Off to a great start for ARC 2013

The 28th Atlantic Rally for Cruisers (ARC) set sail today from Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, bound for Saint Lucia. A fine NNE breeze provided perfect conditions for a downwind start and a swift departure for the first part of the passage across the Atlantic. In total, 224 boats and 1,204 people, including 26 aged under 16, are sailing in this year’s edition of the world’s most popular transocean rally.

First boats to cross the start line
While the ARC is a cruising rally, there is a start and finish line, and the boats are split into divisions according to size, type and competition. One boat opted to depart Las Palmas early, so 223 yachts sailing under the flags of 23 nations crossed today’s start lines.

At 12:30UTC the gun on the Spanish naval ship Rayo fired for the start of the multihull and open divisions. The first catamaran across the line was Gunboat 62 Zenyatta (USA) the largest multihull in this year’s fleet. 24 other multihulls, many with families on board waved farewell to the Vela Latina dock this morning to cross the start line and begin their adventure.

35 boats in this year’s the Racing Division were lead across the start line by Gran Soleil 43 Quokka 8, closely followed by Oyster Lightwave 48 Scarlet Oyster, and Knierim 65 Caro (GER). Spinnakers were promptly hoisted as the racers gybed out to seaward and away from sailed the coast of Gran Canaria.

The cruising division is the largest group of ARC yachts, with 161 boats. By their start at 13:00, a large rain squall washed over the boats on the start line, but there will be plenty of sunny trade wind sailing ahead for the next 2,700nm to Saint Lucia. First to cross the cruisers start line was Dufour 385 Lucky Lady of Finland with her crew skippered by Seppo Pajari.