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| Entries grow for ARC Europe 2010 |
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May 6th start for ocean cruising rally to Europe
Entries are still being received for this year’s ARC Europe transatlantic rally, which departs from Nanny Cay marina on Tortola in May. Already the provisional entry list has reached 27 with yachts from 8 different nationalities - Canada, France, Gibraltar, Great Britain, Germany, Italy, Switzerland and the USA - represented.
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| ARC Europe 2009 closes in style |
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The curtain’s come down on one of the best ARC Europe’s in recent years, but not without the traditional closing party at Marina de Lagos. Beginning with regional wine-tasting and sun-downers at the swimming pool bar, the crews moved inside to take their seats in the stylish Waypoint restaurant for a delicious series of perfectly cooked dishes, accompanied by just a little more of those regional wines. And it was all served with care and attention by a small army of charming staff.
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| Always making the most of it |
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After 820 miles in which, due to confused sea states and wind on the nose, culinary creation was somewhat limited, yachts have arrived in Lagos with more than expected fresh food. On board Viva, Petra Lehmköster's Halberg Rassy 42DF, the problem is too much fresh fruit. With her background in hospitality, a ready and inventive team of three crew, as well as a healthy stock of rum, the call went out on VHF 72 inviting all other rally crews for a sun-down fruit punch or four.
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| Wet n wild |
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A steady stream of ARC Europe yachts have been arriving throughout Thursday, many with tales of high winds and big seas, resulting in uncomfortable sailing and wet boats. New leaks, old leaks reappearing - particularly around hatches, and the busy traffic separation scheme off the coast of Portugal have meant a lively final forty-eight hours for the fleet. Milo Frawley, skipper of the Swan 47 The Last of the Normal People wrote in his log, "As we approach the coast and the busy shipping lanes, we anticipate more and more ships. Just passed a 900 footer moving at 20 knots. We deferred to his size (though we had rights)."
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| Homecoming for Spirit of Lusitania |
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Spirit of Lusitania, the Beneteau 57 owned by Joaquim Fortunato, is the first ARC Europe yacht to arrive at Marina de Lagos. It's a homecoming for the boat and crew, having left in late autumn 2008 to take part in the annual ARC rally from Gran Canaria to St Lucia. The 820 mile passage from Ponta Delgada has been completed in four days, three hours and fifty two minutes, with continuous twenty-four hour runs of over 200 miles.
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| Start of Leg 3 from the Azores |
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After a mixed bag of weather whilst having been in the Azores today was a beautiful day for the start of Leg 3 from Ponta Delgada in Sao Miguel. With the sun shining, flat seas and 15 knots of breeze out of the North the fleet prepared for a start at 1200 UTC.
The start line was just off the outer breakwater and with the yachts powering up with a minute to go it was 'The Last Of The Normal People' that took line honours seconds after the starting horn.
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| Leg 2 results announced |
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On the fleets' last evening in the Azores the eagerly anticipated results of Leg 2, from Bermuda to Horta, were announced at an evening hosted by the Azores Tourist Board. The venue overlooking the new marina in Ponta Delgada is managed and run by students studying at the nearby Hospitality Management School. They really made the grade with an excellent drinks reception and a buffet that had everyone keen to tuck in but it was formalities first.
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| Afternoon Coach Tour of Sao Miguel |
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Yesterday afternoon was spent on a coach tour of Sao Miguel with our guide Theresa from Abreu Travel. With a full bus of 48 participants we headed out of Ponta Delgada to our first stop one of the pineapple plantations. The Azores has many micro-climates which means they can grow a lot of different produce including oranges, tobacco, tea (the only tea plantation in Europe is on the Azores), passion fruit, grapes for wine and pineapples.
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| Ready steady cook! |
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It took three attempts but we finally found a restaurant in the new Ponta Delgada marina to host a pot-luck evening in celebration of Portugal’s national day on Wednesday 11 June. Started by Simon Blazeby in ARC Europe 2007, the idea is for each yacht to show off their cooking skills (or in some cases, heating skills), and bring their culinary creations to a donor restaurant. Each of the dishes is laid out buffet style, and everyone tucks into each others food. A fantastic way to enjoy the evening together.
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| Street Bullfighting in Terceira |
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ARC Europe participants walked up to the top of Angra around 6pm and found the street already bustling with locals and street vendors and houses already boarded up in preperation for the bull. Once you cross the 2 white lines marked on the street you are then within the limits the bull will be allowed and the first thought on everyone's mind was 'I must find a safe spot'!
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| Volcanoes & earthquakes |
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For the final full day in the beautiful Azorean island of Faial, this year's ARC Europe crew were taken on a complimentary coach tour. Beginning at a superb viewpoint overlooking Horta, Sandra, the guide pointed out the beach where the first Flemish settlers landed in the 17th Century, as well as windmills influenced by both Flemish and Portuguese designs. Next on the agenda was a drive up into the mountains to view a crater 2 km wide and 500 metres deep.
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| Regional Tourism Director welcomes ARC Europe crews |
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The Regional Director of Tourism for the Azores, Mr Miguel Cymbron, hosted the ARC Europe crews for a welcome reception at the luxury Pousada de Santa Cruz hotel on Friday evening. Also in attendance were Horta Mayor, Mr Joao Castro, Sra Carla Cook & Mr Joao Fraga, representing Portos dos Acores, Marina Manager, Armando Castro, and Luis Botelho from the local tourism office. Pre-dinner drinks and canapes were served by the swimming pool and lawns, with superb views over the marina and beyond to Pico.
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| World Cruising Club team up with Horta Maritime College |
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A group of students
from the Horta Maritime College visited Portuguese round-the-world sailor, Luis Freire, on Faraway in order to learn about
his experiences during ARC 2007, World ARC 2008/09
and ARC Europe 2009. The students are training to become maritime professionals (merchant navy, divers, skippers etc...)
and were therefore very interested in finding out how Luis had equipped his
yacht for his 2 year long voyage. They enquired about his electronics package and the route he followed during his trip around the globe.
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| Sunshine in the Azores |
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Many of the crews arrived in Horta wearing every possible layer of clothing as the temperatures began to drop the further North they sailed. 'Tallulah Ruby' after nearly two years in the tropics dug to the bottom of their cupboards only to find Brazilian moths had got into almost every bit of winter clothing they had.
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| Latest arrivals |
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Another busy day for arrivals into Horta with six boats expected throughout the day, which being day 13 means half of the fleet will have arrived. Crews have reported variable weather conditions on the crossing with plenty of strong wind stories, especially in the past three days where the 'Azores Low' has been dominating the weather.
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| Fire at sea |
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With less then 100 miles to go before making landfall all seemed to be going well onboard Nix, having set new boat records - 17.9 knots boat speed and a 24hr day run of 277 miles. However at around 0530 skipper Nico awoke to find the saloon filling up with thick smoke...
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| Nix in! |
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Nix, Nico Cortlever's X-612, is the first ARC Europe 2009 yacht to arrive in Horta, 9 days and 23 hours after departing Bermuda. With the rest of the fleet reporting stronger winds on their daily log entries the already busy port of Horta will be full to capacity. Marina Manager, Armando Castro, commented it is the busiest he has seen it in the 4 years he has been working here.
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| Earendil Dismasted - boat and crew safely back in Bermuda |
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23h30 on Monday 20th May, 60 to 70 miles off Bermuda.
Earendil was sailing comfortably close-hauled on port tack in 15/18 knots true wind, in a moderate sea, heading East about 40 degrees off the wind. Pierre the skipper was on watch, when suddenly the forestay toggle broke, sending the genoa flying up in the air. Then, after what seems an eternity to Pierre, there was a loud cracking noise, followed by a second and the mast fell on top of the spray hood.
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| Spectaular start from Bermuda |
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The ARC Europe fleet are underway again, having left St George's,
Bermuda at 1500 UTC today, Wednesday 20 May. The second leg of this
annual three leg rally is a 1,900 mile passage to Horta, Azores. A
north - south start line was laid at the west end of St George's
Harbour, with yachts crossing west to east, tacking up to the narrow
Town Cut and funneling through the man-made gap out into the open sea.
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| Leg 1 results announced |
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ARC Europe 2009 has a range of superb yachts, so it was no surprise that the Leg 1 results were hotly anticipated. Three divisions have been created, 2 monohull categories, and one mulithull.
The start in Tortola, whilst under grey skies, was in ideal winds, allowing the German crewed Dufour 44, Carpe Diem, to make a clean spinnaker hoist, and clearly show their intent. The Italian Super Maramu, Refola, with a freshly scrubbed bottom, roared across the start line, and that was with reefs in the main and mizzen. Another one to watch.
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