At 0900 yesterday the ARC Portugal office opened in Mayflower Marina in Plymouth, officially beginning the 2016 edition of the rally. All the yachts starting in Plymouth have been checked in successfully and welcomed by the rally ream. They were all given welcome packs which included the programme for the following days in Plymouth and information about their upcoming destinations throughout Spain and Portugal, plus plenty of useful details for their sail south to Marina de Lagos over the next three weeks. All YB Trackers have also now been attached to the yachts and ther positions can now be viewed on the ARC Portugal website via the Fleet Tracker. As well as the yachts starting in Plymouth this year, two yachts, Kinni Rossi and Shamal will be joining the rally in Bayona.
The first social took place at the Royal Plymouth Corinthian Yacht Club tonight. Here the crews had a clear view of the starting line and Plymouth Sound whilst getting to know each other over drinks and dinner.
A few busy days are ahead with safety checks, skippers briefing, provisioning and boat preparations before the start of the first leg on Sunday sailing from Plymouth to Bayona.Taking the fleet across the Bay of Biscay, the first leg is the longest of the the three week rally.
Today, Friday, the sun is shining bright in Mayflower Marina and the skippers and crew are excited for the rally introduction and briefing tonight, followed by welcome drinks and a hog roast supper at the Plymouth Albion Rugby Club.
