Catamarans led the (gentle) charge this afternoon at the ARC+ startline in Gran Canaria, headed for Grenada with a stopover in Cape Verde
PBO was at the start of the ARC+ to wave off the boats in light winds and calm seas in Las Palmas.
Fanfare on the breakwater as the ARC+ yachts get a good send-off. WCC/ James Mitchell
“It’s the perfect start and will be a lovely sail,” said Jeremy Wyatt of World Cruising Club. “These are ideal conditions to prepare the crews before the wind picks up to around 18-20 knots around the acceleration zone, which they’ll reach once it gets dark.”
First multihulls
First across the startline in the multihull division, was Balance3 from Finland, a Lagoon 42-2 skippered by Pasi Heiskanen. Next over the line was Indrek Prants’ Lagoon 50 Sirocco – the only boat from Estonia – followed by Hanuman from the US, a Catana 53 skippered by Steve May.
First monohulls
Of the remaining 70 boats, making up the monohulls, first over the line was the all-Italian crew of Azuree 46 Enaliaskippered by Alberto Rizzotti, followed by Richard Hill’s Mazi 1300 Kirima (GBR) and Italian cruiser-racer Fra Diavoloa Mylius 60 skippered by Vincenzo Addessi.
Fast cats
Red Pepper, or Piment Rouge, an Outremer 51. Photo WCC/ James Mitchell
Catamarans are light, quick and well suited to an Atlantic crossing, with the Outremer 51s expected to do well – including Pierre De Saint-Vincent’s Piment Rouge (4th over the line, with the crew in costume), who also took line honors in last year’s ARC+.
Camaraderie on the pontoons
There was a festive atmosphere on the pontoons, where yachts have got to know each other over the last few weeks whilst preparing for their Atlantic voyage.
Crews have taken part in a full program of events since 26 October, with seminars on everything from weather routing to provisioning, safety equipment and liferaft drills in the pool.
“We are filled with excitement and trepidation and have been saying goodbye to the good friends we have made on Pontoon K,” said South Africans Darrol and Kathy Martin onboard their 1988 Amel Mango. “We cannot wait to have the wind in our sails and be heading south to Cape Verde in our beautiful old boat, Disa.”
Bittersweet moment
Also on Pontoon K was sweet dreams, a stunning wooden yacht, which Roz Preston and late husband John built together over 7 years with the help of students at Lyme Regis Boatbuilding Academy. It was a bitter-sweet moment for Roz as she set sail without her husband, who died suddenly in 2017.
Roz with crew Angus onboard Sweet Dreams
“John always said building Sweet Dreams was his greatest achievement, so when I’m feeling old and tired, I remind myself what this is all about,” she told PBO.
Cruising cat (the furry kind)
Cesar, the only cat on the rally, was making himself at home down below on Marco Pol. A seasoned sailor, the Norwegian Forest Cat (from Sweden) has been sailing for many years with Marie Broman and Tomas Sweiger onboard their Beneteau Oceanis 473.
Cesar the Norwegian Forest Cat relaxing onboard his yacht
“He’s very relaxed, and much easier to care for than a dog” says Tomas. “He comes on deck for a few hours each day, but if the seas are big he’ll go down below and find somewhere cosy to curl up.”
Next stop Mindelo
The ARC+ fleet is now on their way to Mindelo, 865NM to the southwest of Gran Canaria. The weather forecast suggests north-easterly trade winds building through the passage of the boats to make good mileage, and the majority of the fleet are expected to arrive at Mindelo Marina, in Cape Verde over Friday 11 and Saturday 12 November.
Watch the fleet
ARC crews get ready
As the ARC+ fleet left today, the pre-departure program has only just begun for the crews of the ARC fleet sailing directly to Saint Lucia on 20 November.
Before their own start two weeks from today, ARC crews can look forward to a full program of activities to give them the best possible send off for their own ocean crossing.