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| ARC Europe 2008 closes in style |
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For some, it was the beginning of the end, for others, the end of the beginning. The closing party of ARC Europe 2008, hosted by Marina Director, Marthinho Fortunato, has taken place. The crews gathered at the swimming-pool bar for a pre-dinner drink in the gentle evening warmth of the Algarve before settling down to superb three-course meal. The awards for Leg 3 were also presented during the evening.
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| Pontoon party in Marina de Lagos |
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The ARC Europe crews celebrated together with a dock-party on the pontoon where the boats are berthed. John MacKenzie and family made their Lagoon 440 available to host the gathering on the longest day of the year. Each of the crews brought freshly-made dishes of food from their galleys, and by chance no two dishes were the same, perhaps reflecting the range of nationalities.
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| The big clean at Marina de Lagos |
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After 3,500 miles, the ARC Europe yachts are arriving into Marina de Lagos, marking the completion of their west to east Atlantic crossing. For some it's the start of a season to be spent cruising the Mediterranean, for others, it's the final part of their Atlantic circuit. So, 42 days after departing from Jolly Harbour, Antigua, the crews are taking advantage of the excellent facilities here at Marina de Lagos to give the yachts a deep clean.
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| Leg 3 now underway for ARC Europe yachts |
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The final leg of this year's ARC Europe began at midday on Saturday 14 June. Clear skies, a slight swell, and around 10 knots of wind made for a good start, with Francois Barbelet crossing the line first in his Barvaria 46, Spica. From the Azores, the fleet split into two, with one fleet routing north to the UK, and the other continuing east to make landfall in Lagos, Portugal, some 900 miles away.
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| Ponta Delgada gives a big welcome to ARC Europe 2008 |
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Sao Miguel, the third and final Azorean island to be visited as part of the annual ARC Europe rally, is welcoming the sailors with great weather, an island tour, and a cocktail party. On Thursday 12, all of the participants were taken on an excursion to explore the eastern side. The itinerary included a visit to a pineapple plantation (including sampling a delicious pineapple liquor), natural springs, historic aqueducts, as well as the green and blue lake at the mountain village of Sete Cidades.
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| Bull-running in the streets of Terceira |
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The highlight of the annual ARC Europe rally began on Sunday 8 June, with the start of the Azores cruising period. The fleet day-sailed from Horta, Faial, to the island of Terceira (meaning third island), arriving in time to catch the traditional bull-running in the streets of Angra do Heroisimo during the build-up to a national holiday on 10 June.
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| ARC Europe cocktail party takes place in historic fort overlooking Horta Marina |
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Pousada de Santa Cruz, the historic fort overlooking Horta marina, was the spectacular venue for the ARC Europe cocktail party, and Leg 2 prize-giving. Tables laden with food and wine had been set up on the lawns, set within the battlements.
Each yacht was presented with a commemorative plaque, bearing the boat name, year, and symbol of the Azores. Carla Cook representing Isabel Barata, the Director of Tourism for the Azores, conducted the prize-giving, assisted by Armando Castro, Marina Manager here in Horta, and Mr Joao Fraga, Nautical Consultant to the Azores Tourism Board.
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| Land legs |
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The ARC Europe crews enjoyed an afternoon tour of Faial, taking in this beautiful island's spectacular scenery. Blessed with superb visibiity, temperatures in the 20's, and an air-conditioned coach, the sailors took to the road. The complimentary excursion's first stop was high above Horta, giving a wonderful vista looking south-west back to the marina, some of which has been transformed into a service area for a top-flight car rally competition taking place over the weekend.
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| ARC Europe sailors enjoy a stylish crew supper. |
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Canto da Doca was the stylish venue for Thursday evening's crew supper. Oven-hot stones, sourced locally from the volcano, are laid out for each person to cook their own meats and fish on. It's a very sociable and fun way to enjoy a meal. The ARC Europe sailors took over the entire upper floor, and the evening was enjoyed by all. Local produce was also on the menu, from the Pico wines, to the pineapple which came from Sao Miguel.
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| Painting for luck |
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With over half the fleet now arrived in Horta, the crews have been making the most of the great weather, and getting out and about, exploring both Faial, and the nearby island of Pico. It's tradition here in Horta to leave a painting. The crews of Fuerte, as well as Kalliope III have been leaving their mark on the dock beside their berths. For Scott & Laura, it also counted as an art lesson, as they have been doing school work each day.
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| A fishy ending |
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Sailors are a sociable lot and rarely need an excuse for a soiree. None more so than this year's ARC Europe crews. Saturday's arrival of Windancer IV, with their growing reputation as a party boat, seemed to be the catalyst for an impromptu get-together, hosted by Emilio Colomer onboard his Hanse 531, Kalliope III.
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| First arrivals into Horta talk about great sailing conditions during the crossing |
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The crews of the first two ARC Europe yachts to arrive in Horta have been talking about the sailing conditions since leaving St George, Bermuda, on Tuesday 20 May. Petra and Richard Haig, owners of the Oyster 55, Fuerte, commented that weather has been favourable, with winds averaging 20 knots for most of the way. Only in the last 48 hours has it been necessary to motor. Emilio Colomer, skipper of the Hanse 531, Kalliope III, also said that it has been a good sail during the longest leg of the annual rally from the Caribbean to Europe.
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| A very busy Horta awaits the first arrivals, expected Friday 30 May. |
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It's the busiest time of year for all the marinas in the Azores, and in particular the marina here in Horta, as it's the first major landfall for yachts crossing the Atlantic. Kalliope III, the Hanse 531, is expected on Friday 30 May, followed by a steady stream of arrivals over the next 72 hours.
Walking round the marina, there are many ARC 2007 yachts in, particularly from Norway and Sweden, and from these boats we've been hearing what's been happening with some of them since the finish of the ARC in St Lucia 6 months ago. There's plenty of other reminders of both ARC and previous ARC Europe participants around the marina, in the form of paintings which take up every spare inch of wall and dock space.
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| ARC Europe fleet set sail for the famous yachting port of Horta on the Azorean island of Faial |
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The majority of yachts
sailing in this year's annual ARC Europe rally have taken advantage of
a weather window and are now at sea, en-route to Azorean yachting mecca
of Horta. The remaining yachts are expected to depart today,
Wednesday. Commanders' Weather have advised the fleet to remain alert
for squalls, but in general conditions are good, with a southwest wind
setting in to push the boats eastward.
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| Leg 1 prize-giving takes place at St George's Sports & Dinghy Club |
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The much anticipated prize-giving got underway on Monday evening, with six awards given out. Emilio Colomer, skipper of the Spanish registered Hanse 531, Kalliope III took first place. Alec Broers, with his Oyster 485, Principessa received the award for second place, and Richard & Petra Haig, along with children Duncan, Laura and Scott, took third place, for a great sail on their Oyster 55, Fuerte. There were also another three awards, kindly sponsored by Goslings.
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| ARC Europe yachts go to anchor due to strong winds. |
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Saturday's weather has, as forecast, brought an increase in wind, and as it is from the South, the ARC Europe fleet have temporarily moved off the dock at St. George's Dinghy & Sports Club, and gone to anchor. Conditions should moderate by the evening, allowing the yachts to come back onto the dock, and the participants to enjoy a traditional Bermudian fish-fry evening at the club.
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| Further arrivals and maintenance |
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Wednesday was a good day for the ARC Europe fleet. The conditions at sea moderated, and for the yachts that arrived during the day, there was a comfortable berth with water and shore power awaiting. Fuerte, Spica, Windancer IV, Principessa, and the St. Augustine starter, Severance had all arrived by the end of the day.
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| First arrivals into Bermuda |
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Both Equinox, the Selestra 66, and Kalliope II, a Hanse 531, have arrived in Bermuda. In keeping with their pattern of sailing since leaving Antigua on 8 May, they were only 2 hours apart. Equinox suffered damage to their genoa, possibly due to a fault with the furling gear. Conditions for the fleet over the past 48 hours have been challenging. Wednesday should see a steady stream of arrivals, bringing them in from the worst of the current weather pattern.
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| Thrilling start to this year's ARC Europe |
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It could hardly have been a closer start for ARC Europe 2008. Equinox, a Selestra 66, and Kalliope III, a Hanse 531, were separated by only a few metres as they charged across the line with around 20 knots of wind on their quarter.
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| Final full day in Jolly Harbour. A busy one that ends with a farewell party hosted by Jolly Harbour Marina |
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Thursday morning marked the last full day available for the crews to complete their job list before departing for Bermuda on Friday at midday. A group of crew left together catching an early bus for the fifteen minute ride into the capital, St. Johns, for a final shop around the colourful fresh produce markets.
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