The World ARC Welcome Party and Prize giving event was held last night at the prestigious Clarion Hotel in the Mackay Marina Village, supported by Mackay Marina and Mackay Tourism. Crews gathered for welcome drinks in the poolside bar, before Event Manager Paul Tetlow introduced and thanked those individuals and local organisations which support the programme World ARC in Mackay.
The results from Leg 7, Vanuatu to Mackay have been posted elsewhere on this website but special mention goes to Kathea for taking the line honours, Andromeda V for placing first in Cruising Division Class A, as well as first place overall, and Ghost for placing first in Cruising Division Class B.
Certificates were also awarded to those participants who have been with the World ARC since Panama in recognition of crossing the entire Pacific Ocean. It was a fun awards ceremony with each boat receiving a mention and a bottle of wine.
After the awards, crews sat down to a lovely and typically Aussie Sunday evening meal with barbequed meats, local vegetables and salads. The bar also stayed open late as the Rally said their last farewells to the crews of Kathea, Dinghy, II Audeacious and Seaduced.