ARC USA came to a close last night with a farewell supper in Olde Town Portsmouth at the Bier Garden, a popular German restaurant that also hosts events for the start of the ARC Caribbean 1500 in the fall - it must be the 200+ beers and great Bavarian food!
Dinner was fun and there were crews from the recent World ARC Ayama, Exody, Hugur & Starblazer, Pure Elegance who sailed on the recent ARC and also Viva who sailed on the first World ARC back in 2008 and has been putting plenty of miles under the keel since then.
The fleet that sailed from the BVI direct to Florida along the Old Bahama Channel also had a dinner a few nights back and many of them have since departed to make their way north up the coast or taking the ICW.
Plans after the finish are diverse with some boats sailing onwards and upwards (literally) on the ARC-Tic! Call it a reconnaissance mission or even their own mini-ARC rally but some of the boats are planning to sail further north and test out the waters above the Arctic circle. Others plan to explore the coast of New England and Maine before returning to warmer waters in the fall with ARC Caribbean 1500 which is due to start on November 6th.
The majority of the boats that set out from Bermuda were bound for Portsmouth, but there was also two boats that made their way to their home ports - 'Kristy Sue' to New York and 'Avocation' cleared customs at Newport, Rhode Island. 'Dawn Chorus' had a delayed departure from Bermuda but are currently making good progress toward the Chesapeake Bay and are now over the halfway mark.
Thank you to all of the ARC USA 2016 skippers and crews for taking part from all of us at World Cruising Club and we look forward to taking your lines at another ARC rally in the future.