The 20th Edition of ARC Portugal came to an end Wednesday night where everyone gathered for a farewell supper and prize giving in Marina de Lagos. It was a chance to celebrate and reflect the achievements, challenges and friendships made over the last three and a half weeks.
The start in Plymouth on the 1st June marked the beginning for what was many peoples first taste of ocean sailing crossing the English Channel and the Bay of Biscay. A low pressure system that materialised helped Biscay live up to its reputation and as a result the majority of the fleet took shelter on the northern coast of Spain spreading themselves across seven different ports. Despite the challenges that the fleet encountered, all were reunited to continue their journey south to Marina de Lagos stopping off at a number of ports and seeing the spectacles that the Portuguese coast has to offer.
To mark the end of their journey Marina de Lagos hosted a fantastic evening with welcome drinks and a menu of Portuguese cuisine. The meal was followed by kind words of thanks and support from the Mayoress of Lagos, Maria Matos and the marina manager Ingrid Fortunato before moving onto the fun prize giving and a chance to remember some of the many high points of the rally.
Every boat received ARC Portugal plaques marking the 20th Edition of the rally and their arrival in Lagos. Crews were called up whilst Andrew Bishop, event manager of ARC Portugal and managing director of World Cruising Club reminded the fleet of boat achievements, comical moments and highlights from the past three and a half weeks. The evening continued to the early hours of the morning and was a fantastic way to mark the end of ARC Portugal 2014.
The friendships and camaraderie experienced on the rally will no doubt continue beyond the event and into the future. With much of the fleet planning to cruise the Mediterranean, many of whom continuing to sail as a fleet and others with ambitions to cross the Atlantic and even the Pacific, the experience of the rally for many seems to be the start of an exciting future of sailing adventures.