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On Friday, 14th October shortly after 1400 local time the first World ARC boat was calling Rally Control to report that they were entering the harbour of Port Louis Mauritius. Kenneth Gibson and his 2 crew on board Resolute II, an Atlantic 48 catamaran were completing 11 days at sea across the Indian Ocean starting from Cocos Keeling some 2330NM away. After being cleared by Customs, Immigration, Health and Coast Guard within 20min Resolute II was already on her way to the ship yard to get anti-fouled leaving the Basin of Le Caudan empty waiting for more arrivals in the following days.
Five days on, the basin is now filled with 10 World ARC boats flying their code flags, crew are enjoying time ashore, getting around the Caudan Waterfront shopping mall but also tasting local food at the hotels around, after what have been for most of the participants a great passage with good constant wind and not too big seas. Pat on Brizo reported that it has been the best passage she ever had.
In Mauritius, the fleet has been rejoined by Martin and Liz Bevan on Caduceus, an Amel 54 who started their circumnavigation with World ARC 2014-15. They have taken an extended break to not only assist with relief efforts in Vanuatu, but explore much of the Indian Ocean, visiting Thailand, Sri Lanka, and the Maldives before arriving in Port Louis at the end of May. Joining the current fleet, they will return to Saint Lucia with plenty of stories and amazing experiences from their three year circumnavigation.
6 boats are still to arrive to complete the fleet and start the programme of activities here in Port Louis. Organised activities include Happy Hours at Le Suffren follow by a tour of the top of the island taking participants to the castle of La Bourdonnais then to the famous botanical garden and finally the sugar cane museum plantation, a good opportunity for our sailors to taste the local rum of Mauritius. Participants have also rented cars to go and explore the beautiful beach in the North as well as the waterfalls and 7 coloured earth in the south.
Finally this weekend we will be pleased to welcome our last boat coming almost straight from Bali. John and his crew on Jeanneau 53
Golden Dragon were due to join the rally in Lombok but were delayed for repairs and therefore had to leave later sailing directly from Bali to Cocos for a 24 hours stop, before carrying on across this enormous ocean to catch up with the fleet in Mauritius where all the participants are waiting for them.