The ARC+ 2024 Opening Ceremony was a great sight to see, and with two local bands in the parade of 300 people, the sound was pretty impressive too!
Almost 460 people aged from 8 months to 74 years from 25 countries are sailing with ARC+ this year. A sailor from each country carried their nation's flag in the parade around the marina, ably supported by friends and family waving flags and ensigns from the boats.
The parade was led by Banda Guiniguada, with representatives from World Cruising Club carrying the Canarian, Spanish and Grenadian flags, followed by 25 flags from Antigua to Ukraine, Chile to Japan and everywhere in between. Bringing up the rear of the parade was the Batucada Rumble Mania samba band, the rhythmic drumming keeping everyone dancing. The chef from restaurant Allende joined in, employing saucepan lids as cymbals.
At the marina flagpoles, World Cruising Club managing director Paul Tetlow gave a short speech of welcome, thanking Las Palmas Marina manager Dacil Lacomera and all the ARC+ supporters, including the Port of Las Palmas, the City Hall of Las Palmas and Gran Canaria Tourism, then the flags were raised into a blue Canarian sky.
The Opening Ceremony marks the end of the first week of shoreside activities in Las Palmas. This time next week the 95 yachts will be heading south into the Atlantic Ocean on their way to Mindelo in the Cape Verde archipelago.
Thank you to Ahembo for the soft drinks and to Fruteria Chira for the fruit in our 'trolley of treats'.
ARC+ 2024 crew nationalities
| Country | Number of people |
| Antigua & Barbuda | 1 |
| Australia | 4 |
| Austria | 1 |
| Belgium | 5 |
| Bulgaria | 6 |
| Canada | 12 |
| Cayman Islands | 1 |
| Chile | 4 |
| Denmark | 13 |
| Estonia | 11 |
| France | 21 |
| Germany | 25 |
| Ireland | 2 |
| Italy | 19 |
| Japan | 8 |
| Netherlands | 35 |
| Norway | 61 |
| Poland | 6 |
| Portugal | 1 |
| Spain | 9 |
| Sweden | 19 |
| Switzerland | 17 |
| Turkey | 6 |
| Ukraine | 1 |
| United Kingdom | 110 |
| USA | 48 |