The first yacht in the World ARC fleet arrived in Mauritius today and enjoyed a well-prepared reception, courtesy of the management of Le Caudan Waterfront and the Mauritius Tourism Promotion Authority (MTPA). The crew of the Catana 522 catamaran, Anastasia, were first to cross the Leg 11 finishing line and were met at the quayside in Port Louis by Rally Control, with bags of gifts and a basket of fruit all kindly provided by World ARC’s local hosts. Skipper Phil May and his family crew of Andrea, Bertie, Daniel and Estella had just completed the second longest crossing of the Rally route, from the remote atoll of Cocos (Keeling) Islands, in just over 11 days, covering an average of about 200 nautical miles a day. They thorough deserved their welcome drinks of La Bourdonnais sugar cane rum – Cheers! 
The same welcome awaits all 22 yachts of the Rally fleet when they arrive in Mauritius during the next few days. For many, this passage will not have been the most enjoyable with strong winds and uncomfortable seas. However, all the boats have been progressing well and it will be the quickest crossing a World ARC fleet has made on this stage of the Rally. And further good news is that right on the dockside at Le Caudan Waterfront is a wonderful selection of shops, restaurants, cafes, hotels and even a cinema and casino. The perfect place for recovering after a testing time at sea. After afterward, the crews will have up to twelve days to explore the interesting island on Mauritius, guided by the information provided by the MTPA. Further relief to arrive is that the crews have been monitoring the development of a low pressure system in the north Indian Ocean. The distance to the centre on the low is such that it is not expected to create conditions about the usual, but it has been something that should be monitored closely. The majority of the fleet are expected to arrive by Wednesday evening. However, the last boat, J’Sea, crewed by John and Lynda is not expected until the weekend. They are taking things a little slower because they are sailing double handed and without the usual help of their autopilot which is broken. |