With 75 percent of the ARC fleet now in Las Palmas, the docks of the Muelle Deportivo are populated with boats of all shapes and sizes, from multiple manufacturers and sailing under the flags of 22 different nations. The range of boats is as eclectic as the crews on board with examples of almost every kind of ocean cruising boat available represented amongst the ARC 2014 fleet.
Having two route options allows room for more boats, and it is the multihulls that have spread into the space, with a whopping 37 catamarans in total sailing this year, representing 15% of the overall ARC fleet. 12 multihulls made for an exciting first start as the ARC+ Cape Verde fleet set off on Sunday, and 25 are preparing for the second ARC Start sailing directly to Saint Lucia. Leading the twin hull charge are French builders Lagoon, with 16 boats in the ARC – their popular 450 model being the design most frequently seen in the group. Fountaine Pajot and Outremer are also well represented in the fleet.
Amongst the monohulls, there is the usual wide spread of types, sizes and configurations representing the breadth of options available to modern cruising sailors. Notable this year are Danish builder X-Yachts, whose cruising XC range is proving popular in both 42 and 45ft versions of their aft-cockpit racer-cruisers. Stalwart of the cruising fraternity, British builder Oyster Marine is well represented with 12 hulls in the fleet, whilst French yards Jeanneau (11 hulls) and Beneteau (20 hulls) are topping the table. The Beneteau Oceanis 473 being the most popular design amongst the monohulls with 5 of the type sailing the rally.
The “grand old lady” of the ARC fleet is Christophe von Reibntiz’s 1936 Henry Gruber designed yawl,
Peter von Seestermühe, which has been gracing the ARC fleet regularly since 1990. Perhaps also worthy of the epithet “classic” is the 1973 Swan 44,
Safa sailed by Hannu Korpela from Finland. Top and tail this year come from Thalassa, a 1976 Marieholm 32E sailed by Swedish skipper Mattias Järleby at just 9.58m long, right up to the big daddy, Leopard by Finland, Mike Slade’s super-maxi Farr 100 design. Her all Finnish crew are chasing after the course record set last year by Caro at 10 days 21 hours 25 minutes and 10 seconds.