The majority of the World ARC 2016 fleet have now reached the halfway mark on their journey from the Galapagos Islands to Hiva Oa in the Marquesas. This leg is also the longest one of the entire circumnavigation, approximately 2980NM.
A mix weather conditions have defined this leg with very calm winds at the beginning caused by the low pressure area around the Equator, which subsequently filled in as the fleet came south from the rhumb line. Now, almost two weeks into the passage, everyone has enjoyed some good tradewind conditions with large swells and a SE/ESE variable breeze meaning sail set-ups are a constant discussion on board.
With such a long passage, the logs on our website have been updated regularly with some pictures and wonderfully sharing the life and moods at sea and the celebrations of reaching the halfway mark!
‘To celebrate reaching the half way point, Theo baked some gingerbread biscuits. Thanks granny for emailing him the recipe. Not many left already. Yum!’ K1w1-Beanz
‘We did, however, still enjoy a celebratory cocktail at sunset accompanied by smoked mussels, stuffed grapevines, brie on crackers, olives, assorted nuts and the last of our pineapple, to be sure, to be sure we celebrated the milestone appropriately.’ Paw Paw
Meanwhile for the World ARC 2015 fleet, nearing the end of their circumnavigation and reaching the shores of the Caribbean island of Grenada, it has been fishing triumphs have provided the cause for celebration on this leg. Aretha, Exody and Makena, all caught fish, 2 Mahi-Mahi and 1 swordfish. Meanwhile the ever-enterprising crew of Starblazer were not out-done and enjoyed Mahi-Mahi for dinner, courtesy of one they had caught on the way to St Helena and had in the freezer!
Follow the progress of both fleets on the YB tracker at here