Entries have now closed for this year’s Atlantic Rally for Cruisers (ARC), the 24th edition of this world-famous annual transatlantic rally that has defied the economic doom and gloom yet again. The Rally organisers, World Cruising Club, have now opened a waiting list after accepting 225 entries for the 2009 rally.

Following an extremely successful trial of Yellowbrick Adventure Tracking, fitting Iridium trackers to yachts sailing across the Bay of Biscay on Rally Portugal, World Cruising Club will fit tracking units to the ARC Racing and Invitation Racing Divisions this year. The previous once daily position reporting will be replaced by automatic reports at a more frequent interval, likely to be 6 hourly. This greatly enhances the experience for family and friends following the yachts who get a better feel for the real progress of the yachts racing across the Atlantic.