World ARC office opens in Bora Bora

 Today the World ARC office opened at the Bora Bora Yacht Club ready to receive the World ARC yachts that will restart with Group 1 on Sunday 16th May. By mid afternoon four boats were secured on moorings at the Club; Ariane, Destiny, Eowyn, and Lady Ev VI. The remaining 4 boats of the group are expected over the next couple of days, whilst the larger group of 18 boats will be competing in the Tahiti Pearl Regatta and will arrive a few days later.

In fact, it was a busy day ashore too at the yacht club preparing for boat arrivals and the accompanying festivities. During February, cyclone Oli passed through the island of Bora Bora and the Yacht Club facilities suffered damage. The high wind pushed the waves onshore at the Club, submerging the main dining room, kitchens and landscaped gardens under several inches of seawater. Hundreds of homes were also damaged across the islands. It was therefore a proud moment for Yacht Club owners, Jessica and Teiva, to see their flagpole reinstalled on the waterfront of their premises, flying the Bora Bora Yacht Club flag and the World ARC flag. Job well done by all who took part!

During the next few days the Group 1 crews will take part in a dinghy race, hosted by the Club, followed by a prizegiving event and BBQ. The crews will spend the mornings preparing for the next leg – a 1,400 nautical mile passage to Tonga, visiting the remote atoll of Suwarrow and the ‘big rock’ of Niue along the way. The Group 2 yachts will follow closely behind on the 19 May.