of preparation advice and support from a lead boat, combined with a cruise-in-company and social activities ashore.
This summer’s rally departs from Dartmouth, with landfall after the Channel crossing at Guernsey and visits to Jersey and Alderney before a night-sail return. Participants gather in Darthaven from 9 August, before the start on Saturday 11 August. The rally concludes on Sunday 19 August. Click here for route information
ARC Channel Islands Seminar – Sat 23 June
Combining informative presentations with a social day, the ARC Channel Islands Seminar program includes lunch and the chance to meet and get to know your fellow ralliers before the start in Dartmouth. Open to all.
Start your count-down to the adventure of a lifetime with World ARC 2020
Are you dreaming of tropical islands and faraway places? Are you wondering what to do after the ARC? Looking for a safe, supported and social experience cruising the world’s oceans?
Then join us and a varied fleet of yachts from all over the world for the adventure of a lifetime and sail the world’s oceans with World ARC. Entries are now open to join us for the tenth edition of the rally, departing from the Caribbean in January 2020 to sail on the ultimate trade-wind sailing adventure.
Meet the team and find out more about World ARC at the Southampton Boat Show, UK
During the Southampton Boat Show, we will be holding a presentation on the route, safety equipment requirements, and preparation advice for World ARC and the WCC team will be pleased to take your questions. This will also be a great opportunity to meet fellow cruisers planning their adventures, and hear from those who have ‘been there and done it.’
The World ARC Presentation and Lunch will take place at the Grand Harbour Hotel alongside the Southampton Boat Show on Saturday 22 September from 12:00-14:00.
Southampton Presentation and Lunch
ARC Europe – Join us in 2019
As the participants of 2018 edition of the west to east transatlantic rally, ARC Europe, arrive at the mid-Atlantic sailing mecca of Horta in the Azores, the first entries for next year have already started rolling in.
The rally will set sail next May from Nanny Cay, BVI and Portsmouth, VA on the US east coast following a pre-departure program and sail to Marina de Lagos in Portugal via Bermuda and the Azores.
Early Booking Discounts available
For entries received before 1 September 2018, a non-refundable booking fee of £200 is payable to ensure a place in ARC Europe 2019. A 5% discount applies (or 20% for ARC & ARC Caribbean 1500 2018 confirmed participants) for entries received before 31 January 2019.
BVIs Back in Business as Cruisers Return
In September last year, Hurricane Irma left a trail of destruction across the northern Leeward Islands, including the British Virgin Islands, with tragic loss of many lives, and devastating damage to homes and infrastructure throughout the region. Nautical tourism is a major employer in the British Virgin Islands, and many people doubted whether the islands could recover, let alone host visitors for the 2017/18 season.
As host port for the ARC Caribbean 1500 and ARC Europe rallies, we’ve recently been back to Nanny Cay Marina on Tortola and were delighted to see how much of the nautical and tourist economy is back in business. World Cruising Club’s Caribbean Event Manager Peta Cozier had last been there with the Carib1500 fleet in November and said, “To me, the improvements made are simply unbelievable in just a few short months.”
Related to the following Cruising Resources: Rallies
