Interesting Conditions for ARC Race Fleet Start

34 boats are now headed for Saint Lucia after taking the Sunday start of the 27^th ARC. It was a fantastic send off from the marina and the usual fanfare before departure, with a lively band playing and lots of spectators bidding crews farewell to Las Palmas.

27 yachts from the RORC Racing Division were joined on the startline by seven cruising boats and several other ARC boats who will take the Tuesday start went out to watch the spectacle.

Shortly after the first start gun was fired, the shift from a light southerly breeze to a northerly enabled some yachts to hoist spinnakers. The low pressure system that has kept the majority of cruising boats in port until Tuesday provided an interesting start for the racing fleet, with big localised wind shifts. Winds have now settled to 10-15 knots south westerly and the crews will experience their first night at sea.

First across the line was the Norwegian Pogo 12.50, Lupi followed by Sigma 38, Persephone (GBR), Swan 80Berenice (ITA), Tyke, FY61 (ITA) and fifth across the line, Venomous (GBR). The remaining 194 boats will start on Tuesday morning so will remain in port to enjoy yet another ARC Sundowner.