ARC Europe joins local Acoriano Oriental Yacht Race to Santa Maria

At 1900UTC tonight the ARC Europe yachts will join in with local yachts to make 15 participants in the 11th Acoriano Oriental Yacht Race.  The race takes it's name from the daily newspaper which sponsors it and footage from the start will soon be available on their online version of the newspaper at www.acorianooriental.pt  Some participants that are featured have been spotted snapping up multiple copies from the newstands to keep as souvenirs! 

The 55NM course takes the boats south from Ponta Delgada to Vila do Porto on the island of Santa Maria - the first of the islands to be discovered in the 15th Century.

The start is planned from inside the main harbour at Ponta Delgada, in the heart of the city, where hopefully plenty of people will brave the drizzly conditions and watch as the yachts head out south to Santa Maria.  The forecast winds of 10-15 knots from the south west mean the yachts could almost hold a starboard tack through the night to the finish at Vila do Porto.

Hopefully by morning the mist will have lifted and the 'sunny island' of Santa Maria will live up to it's name.  There are plenty of celebrations for ARC Europe participants to join in over the weekend, especially as it is Portugal National Day on the 10th June, saude!