The official opening ceremony for the 39th edition of the Atlantic Rally for Cruisers took place today in Las Palmas marina.
Several hundred people, including our Saint Lucian guests from London, paraded around the marina carrying their national flags, marine ensigns, boat 'battle' flags and regional flags.
This technicolour spectacle was led by the Banda Guiniguarda, followed by the flags of the Canary Islands, Spain, Saint Lucia and the ARC flag, and followed by the 35 official national flags from Argentina to USA. The Batucada Samba Islena brought up the rear, the samba beats keeping everyone dancing.
The procession followed the marina road from Rolnautic, past the Sailor Bay Bar and the ARC platform round to the marina office on the eastern wall. World Cruising Club managing director welcomed the sailors to their ARC adventure, and Las Palmas Marina manager Dacil Lacomera added her warm greetings to the marina.
The Saint Lucia High Commissioner to London, His Excellency Mr Anthony Serverin, is in Las Palmas as part of the London-based Saint Lucian contingent who visit the ARC every year, bringing huge amounts of enthusiasm, joy and information about their beautiful homeland. The High Commissioner spoke about the beauty of the island, and how the first European visitors called Saint Lucia 'the Helen of the west' after the fabled beauty of Helen of Troy. He spoke of the warm welcome the sailors could expect from the people of Saint Lucia - greeted with warm applause.
The flags rose into the blue sky and ARC 2024 was officially open.
ARC activities begin again on Monday, with Stokey Woodall's popular sextant workshop, the second week of seminars of cruising topics and highlight of the week - Wednesday's famous costume party.