The 58ft Catamaran 1+1 arrived in Ecuador this afternoon, marking the first arrival of the World ARC fleet in mainland South America. The rest of the boats are expected to arrive here over the following week.

Following successful transits of the Panama Canal, the World ARC fleet have spent an enjoyable time in Panama City exploring the modern capital city and experiencing the culture of the Emberer Indians. Having completed provisioning and carried out a few repairs, most of the fleet have now left Panama on route to Ecuador – the next stop over on the World ARC route.

A party of intrepid WARC participants set off to explore the Upper
Chagres River and visit an Embera Indian Village. After an hour journey
towards the east of Panama, we boarded a piragua, a traditional dug out
canoe carved from one tree trunk, on the Chagres riverbank. Now powered
by modern outboard motors, but coxswained by a traditionally dressed
Embera Indian!

After a smooth and enjoyable transit through the Panama Canal, The World ARC fleet have been making the most of their time on dry land this week, exploring the city and its surroundings

At 1800hrs, Saturday 23 January, the first group of World ARC yachts began their transit of the Panama Canal. The 16 yachts in the group made an impressive sight as they entered the Gatun locks to begin their transit. The boats were rafted in groups of 3 and each accompanied by a Canal transit Advisor. The canal is well used by commercial traffic but it is rare to see one of the huge chambers of the locks entirely filled with sailing boats.

19 World ARC boats are now berthed in Shelter Bay Marina, near the Caribbean entrance of the Panama Canal, in preparation for their transit across to the Pacific Ocean later this week. The fleet will pass through the Canal in two groups, with the first group of 15 boats setting off on Saturday afternoon.

Yesterday afternoon, many of the World ARC fleet met at Chichime Cay in the San Blas Islands for a rendez-vous on the beach. Each boat came ashore with a dish or two of food to share, often something reflecting the national dish of its crew. In particular, the afternoon was a great opportunity to exchange stories and recommendations about the best places to visit in the San Blas Islands.

At 22.25 UTC yesterday evening the catamaran 1+1 reported that they had crossed the finish line of Leg 1 of World ARC 2010/11. They were the first boat to report completing their sail after a passage of 5 days, 6 hours and 25 minutes. The finish line, which was the line of longitude 78°35’ West, was positioned to the north east of the San Blas Islands, just off the Caribbean coast of Panama.

The World ARC 2010/11 fleet crossed start line at 1200 local time to begin their 15 month circumnavigation of the globe. There was a good competitive start for the first leg from Saint Lucia to the San Blas Islands, Panama. There were near perfect conditions at the start line, marked by the committee vessel Heimkehr VI. The wind was from the west, 10-15 knots with a flat sea.

Rodney Bay Marina is buzzing with excitement and anticipation after the last full day ashore before the World ARC 2010-11 sets off around the globe.

The World ARC boats officially check out of St Lucia tomorrow morning, before heading out of the marina and getting ready for the official start at midday local time (4pm GMT).

World ARC 2010-11 participants enjoyed a fantastic New Year’s Eve party at the St Lucia Yacht Club last night. With a complimentary barbecue and drinks, and free bubbly at midnight, the New Year was welcomed in with style.

To help World ARC participants get to know one another the first event of the Rally programme, was a Welcome Drinks Party at the H20 Restaurant and Bar. Conveniently this was just a short ‘hop’ of the docks at Rodney Bay Marina. Some boats were meeting up again after different past adventures, either taking part in ARC 2009 or the Caribbean 1500, but for many it was the first opportunity to begin to get to know one another.

The World ARC Office opened this morning in Rodney Bay Marina to begin checking in the yachts that will be setting off from St Lucia next week on their 15-month world circumnavigation

With less than a week until the World ARC office opens in Rodney Bay, St Lucia, the marina is slowly filling with more boats taking part in World ARC 2010/11. Crews who took part in ARC 2009 are resting after their transatlantic crossing and are being joined by other yachts that have arrived from the USA or from other Caribbean Islands. Some boats are still completing their transatlantic passages and will join the fleet shortly.

With less than 50 days to the start of World ARC in Saint Lucia, on 06 January, the participating yachts are beginning to make their passages towards the start. Some boats are travelling down the east coast of America to the Caribbean, others are massing in the Canary Islands, to prepare for an Atlantic crossing either independently or with ARC 2009, and others have less distance to travel, having weathered the Caribbean hurricane season in safe ports in Grenada and other countries. Many participants are getting to know one another, even before the event begins.

World ARC, the flagship event in the global portfolio of World Cruising Club (WCC) rallies, is building on the success of the 2008 Rally with the announcement today that the entry list has opened for a second edition, the 2010 World ARC Rally. Billed as an adventure of a lifetime, World ARC 2010 will leave the Caribbean in January 2010, cruising across the World’s great oceans on a circumnavigation of the globe, returning to the Caribbean 14 months later.