|
| Parade to the Finish at Rodney Bay, St.Lucia |
|
It was a case of “follow my leader” this morning (Saturday 28th March) as the World ARC fleet gather together for one last time for the journey from Marigot Bay to Rodney Bay and the official finish of World ARC 2008/09. After a journey of over 23,000 nautical miles, the last 10 miles was covered in a spirit of festive fun with a Parade of Sail taking the yachts to their final destination at Rodney Bay Marina, where the rally began back in January 2008.
|
|
|
|
|
| World ARC fleet gather in Marigot Bay |
|
Marigot Bay, tucked away on the scenic west coast of St Lucia, and known as the eastern Caribbean’s most attractive bay, is hosting the World ARC fleet for the next two days. Marina Manager Bob Hathaway and his expert team are giving the circumnavigators the superyacht treatment as they return 'home' to the island where it all began fourteen months ago.
|
|
|
|
|
| Tourism Minister bids bonne voyage as World ARC yachts depart Grenada |
|
Grenada's Minsiter for Foreign Affairs & Tourism, Peter David, once again visited the World ARC sailors to learn more about their experiences and hear their views on Grenada as a yachting destination. He also thanked everyone for visiting, and wished the fleet a great cruise north. After a very successful stopover in the new Port Louis Marina, the fleet are now back at sea for the final cruising leg to St Lucia. Yachts are likely to visit St Vincent and the Grenadines before their scheduled rendezvous at Marigot Bay on 26 March.
|
|
|
|
|
| WARC crews tour Grenada |
|
World ARC crew circumnavigated Grenada in a day, but it wasn’t by boat. The participants enjoyed a full day coach tour of the island, visiting a variety of locations to learn more about its history and present day life. Leaving the capital, St George’s, the route went up the west coast, through the fishing villages of Molinere and Gouyave, before a stop at Victoria’s to tour the nutmeg plant. Also known as the spice island, Grenada is the world’s second largest producer of nutmeg, and the guided tour of the plant gave everyone the opportunity to see how the crop is processed.
|
|
|
|
|
| First World ARC yachts arrive in the Spice Island |
|
The brand new Port Louis Marina in Grenada has welcomed the first two arrivals from the World ARC fleet. Annemare, a Halberg Rassy 53, and Windflower III, a Bavaria 46, came onto their berths in the early afternoon. The weather was perfectly Caribbean, temperature at 28 degrees, a light breeze, and blue skies. Over the next four days the remaining World ARC yachts will arrive into the island's capital, St Georges.
|
|
|
|
|
| World ARC fleet depart Recife, Brazil. |
|
The fleet have departed Cabanga Iate Clube, Recife and are routing north with a favourable current to the new Port Louis marina in Grenada. Winds for the next few days are forecast to be SE 10 - 15 knots, with some thunderstorm activity as they reach the inter-tropical convergence zone. In particular, Saturday is set to be breezy as trade wind surges from both hemispheres meet.
|
|
|
|
|
| Carnival gets underway |
|
"Wait 'til you see my costume!", has become a familiar phrase amongst the World ARC crew. There's been no hesitation about getting involved in the huge Carnival processions, free music concerts, and nightly street parties. Even a massive downpour on the opening night didn't dent peoples' enthusiasm. In fact for some of the locals it was just another reason to celebrate.
|
|
|
|
|
| Gray Lady Feeds 50 |
|
Two days out of Recife, Brazil, inbound from Cape Town (having set off some three weeks prior), a Russian captain hauls in a mammoth catch. That's what happened on World ARC yacht 'Gray Lady', and a glance at the gallery picture shows the enormous marlin that her lures hooked. Last night at Cabanga Yacht Club, an impromptu barbecue organised by Boris Fedorov, owner of Gray Lady, a Dixon 72', brought together the crews for a BYO-BBQ evening.
|
|
|
|
|
| Ready to party... at the World's largest street Carnival |
|
In the Guiness book of records as the World's largest street Carnival, the Galo da Madrugada is one of the many reasons Recife has been selected as the stopover during Carnival in Brazil. It's also the natural jump off point to the island of Fernando de Noronha, regarded by many as having the best beaches on earth. The fleet are berthed in Cabanga Yacht Club, an exclusive facility with swimming pools, restaurants, tennis courts & excellent repair services.
|
|
|
|
|
| Kealoha 8 picks up award for Cape to Bahia Race |
|
Sunday evening saw the sailors of the Cape to Bahia race gather in the exclusive Yacht Clube da Bahia for a formal prize-giving. With its private grounds standing over the bay, it was a superb location for the final reception of the event. The cruising fleet were formally recognized for their efforts, and it was a delighted Kealoha 8 crew that lifted the trophy for cruising class line honours. ICAP Leopard , Mike Slade's super-maxi smashed the current course record for the 3,400nm event, setting a new time of 10 days, 5 hours & 45 minutes.
|
|
|
|
|
| The heroes are in |
|
The crew of La Boheme, an Amel Super Maramu 2000, have arrived in Salvador, Brazil, 18 days after coming to the rescue of a dismasted 6.5m Mini Transat, 300 miles off St Helena. The 3 crew of La Boheme have been talking about the incident. Owners, Gregory & Anna Haremza, said they learned the injured South African skipper of the Mini Transat was suffering with 3 suspected broken ribs. The yacht had no engine, and was making only 2 – 3 knots towards St Helena with the jury rig. Having done the maths, the skipper had marked off water and food rations.
|
|
|
|
|
| More of the cruising fleet arrive in Salvador, Brazil |
|
The early arrivals of the cruising fleet in the Heineken Cape to Bahia race are getting settled into the Sudesb marina in Salvador, Brazil. Kealoha 8, Strega, Branec IV, and Faraway are all now in, and enjoying the buzz around the terrace bar, with views out to the finish line, as other yachts complete the 3,400 nautical mile passage from Cape Town.
|
|
|
|
|
| Kealoha 8 leads the fleet into Salvador |
|
The Oyster 72, Kealoha 8, is the first cruising monohull to arrive in Salvador. She crossed the finish line at 06:30 local time, Sunday 25 January, some 22 days since leaving Cape Town. Adrian Osbourne, skipper, described the sailing as, 'A whole lot of holes. In the space of minutes, we had 15 knots of wind, then nothing.' The crew described the crossing as the longest passage so far taken.
|
|
|
|
|
| World ARC begins 4 week exploration of Brazil |
|
With the World ARC fleet now arriving in Brazil for a visit that will last one month, we take a look at what’s waiting for the crews in Salvador, our entry point into Brazil. Salvador, historic name, São Salvador da Baía de Todos os Santos (in English, "Holy Savior of All Saints' Bay") is on the northeast coast of Brazil and the capital of the State of Bahia. It is also known as Brazil's capital of happiness due to its easygoing population and countless popular outdoor parties, including its street carnival.
|
|
|
|
|
| World ARC invited back to St Helena |
|
The Deputy Governor Mr Andrew Wells formally invited the World ARC fleet back to St Helena last night. At a cocktail party held at Plantation house to welcome participants in the Governors Cup race from Cape Town Mr Wells spoke of the hope that the World ARC Fleet would return in 2011 and presented Event Manger, Mandy Parker with a gift. Mandy then took the opportunity to thank the Immigration and Customs staff, Tourist Office and Yacht Club members as well as many prominent Saints present for the overwhelming welcome to the island and presented the Deputy Governor with a plaque commemorating the World ARC visit.
|
|
|
|
|
| Dismasted Mini-Transat arrives under tow in St Helena |
|
La Boheme arrived in St Helena this morning with a very tired crew on board. Gregory and Anna Haremza along with crew member Ben Rodanski have towed the dismasted Running with Scissors for just over 300 miles all under sail. As La Boheme had to be hand steered and a constant watch kept on the tow only one person could sleep at any one time. The yacht under tow deployed a drogue to stabilize its movement and the injured skipper stayed on board in constant radio contact. Lionel is now safely ashore in St Helena and the crew of La Boheme are looking forward to exploring the island then continuing on to Salvador.
|
|
|
|
|
| World ARC yacht takes dismasted mini Transat in tow, 230 miles from St Helena |
|
A mini Transat yacht taking part in the Governor’s Cup has been taken in tow by the World ARC yacht La Boheme, an Amel Super Maramu, 230 miles out of St Helena. The 6.5m mini Transat, ‘Running with Scissors’ (RWS) is being sailed single-handed by former paratrooper Colonel Lionel Dyck. Its mast folded just below the lower spreaders at 12h40 on Sunday.
|
|
|
|
|
| St Helena gets ready for two race fleets |
|
Tropical, welcoming, remote, spectacular and full of history. St Helena is one of the few outstanding Islands on the planet. Geographically the island is a mere 47 square miles in area, situated about 1,500 miles north-west of Cape Town and well within the Tropic of Capricorn, and right now there's a buzz around town, with the imminent arrival of two race fleets into Jamestown.
|
|
|
|
|
| Farewell to Cape Town |
|
It was farewell to Cape Town for the World ARC fleet today, eight wonderful weeks after arriving in South Africa at Richards Bay, Kwazulu-Natal. Ahead lies a voyage of 3,330nm across the South Atlantic Ocean, which will see the yachts call at the isolated island of St.Helena, before making landfall at Salvador de Bahia on the Brazilian coast.
web video of the start
|
|
|
|
|
| Pete Goss tells his Talisker Tales at the Royal Cape Yacht Club |
|
It was a full house last night (30 December) at the Royal Cape Yacht Club (RCYC) when club members joined together with World ARC crews for a special Talisker Tales evening with renown yachtsman Pete Goss in aid of the National Sea Rescue Institute (NSRI).
|
|
|
|
|
|
|