After a few days of diving and mooring laying The Blue Lagoon Marina and Hotel was finally ready to receive the first ARC+ St. Vincent 2019 yacht.
The VHF crackled into life at 0400 hrs informing rally control that Zarya was due to cross the finish line shortly. At 0448 local time the transit line between St Vincent and Bequia was crossed giving Zarya line honours in the second ARC+ St Vincent Rally. They have travelled 2124.8 nautical miles since leaving Mindelo in Cape Verde on November 21st. The conditions were traditional trade winds all the way with the occasional squall in the last few days, with 10-15 knots of wind from the east north east at the finish. As Zarya has a draft greater than 2 meters they had to anchor in the bay outside the entrance until the local pilot could get on board to guide them safely through the reef. Once moored alongside the crew where showered with gifts of rum punch, rum, beer soft drinks, local sour-sop tea, soaps and bath salts to wash away the ocean memories.
Andrey Vasilyev, owner of Zarya commented on arrival “Thank you very much for all your assistance you have given us the chance to make our dreams come true. Every decision was made as a team of three and always on the safe side we are truly in the spirit of the rally”.
Within an hour of Zarya docking Spindrift announced their imminent arrival at the finish and were greeted by the Marina owner Mr Kelly Glass and guided into the bay.
Tony the owner and captain of Spindrift was pleased to be handed a rum punch as he and his crew had spent the best part of two days up the rig trying to clear the spinnaker which Sue (wife of Tony) had told the boys they should take it down just before it all went a little wrong. No personal damage although Tony did suggest we don’t mention costs in front of Sue!
Next to arrive was the Australian yacht Cuvee who graciously entered the Marina without a guide through somewhat shallower north passage. A tough trip with 7 on board was the crew’s quote; a broken spinnaker halyard was about the worst thing that happened apart from one crew member running out of cigarettes this morning!
And now as the crew settle into the cleaning and relaxing tours are being booked and the party atmosphere is building.
Rally Control listening out.