Today, the World ARC fleet departed Puerto Ayora, on Santa Cruz , in the Galapagos Island, to embark on the next leg of their round the world trip. The next passage, Leg 4 of their journey, is a 2980 nautical mile passage to the Marquesas Island group of French Polynesia. There were good conditions on the water, allowing a competitive start to the Leg and a great spectacle for those taking part or just watching.

The World ARC fleet’s stay in the Galapagos Islands is unfortunately coming to an end. To mark the occasion the crews met for drinks at the newly renovated Sol y Mar Hotel. The hotel is a great setting with splendid views across the anchorage at Puerto Ayora. During the function, prizes were awarded for the competitive sailing leg from La Libertad on the Ecuadorian mainland to the island of San Cristobel in the the Galapagos

The crew supper on the 28th of February was a success with 63  people attending it. The dinner took place in the restaurant " Il Giardino " located in the main road from Puerto Ayora, Santa Cruz island in Galapagos.

All the boats that departed on Leg 3 of the World ARC route, from mainland Ecuador to the Galapagos Islands, are now anchored in Puerto Ayora, Santa Cruz Island. Whilst there have been some tense moments, as the fleet learnt that the Galapagos Islands where under a Tsunami Watch Warning, life has begun to calm down now and participants have begun boat tours to explore the Galapagos Islands, on the land and on and in the water.

Following the major eathquake in Chile (27-Feb-2010 06:30UTC) the NOAA Pacific Tsunami Warning Centre issued an alert for the coasts of Chile, Peru and Ecuador, later extended to include large parts of the Pacific.

The World ARC event team in Galapagos were informed of the alert at 0830UTC by the UK office and immediately began contacting crews on yachts in the anchorage at Puerto Ayora. Where possible, yachts put to sea and the safety of deeper water. Those crews unable to put to sea were evacuated to higher ground in the centre of the island and the port of Puerto Ayora was closed for several hours.

17:30UTC and the port has now reopened and yachts are returning to the anchorage. There are no reports of damage ashore and all the crews are safe.

Participants have been enjoying the first of their boat tours here on the Galapagos Islands, to a unique and isolated volcanic island known locally as Kicker Rock.

Nearly all the fleet have now arrived in the Galapagos Islands, a much-anticipated stop on their global sailing adventure. After a gentle sail across from mainland Ecuador, the boats are now anchored at their first port of call in Puerto Baquerizo, on the island of San Cristobal

Following an interesting cultural visit to Ecuador, the World ARC fleet today set off from mainland Ecuador towards the Galapagos Islands. The boats have spent the last two weeks at the Puerto Lucia Yacht Club in La Libertad but now move on to San Cristobel Island, on Leg 3 of their round-the-world adventure.

Puerto Lucia Yacht Club, World ARC’s base in Ecuador, last night hosted a farewell party and prizegiving from Leg 1, with drinks and food for all the participants. Mr Palau, the Yacht Club’s President, wished everyone a safe onward journey, and said he hoped they had had an enjoyable stay whilst here in Ecuador.

In the early hours of Sunday morning (14 February), whilst on passage direct from Panama to Galapagos, the 43’ World ARC boat Bristol Rose, sailed by Robert and Patricia Budd and their family, became entangled with some rope.

With 22 boats of the World ARC fleet safely tied up in Puerto Lucía, World Cruising organised a Crew Supper.

With only eight yachts here in Puerto Lucia, today the first crews started their Ecuador adventures with two groups of participants heading to Quito, one overland by bus, the other by plane from Guayaquil.

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.