The ARC+ fleet got underway in excellent conditions earlier today as they set out on Leg 2 from São Vicente in the Cape Verde Islands to Saint Lucia. Conditions at the start were good with a NE wind of around 20-25 knots blowing across the start line. The gusts made a lively start as the multihulls crossed the line at 1245 and the monohulls at 1300 hours local.
The first catamaran across the line, at the northern end, was the Fountaine Pajot Sanya 57 Aoibh, owned by SBYC and participating in ARC+ with a sister yacht Lir who was third across the line. Aoibh was quickly followed by the Catana 472, El Gato, owned by the Olympic medallist Annie Gardner and her husband Eric Witte.
First across in the monohull Cruising Division was the X Yacht Nix followed closely by Working on a Dream, Spirit and PG Roshni. All the other boats followed in quick succession and the start line was all clear after a few minutes. It was a competitive monohulls start creating a spectacle to all the viewers.
Shortly after leaving the start the yachts entered the channel with São Vicente to portside and the mountainous Santo Antão to starboard which may provide strong gusts as the wind funnels between the islands – just like a champagne cork!
Lutz Meyer-Scheel, CEO of Marina Mindelo and the Maritime Police supported the start of this the third edition of ARC+ in S. Vicente.
The yachts are expected to make landfall in Saint Lucia from November 28 onwards. The progress of the fleet can be followed in here.